After a two-year hiatus, the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade returned Sunday to Little Village.
Visitors lined a 2 ½-mile stretch of local businesses for the colorful — and this year soggy — event considered one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest. The holiday, which celebrates Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810, is Friday.
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People waved Mexican flags of all sizes to greet the parade floats and participants passing through the iconic Little Village arch that reads “Bienvenidos a Little Village” at West 26th Street and South Albany Avenue.
Many remained glued to their places alongside the parade route down 26th Street to South Kostner Avenue despite the relentless downpour, only bothering to take their umbrellas and rain jackets out once the rain picked up near the end.
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Janet Garcia and Alejandro Ramos brought their 4-year-old from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to see the parade.
“We’ve honestly never been to the parade here, so we just kind of wanted to see how they did it down here,” Garcia said.
Her parents are from Queretaro and Guerrero in Mexico, she added. But both she and Ramos have lived in Fort Wayne all their lives.
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Ramos said they brought their son to “show him what the parade’s about” and “see what he’s gonna grow up in.”
[ Hundreds line Pilsen street Saturday for annual Mexican Independence Day Parade ]
Dancers in traditional dresses and musicians in sombreros brought lively artistry to the day. Mariachi and folkloric music filled the air as did the mouthwatering smell of braised chicken and beef from nearby taco stands. Children and their parents stretched their hands to catch candy and freebies from the parade participants.
Local businesses and organizations such as a folk ballet studio, City Colleges of Chicago, early childhood education providers and Latino/a First Responders Alliance walked and drove down the route, as did supporters for politicians such as U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García and mayoral candidate Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th.
Some participants went down the streets on horses to shouts of “Arriba Guerrero!” “Arriba Jalisco!” “Arriba Michoacán!” referencing various Mexican states. Yet “Viva Mexico!” was still the most repeated phrase during the celebrations.
Leticia Salazar came to the parade with her husband and some family friends.
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“I loved it, I personally loved it,” she said in Spanish. “Remembering our traditions is something unique. I hope we don’t lose all these traditions.”
