Waukegan, Illinois (October 28, 2024) – The Waukegan Park District and Sugar Skulls Xilotl are partnering to host the 2024 Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 1pm to 4pm at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, located at 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park. The event will feature pan de muerto (bread of the dead), altar exhibits, art vendors, music and dance performances, and sugar skull decorating workshops.
With origins in Mexico and celebrated throughout Latin America, Día de Muertos is a celebration of the lives of the deceased. Families create an altar and ofrendas (offerings) to honor their family members that have passed away. These altars are decorated with bright marigolds, calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls), photos, foods, drinks, and items cherished by the departed loved ones. Día de Muertos is not a “Mexican Halloween” like it is sometimes mistaken for due to its close proximity to Halloween.
Great Lakes Credit Union is the sponsor of the 2024 Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration. Headquartered in Bannockburn, Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union with 80,000 members in the Chicago area.
Anton L. Mathews, President of the Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners, stated, “The Waukegan Park District is excited to partner with Sugar Skulls Xilotl to honor Día de Muertos, a cultural tradition for many Latino families in the community. The colorful event is an opportunity for individuals and families to learn about the customs and practices that make this tradition so special.”
Jay Lerner, Executive Director of the Waukegan Park District, stated, “The Waukegan Park District is committed to partnering with local organizations, such as Sugar Skulls Xilotl, to enhance cultural programs and events. Through art, music, and more, the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration is an opportunity for the community to learn about and commemorate this cultural tradition.”
Maria Calderon, Executive Director of Sugar Skulls Xilotl, stated, “Since 2011, Sugar Skulls Xilotl has been dedicated to sharing cultural knowledge about Día de Muertos in Waukegan and surrounding communities. It is important to celebrate rich cultural traditions, like Día de Muertos, to honor and preserve the vibrant tapestry of culture.”
More information about the 2024 Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration is available at waukeganparks.org/diademuertos.
About the Waukegan Park District
Established on December 26, 1916, the Waukegan Park District (WPD) has 53 properties and more than 742 acres of land, including the 18-hole Bonnie Brook and 9-hole Greenshire Golf Courses. Properties are managed to the highest environmental and conservation standards. Facilities operated by the WPD include the Field House Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Center, Waukegan’s Greg Petry SportsPark, Waukegan Skate Park, BMX Track, SplashZone, Percussion Playground, recreational centers, disc golf course, dog exercise area and agility course, outdoor sports fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, splash pads, and sports courts including basketball, tennis and pickleball. A full range of programs and services are offered year-round for all ages, from infants to seniors, as well as special need populations. Healthy lifestyles, wellness initiatives, and a connection with the outdoors and nature are integrated throughout programs, services, and special events. Arts and cultural activities are provided by the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorus, and the Waukegan History Museum. We offer something for everyone!
A member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), the WPD employs 73 full-time and 219 part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees and is recognized by the IPRA as an Exceptional Workplace.
Nationally accredited by the NRPA Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and State accredited through the IAPD Distinguished Agency Accreditation, the WPD has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown Award for receiving the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The WPD was awarded the NRPA National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2013, and was named a Gold Medal Finalist in 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Media Contact
Josue Pasillas, MPA
Communications Supervisor
Waukegan Park District
(847) 360-4789
jpasillas@waukeganparks.org
waukeganparks.org