The Waukegan Park District and Sugar Skulls Xilotl are partnering to celebrate Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with sugar skull decorating workshops and a community celebration at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, located at 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park

With origins in Mexico and celebrated throughout Latin America, Día de Muertos is a celebration of the lives of the deceased. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their family members that have passed away. These altars are decorated with bright flowers, calaveras (skulls), photos, foods, drinks, and items to honor the departed loved ones. Día de Muertos is not the “Mexican Halloween” like it is sometimes mistaken to be because of the time of the year.

The commemoration of Día de Muertos will close with a free community celebration on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 1pm to 4pm at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts. The event will feature altar exhibits, art vendors, food vendors, music and dance performances, and sugar skull decorating workshops.

For more information, contact Bryan Escobar at bescobar@waukeganparks.org or (847) 360-4749.