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🦋 Dear beloved comUNIDAD,💔 It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we, the DDLM Committee, announce the cancellation of our Día de los Muertos Event scheduled for Saturday, November 1st, 2025 (12–4 PM at Scoville Park).
This decision comes after days of urgent and heartfelt meetings, as our community faces increasing fear due to immigration raids and racial profiling in Oak Park, River Forest, and nearby neighborhoods. 💔 We want you to know that this decision was not made lightly. Every step, every discussion, every sleepless night was guided by one unwavering truth: the safety, dignity, and well-being of our Hispanic and Latine comUNIDAD come first—always. 🌼
We explored every possible alternative — including moving the event to the Oak Park Public Library — but space limitations, safety risks assessments, and logistical challenges made it impossible to guarantee a secure environment. Many of our beloved performers and vendors also made the painful choice to withdraw, expressing concern for their employees and families.
We understand the heartbreak, anger, and sorrow this brings. We feel it too. 😢 Yet in the spirit of Día de los Muertos, we must remember that from loss comes rebirth, from grief comes strength, and from fear comes UNITY. 🕯️
🦋 HOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE LIFE, LOVE & MEMORY🦋
1️⃣ Our Community Ofrendas—the soul of DDLM—will continue to shine brightly across Oak Park and River Forest. 🌼
What began in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, will again become a light of hope and resistance! We have already received 30+ Ofrenda registrations, and a Google Map of all locations will be shared by Sunday, October 26th.
We invite everyone to extend your Ofrenda displays until Monday, November 3rd, and to share them with messages of hope and encouragement — through social media and post-it notes placed on the Ofrendas. Let’s walk through our neighborhoods, honoring our ancestors, telling their stories, and reminding each other that we are never alone. Please continue to support one another, lift each other, and walk in honor of those who came before us. Together, we will keep building a future rooted in dignity, respect, and unity 🚶🏽🚶🏽♀️📷🖼️🕯️💖✨
2️⃣ Please support our Latine restaurants, artists, and vendors across Oak Park, River Forest, and throughout Illinois. They poured their hearts into this celebration, and now they need our love more than ever. Order from them. Visit them. Share their names. Let’s make sure our local businesses feel our community’s embrace. 💞 We WANT to send a SPECIAL shout-out to:
Style Society 139 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60301
Amerikas Restaurant Amerikas Restaurant - American, Latin American, Fusion Cuisine 734 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 603014
CAFÉ CUBANO - Authentic Cuban Food in the Heart of Oak Park 113 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301
Sugar Fixé Pâtisserie | French Bakery in Oak Park 119 N Marion St, Oak Park, IL 60301
Taco Mucho Taqueria and Tequila Bar 220 Harrison St, Oak Park, IL 60304
TACOS '76 - Home 838 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
Zemi Coffee Cart | Peddle Powered Coffee Cart | Oak Park, IL
And many, many more!!!
Though this decision breaks our hearts, it also strengthens our resolve. Like our ancestors and the Monarch Butterflies who travel thousands of miles facing wind, storms and FEAR to find their home, we too will endure, transform, and rise stronger. 🦋
We stand together in solidarity, remembrance, and hope—because no force is stronger than a UNITED comUNIDAD filled with love, courage, and compassion. 💙✨
♥️ A HEARTFELT GRACIAS!♥️
And finally, we want to THANK OUR PROUD SPONSORS, PARTNERS, AND FRIENDS who have walked beside us, cried with us, and continue to fight for our community. Your support reminds us that even in the hardest moments, we are never alone. Thank you to: Style Society, Village of Oak Park, Oak Park Park District, Oak Park Township, Oak Park Public Library, Collaboration for Early Childhood, , Oak Park Restaurants & Vendors, Oak Park Health Department, Oak Park Area Arts Council, our incredible DDLM Committee Members, Volunteers, Performers, and so many others whose love and commitment keep our mission alive. 🌼
From the bottom of our hearts — we are endlessly grateful for you. ❤️🕯️
With love, unity, and gratitude,
— The DDLM Committee 💀🌼🦋 Dia De los Muertos 2024 Oak Park
#DiaDeLosMuertos #CommUNIDAD #TogetherWeRise #OakPark #CommunityLove #MonarchButterfly #CultureHeals #WeAreResilient #UnityInDiversity
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Scoville Park, Collaboration for Early Childhood, 171 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
