Oak Park’s Dia De Los Muertos event was born out of fear and isolation during the pandemic to spread love and connection across the community. Last year, the event was canceled due to the increased presence of federal immigration officers, bringing a new wave of fear and isolation.
Event organizer Alma Martinez said this year is back and better than ever with a “dream team” of organizers. It will be held on Nov. 1 at Scoville Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theme is monarch butterflies, a historic symbol of immigration representing resilience through “everywhere they have to travel and everything they have to endure.”
“We’re happy to showcase our culture, in the same way that we give so much love, we want to be treated with respect and kindness,” said Martinez. “We are not here to hurt anybody, to take anybody’s jobs. We are here to work hard, to be better than what we were, to seek opportunities that sometimes people don’t have in their own countries, and to show the beauty and the array and the colors of our culture, so I want everybody to see that we are love.”
Children can participate in a “parade” around the park and there will be food, vendors, performances, a puppet show, face painting and more for people of all ages to enjoy. A special award will also be given to Jaime Garza, one of the event organizers, for all of the work he does in the community
Martinez said the event is a great educational opportunity and a way to share cultural representation to “empower those future generations so that they feel seen.”
Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 when it is believed souls of loved ones are able to visit the living. It is a joyful, lively celebration to honor lives lost.
“We make it a life celebration, but while respecting the hurt, the sadness of losing someone, it creates a way to still remember them, and also it’s a powerful way to grieve, because we know that at any point we all won’t be here,” said Martinez. “But we want to be remembered for who we were and who we touch, and all the love that we gave.”
Ofrendas are altars set up for the loved ones being honored during Dia De Los Muertos with offerings and memorabilia to welcome the spirits back. Ahead of the celebration, participating members of the community and organizations have put up ofrendas people can visit with about 25 planned around Oak Park.
Event organizers created an interactive map listing the locations of the ofrendas, and clicking on each marker on the map will give more information on the location and who is being honored. Martinez recommended not to miss out on the ofrendas at the District 97 schools.
Martinez said they are still looking for event volunteers for Nov. 1, and anyone interested in helping out can find more information on their social media pages, both Facebook and Instagram.
