Mexican Independence Day in Chicago is Sunday, September 15, and parades, festivals, and street closures are scheduled across the city throughout the weekend. Here’s everything to know ahead of the holiday!
Mexican Independence Day Parade
A time-honored tradition, the Chicago Mexican Independence Day Parade will march through Little Village on Sunday, September 15. Beginning at Little Village’s iconic arch, the parade will proceed down the historic 26th street corridor.
Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day Parade is one of the largest in the Midwest, according to the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, with more than 400,000 people expected in attendance. This year’s parade theme “Celebrando Nuestras Tradiciones” will reportedly feature a vibrant celebration of Mexican traditions and Hispanic heritage. Parade-goers can expect an array of colorful floats, traditional folk dancing, and mariachi music.
El Grito Festival
The first-ever El Grito festival will take place over the holiday weekend in Grant Park from Saturday, September 14 through Sunday, September 15. Described as a “vibrant celebration of Mexican Independence Day”, El Grito fest will feature exciting live entertainment, authentic food and drink offerings, traditional Mexican art vendors, and thrilling athletic activations for all ages. General admission tickets are on sale now starting at just $10.
Street closures
Street closures and traffic delays will impact parts of Chicago over the course of Mexican Independence Day weekend. Parking restrictions will reportedly be in place along the parade route in Little Village. The mayor’s office will likely implement additional street closures and parking restrictions throughout portions of downtown Chicago. In 2023, the city closed off large areas of downtown in order to control car caravans.