East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade celebrates culture and community 

Mariachi tunes blared, horse hooves stomped the pavement and strings of papel picado hung in the air as thousands came out to celebrate the annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade on Sunday.

Now in its 78th year, the celebration filled the streets with Mexican flags and colorful floats along the 1.5-mile route on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue.

Various local groups and organizations participated in this year’s parade. Photos by Carol Martinez.

Attendees cheered as floats and convertibles adorned in flowers and papel picado made their way down the parade route, with chants of “Viva Mexico!” in the background. Folklorico dance teams and charro groups showcased their traditional wear. 

This year’s grand marshal was Mexican luchador enmascarado and political activist Jorge Ernesto Guzmán Rodriguez, better known as “El Hijo Del Santo.” 

The co-grand marshal was Diana Zermeño, the young actress who currently voices Dora in the reboot of Nickelodeon’s beloved animated series, “Dora the Explorer.” Cástulo de la Rocha, President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services Corporation, was named a guest of honor for the festivities as one of the celebration’s biggest sponsors.

This Eastside celebration of Mexican culture and history had its opening parade in 1946 and was produced and hosted by Comite Mexicano Civico Patriotico, a main organizer to this day. Following the parade,  the crowd enjoyed live musical performances, lucha libre matches and a sea of booths offering everything from Mexican antojitos to local community resources.

Along the route, horses and their riders patiently waited for their turn to enter the parade, among them, Mayra Carrillo, 45, who came to support her daughter Alicia’s first year riding solo in the parade as an escaramuza charra.

Atop her horse Bendito, Alicia stood out in her bright blue and pink traditional competition gown, proudly waving a giant Mexican flag. She’s a member of Escaramuza Itzae Juvenil, a team of women who compete in the equestrian event in Mexican Charreria. 

Carrillo, who was born and raised in Boyle Heights, said her family has been coming to the parade since the ’70s. 

“It’s very important to show up because así es como se mantiene nuestra cultura, así es como se mantiene nuestras tradiciones.” she said. “La importancia es de estar aquí representando, porque es nuestro comunidad, es nuestro barrio y es un orgullo.”

In the past, 22-year-old Laura Rodriguez had only seen the parade on TV as a resident of South L.A. This year, she decided to gather her parents, sisters, and family dog Luna to make their way to the Eastside to experience it in person for the first time. “I love the parade, the dancing, the music, it’s what makes it lively,” she said. 

Letty Romero grew up enjoying the parade. Raised in Boyle Heights and now a Rosemead resident, she drives down to the celebration to share the experience with her husband and two young daughters. Family in tow, she arrived in East L.A. right on time ahead of the parade’s start and scored front-row seats next to her mother-in-law. 

“I want to make sure that these girls grow up with what we grew up with,” she said, gesturing to her young girls. After the parade, Romero headed into the festival to continue enjoying their family day. 

“We’re looking forward to eating good food and just being with the family,” she said. 

The annual parade and festival drew thousands to East L.A. over the weekend. Photos by Carol Martinez.