Road closures end ahead of Mexican Independence Day parade in Chicago
CHICAGO — Road closures in downtown Chicago have been lifted as the city prepares for one of its largest annual events, the Mexican Independence Day parade. Organizers are anticipating a crowd of 400,000 for the parade, which will take place in the Little Village neighborhood on Sunday.
The city closed several streets and expressway ramps leading into the Loop this weekend to manage the influx of visitors and traffic. Among the closures were Michigan Avenue between Wacker Drive and Lake Street. While some car caravans were reported downtown, they were notably smaller than in previous years, and the Chicago Police Department effectively managed the crowd.
This weekend’s celebrations began with El Grito, a citywide event that took place in Grant Park on Saturday. The festival featured Mexican cultural performances and activities and attracted approximately 10,000 attendees. The event continued through Sunday evening, with festivities running from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.