The Mix: A virtual Day of the Dead and more things to do in Chicago Sept. 17-23

This anonymous, untitled yard-on-wood piece is part of “Solo un poci aqui.” | Michael Tropea

Dia de los Muertos

The 34th annual exhibit remembering deceased loved ones returns in virtual form at the National Museum of Mexican Art from Sept. 18-Dec. 13. This year the free exhibit, “Solo un poci aqui: Day of the Dead,” remembers those who have died from COVID-19. New installations, paintings and prints have been created by local artists and will be displayed alongside works from the museum’s permanent collection by artists from both sides of the border. To register for the online tour, visit nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

Storyteller Valeria Osornio

Reading & writing

Open Books, the nonprofit dedicated to providing literacy experiences, presents the Virtual Read-a-Thon, a 12-hour marathon of reading and writing activities including a Spanish-English bilingual storytime for children with Valeria Osornio, a creative writing workshop for 6th-12th graders with playwright Georgette Kelly, an adult writing workshop with local author Cyn Vargas, readings from a variety of books and much more. (Also the organization’s West Loop used bookstore at 651 W. Lake has reopened.) Streams from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 20. Free but donations are encouraged. Visit open-books.org/event/virtual-read-a-thon/

Frances McDormand in “Nomadland.”

Film fest at home

All you need is an internet connection and the price of a ticket to take part in this year’s New York Film Festival Sept. 17-Oct. 11. Among the long list of films are the Spike Lee-directed “David Byrne’s American Utopia,” the documentary “The Truffle Hunters,” Steve McQueen’s “Red, White and Blue,” Indian director Chaitanya Tamhane’s “The Disciple” and Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland,” starring Frances McDormand. Tickets: $12-$25; festival packages start at $75. For full schedule and rental information, visit filmlinc.org.

Sun-Times photographers are pictured in 1956.

History, frame by frame

The Chicago History Museum is now the keeper of millions of negatives that make up the vast archive of Chicago Sun-Times photographs, now being digitized. Currently on display are 150 of those images in the exhibit “Millions of Moments: The Chicago Sun-Times Photo Collection.” The photos, featuring work by award-winning staff photographers, spans a period from the 1940s to the early 2000s. It is one of the largest newspaper photograph collections ever acquired by an American museum. Thousands of these photographs are also available to view on the museum’s website. The exhibit runs through December 2021 at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark. Admission: $17, 19. Visit chicagohistory.org.

A Chicago Immersive guide at the Western L Stop.

Walking Lincoln Square

Check out the history of the Lincoln Square neighborhood with Chicago Immersive’s new interactive walking tour “WANDER: Lincoln Square — A Chicago Walking Experience” (Sept. 19-Nov. 1). Participants select their own path and follow guided audio stories about the neighborhood’s past and watch live interactions between performers from a distance, amplified through an app via headphones on a smart phone. Social distancing regulations and procedures will be followed. Tickets: $25. For more information, visit chicagoimmersive.com.

Silvio Rodriguez

Celebrating Silvio

Hothouse presents “Silvio & El Podor de a la Palabra, A Tribute to the Legendary Silvio Rodriguez.” The event begins with a screening of “Silvio Rodriguez: Mi primera tarea (My first calling),” Catherine Murphy’s documentary about Cuba’s most prolific songwriter of the 20th century, often referred to as the “Bob Dylan of Cuba.” The film is followed by a lineup of artists who pay tribute to Rodriguez including Fernando Torres, Madeleine Zayas, Craig Thomas, Quetzal, Francisco Herrera, Katia Cardenal, Rodstarz de Rebel Diaz and Franco Valdes, Kelvis Ochoa, Lila Downs and Roly Berrio. The live stream begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 20. Free, donations encouraged. Visit hothouse.net.

Kelsey Waldon

Prine recommended

Early last year singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon, who hails from Monkey’s Eyebrow, Kentucky, caught the ear of John Prine and became the first artist signed to his Oh Boy label in 15 years. “I’m really crazy about Kelsey’s voice,” Prine told Rolling Stone. “It reminds me of Tammy Wynette. Not the sound, but the way that it has such vulnerability and years of experience in it. … There’s really something special here.” Waldon’s stunning Oh Boy release, “White Noise/While Lines,” showcases her brand of rural folk in vivid vignettes of Kentucky life. She performs in a live stream from Nashville’s City Winery at 7 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets: $10. Visit citywinery.com/chicago.

Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.