On Mexican Independence Day, tradition, pride and ballet folklorico in Little Village

To a chorus of car horns and mariachi music, the 50th annual Mexican Independence Day parade made a splash in Little Village early Saturday afternoon.

The holiday celebrates the anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spain, as well as the Grito de Dolores, a speech by Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo calling for the end of Spanish rule in Mexico.

The parade, hosted by the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, took a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021. Typically held on a Sunday, this year’s sunny Saturday parade marked the first time Little Village was able to celebrate on the actual date of Mexican Independence Day.

This year’s theme, “Tu Mexico, Tu Chicago” encouraged revelers to represent each of the 32 states in Mexico while celebrating Mexican identity and culture. Some viewers wore black shirts emblazoned with green, red and white rhinestones, shouting out Jalisco, Morelos and other states.

The two-and-a-half mile parade kicked off at noon under the historic Little Village arch at 26th Street and Albany Avenue, proceeding down 26th Street to Kostner Avenue. Earlier Saturday morning, the end of the parade route was the starting line for an annual Mexican Independence Day 5k run and walk.

On every corner, vendors turned out fresh grilled corn, chamoy-drizzled fruit cups and hundreds of tacos. Juicy towers of pork rotated slowly on spits as paradegoers queued up for fresh tacos al pastor.

Argelia Narvaez, 30, shared slices of Tajin-dusted watermelon with her daughter as they waited for the parade to start.

“We really enjoy the atmosphere, how everybody is here enjoying their culture, they’ve all come together,” Narvaez said.

Narvaez, who lives in Cicero, attends the parade with her family every few years. Horns blared through Cicero all night Friday, she said, as car caravans rang in Mexican Independence Day.

“It’s good, feeling free to show our heritage,” Narvaez said. “We moved over here for a reason.”

Leading up to Saturday’s festivities, thousands drove car caravans around Chicago, waving Mexican flags out the window. The tradition is hotly anticipated by the Chicago Mexican community and by city officials, for wildly different reasons. Some roads in the city’s central business district closed last night in anticipation of traffic safety concerns.

As the crowd against the barricades reached three deep, some viewers sat atop parked car caravans or crammed into bus stations for a better view.

Some ducked into La Michoacana Plus for a quieter view of sports floats and ballet folklorico dancers. The paleteria, which opened this year, doubled its staff in anticipation, owner Angelo Villagomez said.

“We’ve never experienced this before, but this is amazing,” Villagomez, 34 said.

Villagomez, a Little Village resident, said he hopes the parade is a boost for Little Village businesses and long-standing street vendors alike. The 26th street corridor is the second-highest grossing business district in the city after the Magnificent Mile.

“For us, more than anything, today is about just showing the footprint we have in Chicago and in this country,” Villagomez said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson walked in the parade just after parade organizers and a large contingent from the Democratic Party of Illinois. The mayor took a shot of tequila, to cheers, before exiting the parade route.

Gorgeously adorned in red, white and green, dancers from Little Village-based Xochitl Ballet Folklorico were some of the first revelers down 26th Street.

“Viva Mexico,” preteen dancers called from the float, while older boys in black sombreros did a lively step dance just behind.

Green, white and red flags were strung between lampposts all down 26th street, grazing the top of the tallest floats. On a double-decker ComEd truck, members of a mariachi band led the crowd in chants of “Ole, ole!” between blasts on a trumpet.

Little Village resident Martin Rodriguez, 25, came to the parade with his mother Evelia Villalobos, 47, who was visiting from Mexico.

“Everybody is here to celebrate what Mexico is all about,” Rodriguez said. He carried a large Mexican flag tied to a wooden post, brought from home for the occasion.

Rodriguez said the parade is much the same year to year, though he might try to ride in a car caravan in the future.

“My favorite part is seeing everybody all happy,” Rodriguez said.