# East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade marks 80th anniversary, celebrates tradition, family, culture *The Mexican Patriotic Civic Committee Inc. will host the 80th annual East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles.* **Section:** Community **Tags:** Community, Feel-good-vibes, East-la, Mexican-independence-day, Parade, Festival, Culture **Reading time:** 3 min Organizers are putting finishing touches on the 80th Annual East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival slated for Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. The event, themed around celebrating tradition, family and culture, will be broadcast live by [ABC7 Los Angeles](https://abc7.com/story/2026-east-la-mexican-independence-day-parade-los-angeles-tradition-marks-80th-anniversary-weekend/19780553/) from 10 a.m. to noon, with anchors Jovana Lara and Danny Romero providing commentary. Co-grand marshals for the day are Grammy-nominated regional Mexican singer El Dasa and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who has funded the parade for several years and is serving her final term on the board. The parade will travel east on Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, beginning at the intersection of Mednik Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez and ending near Gage Avenue, covering roughly 1.5 miles. Street closures will begin Saturday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. on Mednik between 1st Street and Cesar Chavez and continue through Sunday, with Cesar Chavez closed from Vancouver to Gage Avenue between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. The festival portion kicks off at 11 a.m. on Mednik Avenue between East Cesar E. Chavez and First Street and runs until 4 p.m., offering free parking at the East LA Civic Center and additional street parking where available. ## Parade route, timing and grand marshals According to the official parade guide, participants line up at 1st and Vancouver before entering the route at Cesar Chavez and Vancouver. The procession moves eastward along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, passing Mednik Avenue, and concludes on Gage Avenue. The guide lists the parade window as 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., while the ABC7 report notes a live broadcast from 10 a.m. to noon, confirming the morning schedule. El Dasa, a Grammy-nominated regional Mexican artist originally from Sonora, will serve as one of the co-grand marshals. He moved to Los Angeles at 18, worked with Vicente Fernandez, and has earned multiple award nominations. Supervisor Hilda Solis, representing Los Angeles County’s first supervisorial district, will co-lead the march. Solis has a long record of supporting the parade through county funding and this year marks her final year on the board. The East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and East LAPD, in coordination with the Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico, will enforce street closures and traffic detours. Mednik Avenue will be closed from 5 p.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday, while Cesar Chavez will be shut from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Residents and vendors are advised to arrive early to secure viewing spots and avoid congestion. ## At a Glance - **Anniversary:** 80th - **Organizer:** Mexican Patriotic Civic Committee Inc. - **Co-Grand Marshals:** El Dasa and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis - **Parade Time:** 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM - **Festival Time:** 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM - **Free Parking:** East LA Civic Center, 4801 E 3rd St ## Festival attractions and visitor logistics The festival, located on Mednik Avenue between East Cesar E. Chavez and First Street, will showcase elaborate floral floats representing each Mexican state, folklórico dancers of multiple generations, high-energy marching bands, and equestrian units featuring a variety of horse breeds. The event’s programming runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving families ample time to explore the cultural displays, sample food, and enjoy live music. Visitors can reach the site via the Gold Line, alighting at the East LA Civic Center Station at 3rd Street and Mednik Avenue. Free parking is available at the East LA Civic Center, 4801 E 3rd St, and additional street parking may be found nearby, though attendees should monitor for tickets or towing. The guide recommends arriving before 6 a.m. or the evening prior if planning a delivery or viewing party. Participants must check in at the designated location on Cesar Chavez and Vancouver after receiving an email from the Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico. The parade committee encourages early arrival for participants to secure their spot and for spectators to claim optimal viewing locations along the route. ## Curator's Note The 80th anniversary underscores East LA’s role as a cultural anchor for the city’s Mexican community. By drawing families, musicians, and local officials together, the parade reinforces neighborhood identity, supports small businesses, and offers a free, family-friendly gathering that counters rising cost-of-living pressures across Los Angeles. --- Curated by VIBES News Desk · Published 2026-09-08 Source: https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-08-east-la-mexican-independence-day-parade-marks-80th Cite as: CurationsLA, "East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade marks 80th anniversary, celebrates tradition, family, culture", https://www.curationsla.com/vibes/2026-09-08-east-la-mexican-independence-day-parade-marks-80th (published 2026-09-08). 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