Hundreds of revelers and vehicles packed the northbound lanes and sidewalks of Michigan Avenue once again Saturday night, continuing the weekend’s Mexican Independence Day celebrations.
The line of cars, trucks and other vehicles — some with the Mexican flag decorating their hoods and others with people hanging out the windows — stretched from just south of East Jackson Boulevard up to East Wacker Drive on Friday night, many sounding their horns in celebration.
People danced on the curb of Michigan Avenue and some in the street when the light was red, all waving variations of the Mexican flag with a few Palestinian and American flags mixed in.
Police reported one arrest Friday night while crowds were cleared from the nearby sidewalks.
About 11:30 p.m. Friday, after some large fireworks were set off near East Monroe Street, police began blocking off the northbound lanes of Michigan Avenue and diverting traffic into the southbound lanes and then west toward the Kennedy Expressway.
About 8 p.m. Saturday, the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication announced intermittent street closures to “alleviate traffic congestion” in the Loop.
The CTA temporarily rerouted bus service on Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Wacker Drive in both directions due to large crowds.
Last year 86 people were arrested during the celebrations downtown, creating calls from some City Council members for a dedicated celebration for the holiday weekend.
NotifyChicago: Resident/critical worker access allowed on Halsted at Division, Chicago, Washington, Madison & Jackson due to downtown street closures
— Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) September 15, 2024
Chicago police and Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) didn’t immediately respond to requests for information and comment.
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago police officers keep watch as hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago police officers keep watch as hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago police officers keep watch as hundreds gather for a car caravan on Michigan Avenue near Millennium Park to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
This weekend’s festivities for Mexican Independence Day, which is Monday, will be the first time in more than a decade that a sanctioned celebration will take place in the Loop. City officials hoped the event would help curb car caravans and deter unsanctioned demonstrations.
El Grito Chicago will run from 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday in Grant Park’s Butler Field.
There’s also a Pilsen Mexican Independence Day Parade and an El Grito event in Pilsen, among other smaller events.
Contributing: Araceli Gomez-Aldana
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