“As many as 300,000 people are expected downtown this weekend to celebrate Mexican independence with games and live music, a gala parade and the centuries-old cry: “Viva Mexico!” Fiestas Patrias will shut down Flower Street on Saturday and Sunday, between Civic Center Drive and Santa Ana Boulevard. The usual weekend traffic there will give way to band stages, carnival games and booths representing every one of Mexico’s 31 states,” according to the O.C. Register.
The event promoter’s website states that:
Fiestas Patrias Santa Ana is a festival celebrating the Independence Day of Mexico (as well as other Latin American countries) and is the next big event on the Hispanic marketing calendar. The weekend festivities are scheduled for September 13 and 14, 2008 in Santa Ana, California. With over 250,000 attendees in 2007, this Latin celebration is one of the largest Independence Day Events in the country.
Click here for directions to this event.
“The parade begins at 4 p.m. Sunday and will feature dancers and floats representing the states of Mexico, as well as a few other countries – including Vietnam. It begins at 15th Street, marches down Main Street, then turns right on Civic Center Drive and ends at the festival area,” according to the O.C. Register.
Last year Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido rode in the parade atop a fire engine – I guess he didn’t want to touch any of the immigrants he dislikes so much. Councilman Carlos Bustamante rode in a Wells Fargo stagecoach – I wonder if the allegedly underfunded Santa Ana Business Bank will provide him with a little red wagon to ride in, since he is now on their Board of Directors? And Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez zoomed by in her luxury automobile, which I believe is a BMW. By contrast, Councilwoman Michele Martinez actualy walked the parade route, shaking hands along the way.
The funniest site last year was Human Relations Commissioner Cecilia Aguinaga actually riding in the parade, in a car festooned with signs announcing her Commission assignment. Very weird!
I plan to be there today and hope to walk the route and meet plenty of Santa Ana residents. See you there!
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