As Orange County kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, thousands are set to attend Santa Ana’s upcoming Fiestas Patrias, or “patriotic feasts,” this weekend.
Now in its 45th year, the free, two-day celebration will honor the independence of several Latin American countries with a parade and street fair, live music, carnival rides and more.
The celebration will be hosted along Downtown Santa Ana’s 4th Street, in the city’s historic district. Festivities are set to begin at noon on both days, with programs running until 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, and ending an hour earlier at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Ahead of Saturday’s anticipated “El Grito” ceremony, visitors can expect a variety of musical acts and traditional performances, including Ballet Folklórico. Often compared to ballet, the highly choreographed dance emphasizes local folklore and is known for its dramatic movements and pointed toes. Similar performances are scheduled for Sunday.
El Grito de Dolores, or Cry of Dolores, references the 1810 call to arms by Father Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores Hidalgo, a town in central Mexico’s state of Guanajuato. As he rang the church bell, Hidalgo urged his mostly Indigenous and mestizo congregation to fight for freedom and independence from Spain.
His memory is honored in a reenactment, typically held each year on the eve of Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16. The city of Santa Ana’s will take place Sept. 13 at the festival’s main stage.
Plaza Calle del Cuatro, located on East 4th Street and French Street, will host an outdoor beer garden and require the purchase of a $5 wristband to enter. A full program schedule is available online.
On Sunday, the Fiestas Patrias Parade starts off at 11 a.m. on Main Street and Washington Avenue, before heading toward Civic Center Drive. The parade ends around 1 p.m. at Main and Civic Center, where an exhibition area with limited seating will feature performances.
A map of the parade route, including parking and seating areas, is also available online.
A special $10 daily parking rate is available for people paying with cash. Festival attendees and regular patrons of Downtown Santa Ana should also be aware of upcoming street closures in connection to this event.
Major street closures from Friday, Sept. 12, to Monday, Sept. 15:
- 4th Street (Broadway to Mortimer)
- Bush, French, Spurgeon & Sycamore Streets (between Fifth, First, and Fourth)
- 3rd Street (Sycamore to Minter)
- Main Street (1st to 5th)
Major Street Closures for Sunday, Sept. 13 (from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Main Street (5th to 17th)
- Sycamore Street (5th to 17th)
- Santa Ana Boulevard (Broadway to Bush)
- Civic Center Drive (Broadway to Bush)
A full list of closures is available on the city’s website.