As a Mexican-American living in Chicago, I look forward to kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month each year at El Grito Chicago festival. This year, the organizers expected over 12,000 attendees at the two-day event, held this past weekend. And, by the looks of it, their estimate was right. So many of us proudly showed off our Mexican pride together.
“It is tremendous. When we heard the festival was happening downtown, we knew we had to be here,” Nina D. Sánchez, co-founder of ¡Viva los Libros!, Chicago’s first bilingual children's bookstore, told me at the festival. “To me, this festival represents our stories, culture, music, and heritage.”
El Grito in Chicago is like the Dominican Day Parade in New York, and the Calle Ocho celebrations in Miami. Yeah, it’s a big deal.
My Favorite Mexican Moments from El Grito Chicago
There was so much to take in. Mexican pride was everywhere, surrounded by the smell of grilled elotes. And I was so grateful to be a part of it all on the festival’s first day, shooting photos, talking to the vendors, and just taking it all in. Here are some of my favorite Mexican moments from the event:
So Many Mexican flags
On the event’s official FAQ website page, there’s the question: “Can I bring a flag to the festival?” And the answer is: “Yes, you are welcome to bring flags to the festival to show your spirit and support.” Looks like everyone got the memo.
It was an amazing sight to see how festival attendees showed off their pride by wearing, waving, and celebrating the Mexican flag. I grew up knowing that the Mexican flag carries deep symbolism in its colors. Green stands for hope and victory, while white represents the country's Roman Catholic heritage and purity of ideals. Red signifies the blood of martyrs and unity between Mexicans and Europeans.
Norteño Music for All
Norteño group Los K-Bros is one of the acts to perform for the energetic crowd. I happened to be in front of the stage when the band performed their song “Buena Escuela.” The norteño genre developed in the northern regions of Mexico and southern Texas, and we love it here in Chicago.
Must-try Michelada
For those aged 21 and over, Micheladas are a must-try Mexican cocktail. This popular drink combines Mexican beer with lime juice and a spicy kick, often from hot sauce, chili powder, or even Worcestershire sauce. Festival-goers had a variety of michelada ventors to choose from.
Mechanical Bull, Anyone?
There was a mechanical bull set up near one of the DJs. I didn’t ride it. But, having ridden a mechanical bull before, I can attest that it feels like you're truly on a bucking bull and trying to hang on is thrilling. I think the mechanical bull represented a Mexican charreada.
A charreada traditional event that includes competitions such as horse riding, roping and bull riding. It’s the cornerstone of Mexican rodeo culture, and a perfect addition to the festival.
About the author: Hector Cervantes is an internal communications coordinator at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he writes stories about faculty, staff, and students. He holds an M.A. in journalism and a B.A. in communication studies from DePaul University. Hector also contributes to Growing Community Media and has written for Cycling Weekly and the Chicago Sun-Times.
All photos shown courtesy of Hector Cervantes.
