Mexican Independence Day
celebration returns to the West Side

Mexican Independence Day celebration returns to the West Side
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | September 2025

West Side Fiestas is holding its second annual Mexican Independence Day celebration September 12-13 in conjunction with the West Side Boosters’ annual football fiesta. The festive weekend will feature a host of free and low-cost entertainment along Cesar Chavez Street between Robert and Ada, including a car show, live music and dance, and authentic Mexican food. Vehicle traffic will be closed off at that block on Saturday.

West Side Boosters president Bob Cruz said the event attracted nearly 10,000 people last year and they expect the same or more this year. A full lineup of events follows, and all proceeds support West Side Boosters’ youth athletic programs. Friday’s fun is scheduled for 5:30-8:30 p.m. and Saturday’s 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Details were accurate as of press time. For more information, visit westsidefiestas.com.

Car show with DJ – Custom rides of wide variety flaunting stunning paint jobs, hydraulics and timeless body designs will fill Cesar Chavez Street 5:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12. Food trucks and a DJ will also be onsite.

Mexican Independence march – Football players and cheerleaders from the West Side Boosters youth programs will kick off Saturday’s celebration with a march alongside their family members, beginning at 10 a.m. The procession will travel down Cesar Chavez Street from Robert to Ada and curl north to Robie before concluding at the football field at El Rio Vista Recreation Center, 179 Robie St. E. Parade coordinator Alicia Menchaca said the march will highlight the history of the West Side community and its families. Football games begin immediately following the event. Grades 1-3 will compete first, followed by grades 4-6 and then grades 7-8.

Food and craft fair – About 30 vendors will be frying, grilling and crafting mouthwatering tamales, tacos and other meals and treats 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, along both sides of Cesar Chavez Street. Dozens of vendors showcasing artisan crafts, cultural items, local businesses and community organizations will also be present.

Music and entertainment – A stage on State Street will feature performances by local artist High and Mighty, headliner Pepe Marquez and others. Parque de Castillo will be home to a family zone with crafts, activities and some food vendors.

History – Mexican Independence Day is celebrated September 16, commemorating the day in 1810 when priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla delivered his famous speech, “El Grito de Dolores,” calling for Mexico to break free from Spanish rule. While the official independence was finalized on August 24, 1821, September 16 marks the start of the Mexican War of Independence. St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood is referred to as “District del Sol” by the City of St. Paul in recognition of the large number of Mexican descendants living there. According to a Minnesota Compass survey, about 26% of the neighborhood is Latino.

St. Paul West Side Fiestas was established in 2024 as a committee of the West Side Boosters, and the volunteer group organizes three annual celebrations on the West Side: Cinco de Mayo, Mexican Independence Day and Day of the Dead. Established in 1970 and governed by a 5-member board, the nonprofit West Side Boosters Youth Athletic Club runs sporting programs that youth can join regardless of their ability to pay for registration fees or equipment. Programs include football, flag football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball and cheerleading. Fundraising efforts such as selling concessions at sporting events and hosting taco feeds and other fundraising events at local bars, including Shadey’s Bar on the West Side and North 40 Tavern in West St. Paul, help support operations.

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