Fall events in Pilsen
Fall in Pilsen, Chicago: Dia de los Muertos, festivals, Halloween events and neighborhood happenings.
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Friday, October 2 Today
Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Dia de MuertosAll day, day 2 of 60, Oct 1 to Nov 29Free1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608The museum's 40th annual Day of the Dead exhibition looks back through its Permanent Collection to trace the evolution of Dia de Muertos and the museum itself, with ofrenda installations by artists from Oaxaca, Mexico City, Chicago, and Washington state. Also features courtyard installations by Yollocalli youth artists and a participatory community ofrenda. Runs Sep 25 through Nov 29. Free.
Saturday, October 3 Tomorrow
Arturo Velasquez Institute 30th Anniversary Community Fall Fest11am to 3pmFree2800 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60608Richard J. Daley College's Arturo Velasquez Institute celebrates 30 years serving Pilsen and Little Village with a free community fall fest: car show, live music, family activities, food trucks, an education and career expo, plus free flu shots and resources for breast cancer survivors.
Pilsen Malort Fest 20266 to 11:59pm$352129 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60608Annual Pilsen celebration of Malort, Chicago's famously bitter liqueur. Each ticket includes three shots of Malort, DJ sets from DJ Smalls, Smooth Smokin Sam, Adam Jammaster Rock and Voodoo, plus a cash bar. Held at Dorman Dunn Post 547. Runs past midnight.
Friday, October 9
2nd Fridays Gallery Night6 to 10pm, one of 2 datesFree1945 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60608Monthly open studios and gallery receptions across the Chicago Arts District along South Halsted in Pilsen East. More than 30 galleries and artist studios open their doors from 6 to 10 pm with new exhibitions, artist conversations, and wine and cheese receptions. Free. Information center at 2003 S Halsted.
Saturday, October 10
Gallery Tour: Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Dia de Muertos9:30amFree1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608Docent-led walkthrough of the museum's 40th annual Day of the Dead exhibition, tracing four decades of Dia de Muertos art and ofrenda traditions. Offered in English at 9:30 am and in Spanish (Recorrido de Galeria) at 10:30 am on Oct 10. The exhibition honors the late scholar Dr. Gilberto Cardenas and includes a community ofrenda in the courtyard.
Tuesday, October 13
Festival del Arte Popular 202610am to 4pm, day 1 of 6, Oct 13 to 18Free1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 6060819th annual folk art festival bringing artisans from across Mexico to Pilsen: Oaxacan alebrije wood carvers, Puebla ceramic Day of the Dead figures, Guerrero amate painters, Oaxacan foot-pedal-loom weavers, and Chiapas backstrap-loom weavers. Live demonstrations daily 10 am to 4 pm, with extended evening hours until 8 pm on Wednesday Oct 14. Free.
Wednesday, October 14
Late Wednesdays: Festival After Hours5 to 8pmFree1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608After-hours evening at the museum during the Festival del Arte Popular, with galleries open until 8 pm so visitors can browse the folk art festival and current exhibitions after work. The museum's first-Wednesday late-evening series gets a festival twist this month. Free.
Friday, October 16
TINTA ARDIENTE! Opening Reception6 to 8pmFree1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608Opening reception for the new Xicago Gallery exhibition of community print works from the Instituto Grafico de Chicago collection, celebrating 16 years of socially conscious printmaking. Free and open to the public.
TINTA ARDIENTE! Igniting Community Through Collective ActionAll dayFree1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608New exhibition in the Xicago Gallery drawn from the Instituto Grafico de Chicago print collection: objects, event documentation, and traces of print histories from Mexico and Chicago. Marks 16 years of community-based, socially conscious printmaking. Runs Oct 16, 2026 through Feb 21, 2027. Free.
Saturday, October 17
Hearts and Flowers of Hope Workshop11am to 3pm, one of 2 dates$801852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608Two-Saturday hands-on workshop with Socorro Carlos, Colectivo Fuentes Rojas, and the museum's Stitches of the Soul quilting group. Participants create a 14x14 inch textile honoring missing persons, learning applique and embroidery techniques tied to remembrance and collective action. $80, materials included.
Thursday, October 22
Independent Film Club: Horror Edition6:30 to 9pm1324 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608CreatorCollectiveChi teams up with Elevated Pilsen for a Halloween-season horror movie night at the Elevated barbershop lounge. All ages, free parking on site.
Saturday, October 24
Dia de los Muertos Xicago 20263 to 8pmFreeHarrison Park, 1824 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60608Annual community Day of the Dead celebration transforming Harrison Park around the museum: community-built ofrendas, live music and performances, art activities, and a large illuminated ofrenda projected onto the museum exterior after dark. Families can reserve ofrenda space or submit photos of departed loved ones by Oct 15. Free, rain or shine.
Friday, October 30
Sanctum Dark Music Festival 20267pm, day 1 of 2, Oct 30 to 311807 S Allport St, Chicago, IL 60608Two-day dark music festival taking over Thalia Hall and the Tack Room for Halloween weekend. Costume theme is Blasphemy; the weekend includes a VHS dungeon, photobooth and live analog visuals. 17 and over.
Saturday, October 31
Carrera de los Muertos 5K8am$651450-1510 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 6060819th annual costumed 5K winding through Pilsen in honor of Dia de los Muertos. Runners and walkers in calavera attire celebrate with music, entertainment, and food along the course starting at Benito Juarez Community Academy. Proceeds support UNO girls programs (GirlsMpowered and RunHer). Timed and untimed divisions.
PILSEN HALLOWEEN BAR CRAWL PARTY! 202612 to 6pm$361713 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608Costumed Halloween bar crawl across Pilsen's 18th Street corridor. Check in at Pizza Cantina, then hit neighborhood bars including La Vaca Margarita Bar, Simone's and The Tonk. 21 and over.
A Pilsen Halloween: Dance Party and Costume Contest at Simone's9 to 11:59pm, day 1 of 2, Oct 31 to Nov 1$7960 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608Kombi's Halloween-night reggaeton and perreo dance party at Simone's Bar, with two rooms of DJs and a $500 costume contest. 21 and over, runs 9pm to 3am.
Saturday, November 7
Dia de los Muertos: Love Never Dies BallAll day$1251852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 6060812th annual Dia de los Muertos gala hosted by the museum's Auxiliary Board. An evening of food from Chicago restaurants, cocktails, a silent auction, open galleries, live music, and a DJ, celebrating loved ones who have passed. Creative cocktail attire; 21 and over. Proceeds support the museum. $125 advance, $150 at the door.
Thursday, November 19
Edgar Alejandro at Thalia Hall8pm1807 S Allport St, Chicago, IL 60608Rising 25-year-old singer reviving a classic mariachi sound with modern blends of jazz and bossa nova, back in Chicago on his second tour. Intimate show at historic Pilsen venue Thalia Hall, part of its fall Latin programming. 17 and over. Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm.
Wednesday, November 25
Black Wednesday Black Light Emo Night at Simone's9pmFree960 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608Simone's decks out in black lights for a Black Wednesday emo night: a DJ spinning emo favorites, an emo karaoke stage, neon body paint from a makeup artist, $8 broken-heart-shaped pizzas and Don Julio drink samples. No cover, party starts at 9pm.
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