El Grito Chicago gets the thumbs up from visitors, but revelers are frustrated by the street closures
A sea of green, white and red flags flew through downtown Chicago on Sunday as Mexican Independence Day revelers enjoyed the second and final day of the El Grito Chicago festival at Butler Field in Grant Park.
It was the first time in more than a decade that a sanctioned Mexican Independence Day celebration was held downtown, and some participants hope it will become an annual event.
“I think it’s the most successful place for it downtown. I think it’s cool,” said West Town resident Nico Jopio. “I think every year it comes back, it gets bigger and better.”
The festival is expected to attract around 24,000 visitors this weekend. It is organized by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago, Grito 916 and Choose Chicago in partnership with the city and state.
A spokesman for the festival said on Sunday afternoon that it was “too early to say” whether the event could be considered a success.
Sunday’s family-friendly festival program included live music by Esteban Gabriel, Mariachi Monumental and others. The Consul General of Mexico in Chicago also hosted a public ceremony honoring El Grito De Independencia, which translates to “The Cry of Independence.”
People mingle at one of the ticket booths at El Grito Chicago. The event is expected to attract around 24,000 visitors. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sunday.
Emmanuel Camarillo/Sun-Times
It is dedicated to the Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who rang the church bell on September 16, 1810 and gave a speech that marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain.
Veronica Villegas, who comes from the Mexican state of Michoacan and has lived in Chicago for more than 20 years, also hopes that the festival will continue.
“It feels like we are slowly being accepted as part of the city,” Villegas said in Spanish. “It feels like they are giving us the same attention as other nationalities who party downtown.”
Villegas, however, disagreed with the city’s attempt to also curb unauthorized celebrations in some residential neighborhoods by closing some streets in Little Village and Albany Park.
“It would be good if celebrations were allowed within the communities, because there are places where celebrations are not allowed,” she said.
The downtown festival comes as the city tries to control the flow of car caravans, which it says cause traffic and safety problems. Last year, the caravans led to crowd control problems, traffic chaos and 86 arrests, according to Councilman Brian Hopkins’ (2nd) office. Hopkins did not immediately respond to requests for comment or information.
There have been a few arrests this year. Police reported two arrests Friday night as crowds were cleared from sidewalks near busy Michigan Avenue downtown. One man was arrested after officers “noticed his vehicle with two large wooden poles sticking out of the windows.” Officers concluded there was a warrant for the man’s arrest.
The other man was arrested after officers observed him driving while apparently consuming an alcoholic beverage, police said. Officers also determined there was a warrant out for his arrest.
The traffic was also good On Saturday night, a man was arrested on Michigan Avenue for allegedly punching a police officer in the hand as they dispersed a crowd, police said.
The city has closed some streets downtown to avoid congestion caused by motorists. CTA buses were temporarily rerouted between East Roosevelt Road and East Wacker Drive on Saturday and Sunday nights. The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication has set up “access points” for residents and people who work in the area.
Due to traffic congestion, roads are closed in the Central Business District. Access points are available for residents and workers in the area. Please expect longer travel times. pic.twitter.com/R5OdjlHFUK
— Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) 16 September 2024
Increased traffic is expected in the city center. Road closures in the Central Business District and detours to control traffic flow may be in place. Plan accordingly and allow extra time when traveling in this area. pic.twitter.com/j1KIDRf78z
— Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) 15 September 2024
Evelyn Carmona, Villegas’ daughter, believes that Mexican Independence Day celebrations receive more attention than other ethnic and cultural celebrations.
“It’s kind of disappointing because all the roads are closed,” she said. “You see this bias.”
Abraham Sanchez, 31, who lives in Old Irving Park, says that because of the many closures, the festival seems to be the only place where residents are allowed to celebrate.
“It’s liberating because they’ve closed a lot of roads. So where else are we supposed to celebrate?” he said, adding that the car convoys “are fine as long as they don’t damage anything.”
Carmona considers the festival a success, but is unsure about the closures and restrictions.
Contributors: Erica Thompson, Araceli Gomez-Aldana
