The 78th Annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival is back

In celebration of the East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival, the iconic Mexican wrestler “El Hijo del Santo,” will serve as grand marshal alongside co-grand marshal Diana Zermeño.

The event will include music, entertainment, a fair, food stalls and fun for the whole family. The theme for this year's celebration is "Mexican Heritage," aimed at educating the youth about Mexico's cultural roots and traditions. “El Hijo del Santo” is a masked wrestler who has upheld his father “El Santo's” legacy for over 42 years, achieving lucha libre championship victories along the way. Originally from Mexico, lucha libre is a sport that is extremely popular among Mexican children. In 2018, UNESCO declared lucha libre as an intangible cultural heritage of Mexico City.

Zermeño, who will be the co-grand marshal of the parade, voices Dora in the new preschool animated series called “Dora,” that  show airs on Paramount+ and Nickelodeon. Zermeño, who has Mexican parents, is proud to be fully bilingual and to be the voice of Dora for a new generation of preschoolers.

This year, the parade's godmother and godfather will be Carla Estrada and Alfonso Arau, both well-known directors in film and television. Estrada is a renowned Mexican television producer, specializing in telenovelas. Her work has been broadcast in over 100 countries and translated into more than 20 languages. She has won numerous awards and accolades worldwide. Her altruistic efforts demonstrate her strong support for the Mexican community.

Arau began his career as a comedian alongside actor Sergio Corona. He also worked as a dancer in several films and was part of the rock and roll movement in the 60’s. Arau acted in significant Mexican films such as "Pedro Páramo," "El Águila Descalza" and "El Rincón de las Vírgenes." In the 90s, he directed the films "Como Agua Para Chocolate" and "Un Paseo por las Nubes." He has been honored with the Ariel Award six times, won a Silver Goddess Award and received a Golden Globe nomination.

The actress and singer Lilia Guízar is a special guest on this year's parade. With a long successful career as an actress, she was part of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, starring in films such as "Los Hijos del Rancho Grande," where she starred alongside her father Tito Guizar (1956) and "La Locura del Rock and Roll" (1957). 

Guest of honor Castulo de la Rocha, President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services Corporation, is a pioneer in community health. AltaMed has evolved from a neighborhood clinic in East L.A. to one of the country's largest federally qualified health centers under his leadership.

Antonio Zamora, who is originally from Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, will also be a special guest. He gained recognition for his song “Zacazonapan,” which catapulted him to musical stardom. In 2008, he was honored in Zacazonapan, State of Mexico, with a library and a street named after him. Recently, he signed a contract with the Warner Music label.

As the godson of the parade, Ysaac Álvarez is a well-known broadcaster and media personality from L.A., with over 30 years of experience. He is currently the founder and host of movie and TV app YAMtv.

The Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee Inc. will celebrate 93 years in the city of Los Angeles. Since its founding in 1931, the organizing committee has established itself as one of the pillars of the Mexican-American community in Los Angeles. And for 78 years its main event has been this parade, considered a symbol of unity among the Latino community, which is attended by hundreds of participants, exceeding expectations in attendance every single year.

Time: Starts at 10:00 a.m. 

When: Sunday, September 15, 2024

Location: E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, starting at Mednik Avenue until it reaches Record Avenue.