PHOTOS: Little Village celebrates Día de los Muertos

Posted Sunday, November 1, 2026 8:45 pm

Sun-Times staff (via Chicago Sun-Times)

Little Village's 26th Street transformed into a mass celebration for Día de los Muertos on Sunday.

The holiday, which means Day of the Dead in English, is an annual tradition on Nov. 1 and 2 in Mexico and Central Latin American countries to honor and celebrate loved ones who have died. People decorate ofrendas (altars in English) with marigolds, sugar skulls and photos of their loved ones.

On Saturday and Sunday, dozens of Little Village businesses — including bakeries, taquerías, flower shops, boutiques, banks and cultural spaces — joined in on the celebration hosted by the Little Village Chamber of Commerce. Participating businesses made ofrendas and staff dressed up as catrines and catrinas.

Check out all the festivities:

An ofrenda marking Day of the Dead is displayed in a store window in Little Village on the Southwest Side on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — An ofrenda marking Day of the Dead is displayed in a store window along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side on Sunday.

A young girl with her face painted to celebrate the Day of the Dead at Ballet Folklorico Xochitl along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — A young girl has her face painted at Ballet Folklorico Xochitl along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday to celebrate Day of the Dead.

An ofrenda — a decorated altar for Day of the Dead, with photos, mememtos, flowers and other items — at Emiliano’s Restaurant along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — An ofrenda at Emiliano’s Restaurant along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side on Sunday.

Vendor Francisca Alfaro Rodriguez sells traditional items for the Day of the Dead celebration along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — Vendor Francisca Alfaro Rodriguez sells traditional items for the Day of the Dead celebration along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday.

Artist “Shelly Glam” decorates her face during the Day of the Dead celebration at Ballet Folklorico Xochitl along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — Artist “Shelly Glam” offers face painting during the Day of the Dead celebration at Ballet Folklorico Xochitl along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday.

A mural by the artist Bel is the second featured piece in the TE-QU Rotating Mural Series outside the cultural center along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — A mural by the artist Bel is the second featured piece in the TE-QU Rotating Mural Series outside the cultural center along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday.

Store manager Edurardo Vazquez prepares pan de muerto at Rosy’s Bakery along 26th Street in Little Village on the Southwest Side on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — Store manager Edurardo Vazquez prepares pan de muerto at Rosy’s Bakery along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday. The Day of the Dead is among the busiest days of the year at Rosy’s.

Decorated pan de muerto at Rosy’s Bakery along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. — Decorated pan de muerto at Rosy’s Bakery along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday.

A young girl dressed up for Day of the Dead in Pilsen on Sunday. — A young girl dresses up for the Day of the Dead celebration along 26th Street in Little Village on Sunday.