Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Santa Ana over the weekend to celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultures at the city’s 43rd annual Fiestas Patrias.
On Saturday, the city of Santa Ana was joined by the Consulate of Mexico in hosting an El Grito de Independencia, Spanish for “The Cry of Independence,” on the festival’s main stage. The traditional call dates back to 1810 and celebrates the anniversary of Mexico’s fight for independence.
The two-day event featured carnival rides, food stalls, cultural exhibits and a variety of musical performances from artists such as A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz and Marilyn Odessa. This year’s musical lineup ranged from cumbia to banda, there was something for every music-lover to sing and dance along to.
The Fiestas Patrias parade made its return for the first time since the pandemic. The theme this year was “Hispanic Heritage: Past to Present.” Folks lined the sidewalks to watched as the parade traveled from Washington Avenue, down Main Street and ending near the main event stage.
After the parade, the party continued with more musical performances, including from artists Graciela Beltran and Banda Los Sebastianes.
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