Chicago Kicks Off El Grito Festival at Grant Park Ahead of Little Village Parade

CHICAGO (Sept. 13, 2025) - Thousands gathered today at Butler Field in Grant Park as Chicago launched its two-day El Grito Chicago festival, featuring live Mariachi and folklórico performances, authentic Mexican cuisine and family activities.

El Grito, the traditional ceremony marking the “Cry of Dolores”, opened at 2 p.m. today, drawing a diverse crowd eager to celebrate Mexican heritage with headline acts La Adictiva, Banda Los Recoditos, Mariachi Herencia de México and the Ballet Folclórico de Chicago.

Chicago’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff underscores the city’s vibrant Mexican community and cultural contributions. The festival’s free, open-air format along the lakefront offers food vendors, artisan booths and children’s inflatables, with organizers estimating attendance in the tens of thousands.

Grant Park’s proximity to the CTA’s Monroe Red Line station and numerous bus routes ensured smooth arrivals, despite intermittent street closures for crowd control.

Tomorrow, attention shifts to Little Village, where the 54th Annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade will march west from 26th Street and Albany Avenue at noon, drawing over 400,000 spectators to celebrate under the theme “Pride and Power: Our Strength, Our Legacy”.

Also on Sunday, West Chicago’s downtown plaza will host a community El Grito de Dolores ceremony beginning at 2 p.m., featuring folkloric dancers Retorno Musical and Los Corbs alongside traditional food and artisan booths.

Headline: Chicago Kicks Off El Grito Festival at Grant Park Ahead of Little Village Parade Subheads:
El Grito Chicago draws thousands to lakefront celebration
54th Annual Little Village Parade set for Sunday at noon
West Chicago to host cultural ceremony and family activities