An estimated 800 people attended Friday’s Round Lake Beach Day of the Dead Celebration in the village’s Cultural & Civic Center.
“Our fourth-annual Day of the Dead Celebration is a special event because it allows our traditions to continue for current and future generations,” facility and operations coordinator Berenice Perez DesBiens said.
Mayor Scott R. Nickles welcomed a packed auditorium audience before the performances on stage.
“We’re extremely proud to offer these types of events to our community,” he said in an interview. “We’re bringing the culture to the community, and sharing it with people who may not know all about our culture.
“We have about a 70% Hispanic community,” Nickles continued. “I think the census says about 50%, but it’s beautiful to share this with everyone to have everyone understand the cultures in our community.”
Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a tradition in Mexico and other parts of the world in early November to honor the memory and heritage of departed loved ones.
Round Lake Beach’s free event included ofrendas, or altars, where photos of loved ones are placed among things in life they cherished, such as favorite foods like chocolate and soda.
An ofrenda in the vestibule entrance included a photo and mementos dedicated to K9 Dax of the Lake County Sheriff’s Police. Dax, a German shepherd, died in April after being injured during an apprehension of a suspect.
People were invited to take cards of Dax, which featured his photo. Dax was born on March 3, 2014, in the Czech Republic and was trained to track and find missing people, detect narcotics and catch suspects. The card indicated that Dax was, “somewhat of a TV star,” having been featured on national television programs.
“Dax was an important part of our community,” Nickles said. “He came to our schools. He came to our events, so people here came to love him, even though he was a law enforcement professional, just like our Lake County sheriff’s department, our Round Lake Beach Police Department, they’re a part of the community.”
Miss Round Lake Area 2024 Darby Leetch said of Dax, “I think it’s really special that so many people are honoring his memory. He was a great part of our service, and it’s so exciting people are recognizing him.”
Stopping at the altar to take Dax’s card was the Schlobohm family of Lake Villa. Lindsay Schlobohm accompanied children Brittany, 3, Stephanie, 9, Tiffany, 7 and Melanie, 10.
One attendee of Hispanic heritage who has an altar at home indicated they would probably add Dax’s card to their personal ofrenda at their residence.
For Lindsay Schlobohm, if their family would place photos on any altar, it would include a remembered grandparent.
“We talked about it in the car on the way here, and their Grandma Irene, she died five years ago (and) her birthday was Halloween, so it’s timely to talk about Grandma Irene,” Schlobohm said.
Vendor Dorisela Bahena of Round Lake Beach, and of La Casa de Doris of Round Lake Beach, had photos of immediate family loved ones on the ofrenda or altar behind the sales counter.
“I miss them so much,” Bahena said.
In the next room, the program in the darkened auditorium began with a procession of dancers who filed along the aisles holding traditional lighting.
Performances were by Grupo Folklorico México en la piel of Waukegan and Omeyocan Dance Company of Milwaukee.
Javier Fernandez of Grayslake attended with wife Maria Mascote. In Morelia, Mexico, a sister of Fernandez makes the family ofrenda or altar.
“It’s a tradition,” Fernandez said. “Don’t forget the traditions and the loved ones.”
