Mexican Independence Day fest Saturday on shores of Lake Opeka

The Des Plaines Park District and The Mexican Civic Society of Illinois present the 12th annual Festival! A Celebration of Mexican Independence Day, on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Lake Park Memorial Pavilion in Des Plaines.

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 their land stolen from their Spanish forefathers.

Festival! is 1-6 p.m. with a welcome by Armondo Perez Y Martinez and an introduction to the day's events by Tony Garcia. Free entertainment follows, with authentic Mexican music by Banda Tierra Nueva and Grupo Nueva Generacion and traditional Mexican dances by Ballet Sol Azteca and Ballet Folklorico Raices Mexicanas.

From 1:30-5:30 p.m., children can enjoy free face painting, arts and crafts and games. Los Amigos De Apatzingan Taqueria, a Des Plaines Mexican restaurant, will sell traditional food.

At 5:50 p.m. 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 Sept. 15 to honor Hidalgo and his crucial decision for independence.

Festival! is sponsored by the Des Plaines Park District, the Mexican Civic Society of Illinois, Inc., the Illinois Arts Council, Bank of America, Brooke Auto Insurance, Reflejos Bilingual Journal, and Terra Nova Realty Group. Lake Park Memorial Pavilion is on Lee Street between Touhy Avenue and Howard Avenue. Contact the Des Plaines Park District at (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.