26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases

The 26th Street Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade. Instead, the Little Village arch will be illuminated in September. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Instead, the 26th Street Area Chamber of Commerce plans to illuminate the Little Village arch on Sept. 1, and keep it lit for the rest of the month.

For the second straight year, the city’s popular 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade has been canceled.

Blame rising COVID-19 cases.

The parade was planned for Sept. 10-12, along with the accompanying Fiestas Patrias Festival. In place of both events, the 26th Street Area Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that it plans to light the Little Village arch for one month, beginning Sept. 1.

The chamber said the decision to cancel was made out of “an abundance of caution.”

“This was an extremely difficult decision to make since the Mexican Independence Day Parade and the Fiestas Patrias Festival are the largest and most popular signature events that we host as an organization; however, with the unfortunate increase in COVID cases we need to continue to prioritize the health and safety of our residents and visitors before anything else,” Ivette Trevino, executive director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement.

“Working closely with our board of directors and Special Events Committee, we have decided to light the Little Village arch for the entire month of September to commemorate Mexican Independence Day.”

The cancellation comes as the city’s average daily case count is now at over 400.

The chamber of commerce said it expects both the parade and festival to return in 2022.

from Chicago Sun-Times - All https://ift.tt/2UuMuea