Celebrate Mexican Independence Day Sept. 10 at Lake Park

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Lake Park on September The Des Plaines Park District and The Mexican Civic Society of Illinois present "Festival! a Celebration of Mexican Independence Day," on Saturday, Sept. 10 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 ancestors.

Festival! runs from 2 to 7 p.m. Highlights include a performance of traditional Mexican dances by Ballet Sol Azteca at 2:10 p.m., followed by the authentic Mexican music of Grupo Nueva Generacion at 3 p.m.. Roberto Díaz Blanquel and Juan Silverio Díaz will sing traditional and popular Mexican hits at 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, and at 5 p.m., Banda Tierra Nueva will play until the Grito, and after, until the festival closes.

At 5:50 p.m., 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 Sept. 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.

Festival! is sponsored by the Des Plaines Park District, The Mexican Civic Society of Illinois, Inc., GC Print & Design, Supermercado El Cerrito, and Ernesto Ramirez, Sate Farm of Wheeling.

Lake Park Pavilion is on Lee Street between Touhy and Howard in Des Plaines. For information call (847) 391-5700 or visit www.desplainesparks.org