Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Oak Park offers a variety of services that can be accessed online from a computer, tablet or smart phone. Some of the services are managed directly by the Village, while others are third-party vendors authorized by the Village to conduct transactions.
The Village of Oak Park provides a wide range of services, from public safety programs like fire and police protection to support for housing, historic preservation and neighborhood relations. Don't see what you are looking for? Use the search feature at the top of the page.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. A part-time, elected legislative body of a president and six trustees hires a professional manager to oversee the day-to-day administration of government programs and services.
Oak Park boasts excellent schools, world class architecture, shopping, dining and an extensive public transportation network. But Oak Park is more than a place – it also is a way of life. Use the links in this menu to learn more about our community and the many services available to residents and visitors alike.
Día de Muertos event set for Nov. 2 at Scoville Park
Oct. 22, 2024 -Don't miss Oak Park's 2024 Día de Muertos event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 2 in Scoville Park, which is being co-hosted as part of a collaboration between the Village of Oak Park, Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park Public Library, Collaboration for Early Childhood, Hemingway District and Quetzali Childcare.
This free community event is an opportunity to engage the Latine communities in Oak Park and River Forest and honor ancestors through a Celebration of Life. Festivities will begin with a performance by Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago's first all-women mariachi group at 10 a.m. Omeyocan Dance Companywill showcase a mesmerizing Aztec dance performance at 11 a.m., followed by Ramon Marino's Trovamusic at noon.
Food vendors will be on-site in the plaza between Scoville Park and the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. Attendees can look forward to delicious offerings from local favorites including Taco Mucho, Tacos '76, Spilt Milk (Pan de Muerto), Amerikas (hot chocolate and churros), and Quesadilla LaReyna del Sur (Mexican Vegetarian Cuisine).
The event will also feature face painting, sugar skull decorations, Latine vendors and community resource booths. Organizations interested in hosting a resource table should contact the Village Clerk by calling 708.358.5670 or by sending an e-mail to clerk@oak-park.us.
Officials note that Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is not a Mexican version of Halloween. While Halloween celebrates mischief and fright, Day of the Dead unfolds in a burst of color and life Nov. 1-2 — a time to demonstrate love and respect for deceased family members. Rooted in Aztec, Toltec, and Nahua traditions, Day of the Dead sees mourning the dead as disrespectful. Instead, it embraces death as a natural part of life’s cycle.
Central to this celebration is the Ofrenda, an altar designed to welcome the spirits of loved ones back to the living world. The altars, adorned with offerings such as water, food, photos, marigolds/cempasuchiltl and candles, are made in remembrance of family members who have passed.
The Oak Park and River Forest communities will also come together from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3 to create meaningful Ofrendas across town, celebrating the lives of loved ones and fostering togetherness. Led by Alma Martinez, the founder of Dia De Muertos in Oak Park & River Forest, this annual tradition highlights the richness of Mexican culture while strengthening community bonds.
The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.