Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Lake Park Sept. 8

The Des Plaines Park District and The Mexican Civic Society of Illinois present Festival! a Celebration of Mexican Independence Day, Saturday, September 8 at Lake Park Memorial Pavilion. Festival! is celebrated in commemoration of Mexico's first proclamation of Independence from Spain in 1810. With the famous “El Grito de Dolores” Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest in Dolores, led a small group to fight for the recovery of the land that had been stolen from their Spanish ancestors.

Festival! runs from 2:00–7:00pm. Highlights include a performance of traditional Mexican dances by Ballet Sol Azteca. Roberto Díaz Blanquel, “La Voz del Bolero Ranchero” and Juan Silverio Díaz, “La Voz Grande de la Canción” will sing traditional and popular Mexican tunes.

At 5:50pm Festival! participants will honor both the United States and Mexico, by singing each country's National Anthem, and then proclaim The Grito de Independencia, “Mexicanos, viva Mexico,” shouted every year at midnight on September 15 to honor Hidalgo and his crucial decision for independence.

Admission to the festival and the live entertainment is free. Traditional Mexican fare will be available for purchase from Mexico 2000 #3.

Festival! is sponsored by the Des Plaines Park District, The Mexican Civic Society of Illinois, Inc., GC Print & Design, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

Lake Park Pavilion, 2200 Lee St. For information call 847-391-5700 or visit www.DPParks.org