Streets reopen after Mexican Independence Day celebrations lead to traffic gridlock downtown

CHICAGO (WLS) — It was an evening of chaos Friday within the Loop as revelers celebrated Mexican Independence Day took over the streets.

Hundreds of individuals in vehicles and on foot blocked visitors for a number of hours and streets had been cleared up throughout downtown early Saturday morning.

Celebrations lasted till the early morning hours, with large crowds of individuals taking up the streets and blocking visitors all through the Loop.

A number of the crowds with vehicles had been draped in flags with music blasting. Some individuals set off fireworks and different individuals within the crowd danced and waved flags on the street.

These celebrations have appeared to develop lately, making their approach from the neighborhoods into the Loop.

Mexican Independence Day is an annual occasion that takes place on Sept. 16, celebrating Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1810.

Police ramped up patrols by way of the evening, with some officers in riot gear attempting to handle congestion.

Metropolis leaders and Chicago police have inspired individuals to have fun Mexican Independence Day, with a number of festivals lined up for this weekend, however they’re asking individuals to take action safely by way of the remainder of the weekend.

Police mentioned many of the crowds from in a single day cleared out inside the hours of three a.m. to five a.m. There isn’t any phrase on any arrests.

Celebrations are anticipated to final by way of the weekend like earlier years, and can embrace individuals heading to the tenth annual Pilsen Fest Saturday, together with the Mexican Patriotic Parade Sunday close to 87th Road.

Throughout Pilsen Fest, La Casa Del Pueblo Taqueria will function tamales from Northern Mexico and different specialties to signify different elements of the Mexico.

“Proper now we have to embrace it, the identical sort of individuals, I do not care in case you are Black, brown, white,” mentioned George Haro, at La Casa Del Pueblo. “It is a vacation. Let’s have fun.”

The outside competition is free, and celebrates the neighborhood’s wealthy previous and current.

“We needed to make it accessible,” Pilsen Fest founder Esmirna Garcia mentioned. “There’s numerous expertise that exists in our neighborhood.”

It is all a particular reminder of the great issues taking place for this neighborhood.

“I am so happy with my Mexican individuals,” Little Village resident Maria Vazquez mentioned. “We’re doing so good, and I see lots of people doing rather a lot for Chicago.”

The occasion extends to the suburbs too, as the town of Aurora hosted its Hispanic Pioneers Breakfast, adopted by a Mexican flag elevating ceremony.