CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade and Fiestas Patrias has been called off for a second year in a row, because of a rise in COVID-19 cases.
The announcement was made on the Little Village Chamber of Commerce's website. The events were set to take place the weekend of Sept. 10-12.
It was an "extremely difficult decision to make", said Ivette Trevino, Executive Director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce.
The Mexican Independence Day Parade and the Fiestas Patrias Festival “are the largest and most popular signature events that we host as an organization," she said. The events have been held for more than 50 years and typically draw a half-million people.
“With the unfortunate increase in COVID cases, we need to continue to prioritize the health and safety of our residents and visitors before anything else,” Trevino said.
In lieu of the events, the historic Little Village Arch will be lit for a month starting Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, in celebration of Mexican Independence Day and related festivities.
“Working closely with our Board of Directors and Special Events Committee, we have decided to light the Little Village Arch for the entire month of September to commemorate Mexican Independence Day.”
The 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade has become one of the nation’s largest and most popular parades. The parade helps promote local businesses and highlights the driving economic force of the Latino consumer and business community.
The Fiestas Patrias Festival officially celebrates Mexican Independence from Spanish colonial rule, “Dia de la Independencia.” The Festival offers attendees a wide variety of family entertainment, arts and crafts along with authentic food and beverages.
The festivities are the largest and most important Mexican and Mexican – American cultural celebrations in the Midwest. The Little Village Chamber of Commerce traditionally hosts these events the second weekend of September in the heart of Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Both are expected to return in September of 2022.
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