Little Village Neighborhood Feature #2: Festival de La Villita!
Earlier this week, we talked about some of the restaurants and shops you should visit in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. This weekend is a perfect opportunity to explore the neighborhood. Why? Starting Friday through Sunday, Little Village will celebrate Mexican Independence Day. This is the neighborhood’s 25th celebration and it is sure to not disappoint!
Festival de La Villita is the largest celebration of Mexican heritage and culture in the Midwest, filled with entertainment, games for all ages (children and adults), carnival rides, live music and more. There will be close to 100 vendors at the festival offering arts, crafts, merchandise and not to mention, amazing food and drinks. You can also expect to see great performances by local, regional and international musicians and cameos from TV and radio celebrities. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Pat Quinn and dozens of Latino leaders are also scheduled to be in attendance.
If you’re not sure which day to attend, we recommend Sunday at 12 noon when the Mexican Independence Day Parade begins, which promises to draw nearly 150,000 spectators. The Parade is in its 45th year and will have Mexican television personality and game show host Marco Antonio Regil as its grand marshal. This vibrant and fun-filled event will surely give you a taste of the neighborhood’s culture and is fun for the whole family.
For more information and a full schedule of the 3 day event, click here.
