Chicago prepares for Mexican Independence Day crowds and caravans
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A mariachi member on horseback celebrates Mexican Independence Day while parading through the Little Village neighborhood in 2025. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Chicago is preparing for the return of Mexican Independence Day crowds this weekend, a year after immigration raids put a chill on one of the city's biggest celebrations.
Why it matters: The annual festivities have become synonymous with massive downtown caravans and gridlock. But this year, the crowd size could measure how much the city's Mexican community has rebounded from last year's immigration crackdown.
State of play: The two-day El Grito Festival returns to Grant Park on Saturday and Sunday, while the Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade kicks off at noon Sunday.
- Little Village pushed ahead with its famed parade last year despite ICE fears, but crowds were down. Downtown's El Grito celebration was postponed altogether.
Even as immigration enforcement continues, organizers expect the crowds to return.
- While immigration enforcement has become less aggressive since last fall, federal agents are still active in the area.
What they're saying: Mayor Johnson said this week he hopes the celebrations help Mexican Americans in Chicago "reclaim some of the joy."
In recent years, the caravans have brought downtown traffic to a standstill, preventing some residents from getting home and doctors and nurses from reaching hospital shifts.
- City officials say they're ready for the caravans, with extra police, possible downtown street closures and eight access points if traffic becomes overwhelming.
- Last year, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) told Axios the police have learned how to better handle the downtown crowds and have employed new tracking technology and even two new helicopters.
- "We've learned our lessons from the past," Hopkins said. "Each year, we get a little smarter on how to handle it."
Zoom in: New Airbnb data in Little Village points to a return of the celebratory vibe. Demand for Little Village listings is up more than 200% compared with the same weekend in 2025.
- "Without resident-led tourism, Little Village residents and small businesses would lack a critical source of extra income that for many is also often a lifeline to weather affordability pressures," Little Village Chamber of Commerce's Jennifer Aguilar said in a news release.
Yes, but: Little Village businesses are still recovering. They continue to feel the effects of last year's crackdown and foot traffic still isn't completely back to normal, Aguilar told CBS Chicago.
The bottom line: The celebrations may be back, but it remains to be seen whether the crowds — and the gridlock — will return to pre-crackdown levels.