We’ve heard a lot of Halloween talk lately, but this week ushers in another important celebration: Día de los Muertos. Translating to “Day of the Dead” in English, Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that celebrates deceased loved ones with ofrendas (altars), cemetery visits and vibrant festivities. Through offerings like the deceased’s favorite food and drink, the celebration ushers spirits of the departed back to the realm of the living.
Día de los Muertos is traditionally observed from October 31 to November 2, and Chicago has no shortage of events, 5K races and more to celebrate.
The best Día de los Muertos celebrations in Chicago
Día de los Muertos Ritmo del Mar
Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr
Oct 30 at 6pm
Celebrate Día de los Muertos in the Shedd Aquarium’s aquatic confines. The Shedd will be hosting live music, local cuisine and opportunities for community and connection. Event tickets include admission to all aquarium exhibits.
La Carrera de los Muertos
Benito Juarez Community Academy, 1450 W Cermak Rd
Nov 1 at 8am
La Carrera de los Muertos—or “Race of the Dead”—is a fundraising event that began in 2007. With a course weaving through Pilsen, runners and walkers convene to celebrate Día de los Muertos, complete with costumes, entertainment and food. The race’s proceeds benefit UNO, a nonprofit that supports girls’ access to mentorship, mental health, leadership and physical wellbeing.
Free public tour of “Día de Muertos: A Celebration of Remembrance”
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th Street
Nov 1 at 9:15am (English tour) and 9:45am (Spanish tour)
Join a docent from the National Museum of Mexican Art on a tour of “Día de Muertos: A Celebration of Remembrance” and learn about one of Mexico’s most celebrated traditions. This year’s exhibition is dedicated to the Texans and New Mexicans who tragically lost their lives in 2025’s flash floods. After you’ve toured the exhibition, make your way to the museum’s courtyard space, which will house an installation designed and curated by the youth artists of Yollocalli Arts Reach.
Buñuel: Master of Dreams
International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 N DuSable Lake Shore Dr
Nov 2 noon
Bear witness to a landmark moment in film history as the ashes of legendary filmmaker Luis Buñuel travel from Hollywood to Chicago for the first time. On November 2, the International Museum of Surgical Science will unveil “Buñuel: Master of Dreams,” a groundbreaking exhibition that explores the surrealist master’s lifelong obsessions via immersive dream installations, rare artifacts and more. Guests are invited to bring a symbolic offering—a flower, a dream journal entry or a reflection—to place beside Buñuel’s urn.
Día de los Muertos Mural Tour
63rd Street and Parkside Ave
Nov 2 at 10am
Over the course of three hours, learn more about Mexican culture through the lens of public art with the experts at Crowned Art Studios. From Pilsen to Lawndale, the tour will showcase seven memorial murals adorning the city, each one telling a story of someone no longer with us, yet still symbolically present. Attendees will receive a take-home memorial gift as a keepsake from the event.
Day of the Dead at the New Lincoln Antique Mall
The New Lincoln Antique Mall, 3115 W Irving Park Rd
Nov 2 at 11am
Join the New Lincoln Antique Mall for a free, family-friendly celebration of life, memory and tradition. Expect colorful ofrendas, marigolds and sugar skulls scattered throughout the mall, along with unique antiques and food from local vendors. Visitors are encouraged to arrive in costumes and contribute a photo or memento to the community ofrenda.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago Beloved Pets Ofrenda
Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 3300 Golf Rd
Nov 1, 2 at 10am
In observance of Día de los Muertos, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has constructed a community ofrenda commemorating beloved deceased pets submitted by community members. Access to the ofrenda is included with admission and can be viewed at the Hamill Family Nature Plaza; visitors are encouraged to share stories about their beloved pets with members of the zoo’s community engagement team. The zoo will also be collecting toy donations benefitting resident animals; more information can be found here.
Día de los Muertos Celebration
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr
Nov 2 at 11am, 2pm
Commune with nature while celebrating Día de los Muertos this year. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum event will kick off with bilingual story time at the museum’s community ofrenda. Then, guests will then embark on a prairie walk to learn about monarch butterflies' migration patterns and significance in Mexican culture.
Coco screening and Día de los Muertos celebration
Rooftop Cinema Club, 311 N Morgan St
Nov 1 at 4pm
Enjoy rooftop views while celebrating family, memory and Mexican culture at Rooftop Cinema Club’s special screening of Pixar's Coco. Be sure to arrive early for Día de los Muertos-style face painting, arts and crafts, a meet-and-greet with Coco protagonist Miguel and more.