Pilsen celebrates Mexican Independence Day with annual parade

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Mexican Independence Day celebrations have already started in Chicago, beginning Saturday with the Pilsen Mexican Independence Day Parade on 18th Street.

Mexican Independence Day is officially recognized on Sept. 16 each year, it's that day in 1810 that a priest encouraged Mexicans to rise up against the Spanish colonizers.

However, Pilsen got an early start on the celebrations. Banda Carnavalito from Michoacan, Mexico led the pack just behind a golden lowrider flying a Mexican Flag.

Floats representing Pilsen community clubs and organizations, locally owned businesses, a Mariachi band or two, horses and low riders participated in the parade.

“You know, you come to the festival, you get a good taco. Can't get better than that.” said Jerry who attended the celebration with his son.

Sitting at an outdoor dining spot at Luna as the parade makes its way past, Pilsen resident Dani said she moved to the neighborhood because of the residents of predominantly Mexican heritage. She is proud of this representation of it in Chicago.

“We moved to Pilson, especially for this. You know, I'm Mexican. My son is, he has Mexican parents – myself and his dad are Mexican,” Dani said.

“And we thought, you know, why not come here where everyone speaks Spanish. We see all our, you know, artwork and Mexican artwork and Mexican music, and you know why not?”

Next weekend Grant Park will host the two-day El Grito Festival.

And next Sunday the annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade will take place in Little Village.

However, Jerry said Pilsen does it better.

“We do, we enjoy more, there's less people here and we enjoy more with the family, kids, grandma, everybody from generation to generation. So I feel like, you know, we do it better. We got the lowriders.”

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