Evanston celebrates Día de los Muertos at Robert Crown

Virna Garcia reads a Spanish-language children s book to a multigenerational audience, pausing to translate each page into English. Credit: Heidi Randhava The large ofrenda on display inside the Robert Crown Community Center was a vibrant focal point at the Día de los Muertos celebration held there Sunday. Hosted by the Evanston Public Library in partnership with Latinos en Evanston Northshore and local parent group Padres Empoderados, the evening featured live music, storytelling for kids, mask making and skull (calavera) decorating. Free treats like tamales, hot chocolate, coffee, elote and the traditional holiday sweetbread called pan de muerto were available. Evanston Latinos Executive Director and guitarist Ricardo Villalobos plays a solo arrangement at the altar on Sunday. Credit: Heidi Randhava Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is primarily celebrated as a two-day holiday on Nov. 1 and 2 each year. It s deeply rooted in Mexican tradition as a time to remember family