The city of Santa Ana is gearing up for its 43rd annual Fiestas Patrias, a time to celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultures.
Fiestas Patrias will take place from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday along Flower Street between Civic Center Drive and Santa Ana Boulevard. This year, the city is bringing back the Fiestas Patrias parade.
The two-day festival is expected to draw thousands of people.
Throughout the weekend, attendees can look forward to a community carnival with rides, food vendors and cultural exhibitors. This year’s musical lineup ranges from cumbia and banda, to mariachi and pop. Headline performers include A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz, Banda los Sebastianes and Marilyn Odessa.
At 7 p.m. on Saturday, the city of Santa Ana, along with the Consulate of Mexico, will host a ceremonial El Grito de Independencia, Spanish for “The Cry of Independence,” on the festival’s main stage. The traditional call to arms remembers the eve of Mexican Independence Day and celebrates the anniversary of the fight for Mexican independence.
For the first time since the pandemic, the parade will return to the Fiestas Patrias celebration on Sunday; launching at 3 p.m. from Washington Avenue and traveling on Main Street to Civic Center Drive and then ending at Ross Street near the main event stage.
The theme this year is “Hispanic Heritage: Past to Present.” It will feature nods to additional Latin American countries.
City spokesperson Paul Eakins said the theme is about recognizing the history and the tradition of this event and what it means for the community.
The parade can also be watched live from the city’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
Paid parking will be available at the Stadium Parking Structure at 1020 W. Civic Center Drive, or at the Appellate Court Parking Structure 19 at 601 W. Santa Ana Blvd. There is limited metered street parking, as well as parking at other city- and county-owned parking…
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