Join in Día de los Muertos concert and celebration Oct. 30

Posted October 29, 2025 10:35 am

Submitted by Donna Lake

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Hemmens Cultural Center invite the community to share in celebrating the Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos, at a concert and community celebration on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way.

Pre-concert activities, including free facepainting and crafts, lobby entertainment, and food-for-purchase begin at 5:30 p.m.

A pre-concert talk about the history of Día de los Muertos will be held at 6:30 p.m.

The concert, featuring the ESO and vocalist José Carlos Díaz performing special arrangements of popular boleros including “Sabor a mi” and “La Llorona” and a performance by the BFH dance ensemble, begins at 7:30 p.m.

The performance will be conducted by ESO Music Director Chad Goodman.

This special event is presented in partnership with the Gail Borden Public Library and the City of Elgin, and is made possible by support from the Florence B. & Cornelia A. Palmer Foundation and Seigle Foundation.

Tickets are $25 and $5 for students and are available at www.ElginSymphony.org. The ESO offers free youth tickets for children age 17 and under with a paid adult ticket. Call the ESO Box Office at 847-888-4000 for more information about this program.