With several Mexican Independence Day festivals, parades and other events planned for this weekend, city officials are warning people to expect large crowds, street closures and increased traffic.
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management encouraged anyone heading to one of the many celebrations use public transportation and to remain aware of their surroundings while in the large crowds.
In addition to the Mexican Independence Day festivities, there are also several other events happening downtown and across the city, including the Chicago Football Classic and the Chicago Fire game against New England Revolution at Soldier Field, the Cubs vs. the Pirates at Wrigley Field, and many concerts at venues all over Chicago.
While some streets will be closed for specific celebrations like the El Grito event in Grant Park, officials also warned authorities could limit vehicle access downtown.
Here’s what to know and where to go for the city’s biggest celebrations:
Downtown street closures
East Jackson Drive will be closed from South Columbus Drive to DuSable Lake Shore Drive for the El Grito festival in Grant Park that runs from 2 p.m. through 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
OEMC also warned vehicle access downtown could be limited during the events. In the case of closures, drivers can enter downtown at the following intersections:
- Halsted/Washington
- Halsted/Madison
- Halsted/Jackson
- Division/LaSalle
- Roosevelt/Canal
- Taylor/Desplaines
- 18th/State
- 18th/Indiana
El Grito Chicago
Running from 2 p.m. through 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, El Grito Chicago will turn Grant Park’s Butler Field into a massive celebration of Mexico’s independence with music, food and more.
Details on parking, tickets and more can be found here.
El Grito 5K Family Run and Walk
Participants in the annual El Grito 5K will step off at 9 a.m. from the corner of West 26th Street and South Kostner Avenue in Little Village on Sunday. The course is a loop, stopping at Kedzie Avenue and turning around down West 26th Street to Manual Perez, Jr. Plaza.
Details on tickets and more info can be found here.
26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade
Following tradition, the 55th annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade in Little Village will step off at noon from the historic Little Village Arch at West 26th Street and South Albany Avenue on Sunday.
From there, it will head down West 26th Street and finish at South Kostner Avenue.
Anyone hoping to join in on the festivities from home can watch the parade live from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Telemundo Chicago, the NBC Chicago streaming channel, on Telemundo.com, NBCCHicago.com and Telemundo and NBC Chicago’s apps. The broadcast will continue through 1:30 pm. on the NBC Chicago streaming channel, and on the NBC Chicago and Telemundo’s websites and apps.
Additional details on the event can be found here.
Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade on Commercial Avenue
The annual Mexican Independence Day Parade on Commercial Avenue in the city’s South Chicago neighborhood will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The parade route heads south along Commercial Avenue from 87th Street to 100th Street before disbanding at 101st Street to 103rd Street, officials said.
Chicago
#Chicagos #Mexican #Independence #Day #festivities #NBC #Chicago
