Mexican Independence Day Parties Take Over Downtown Despite Widespread Street Closures

DOWNTOWN — Downtown streets were awash in Mexican Independence Day revelers Saturday even as the city shut down the Central Business District to clamp down on car caravans.

Thousands turned out to Downtown Saturday in both cars and on foot as part of celebrations for Mexican Independence Day. The local celebration typically sees people form car caravans, a practice that has drawn condemnation from city officials for taking over streets and causing traffic issues.

Chicago police pledged “zero tolerance” for car parades and street takeovers during this weekend’s celebrations. The city even shut down the majority of Downtown streets on Saturday to restrict car access.

Hundreds of vehicles honking their horns and waving Mexican flags gathered downtown Saturday, but were significantly more restricted in their movement than in previous years as police directed the flow of traffic down Michigan Avenue until roughly 9:45 p.m., when widespread street closures set in. Some among the crowds also slammed the city for trying to stifle the gatherings.

“We’re good enough to work in this city but not enough to have fun?” one partygoer, Gio, said. “Today’s our day! The city treats us differently from everyone else. Why can’t we have one night to express ourselves?”

All streets within the Central Business District were closed Saturday night due to “above normal vehicle congestion” tied to Mexican Independence Day celebrations, according to the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

That meant that car access was restricted between Halsted Street to DuSable Lake Shore Drive and from 18th Street to Division Street. The closures included off ramps for the Kennedy Expressway, according to media reports.

Multiple access points were established for those living and working in the area, according to the city’s emergency management office. Streets were reopened after 2 a.m. Sunday.

That did not stop some Chicagoans from getting Downtown to celebrate their Mexican pride.

“Americans have the Fourth of July,” another celebrator, Kevin, said in an interview. “This is like that for us. We just want a day to celebrate our culture and have fun.”

Others noticed that Saturday’s crowds did seem more tame than in previous years.

“We love the takeovers every year,” said Daniel, who drove Downtown with his friends to celebrate. “We were hoping they were going to be crazy this year, but I guess we’ll see.”

Saturday night’s parties coincided with Grito Fest, a two-day festival in Grant Park celebrating Mexican Independence Day. Held Saturday and Sunday, the festival is expected to draw 12,000 people per day. It is the first city-sponsored Mexican Independence Day event Downtown after over a decade.

Some neighbors worried the festival would contribute to Downtown car caravans and street takeovers, which caused major disruptions to some Loop-area streets last year.

The city announced some street closures in advance of the weekend, with police brass saying they would close all of Downtown to car traffic if need be.

El Grito is the cry of victory that is traditionally part of Mexican Independence Day, celebrated annually on Sept. 16. The holiday commemorates Mexico’s independence from Spain following an 11-year war that ended in 1821.

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