The Diez y Seis parade celebrating West Side triumphs and Mexican Independence Day returned on Saturday after a two-year pandemic hiatus.
The parade featured around 60 entries that celebrated Mexican Independence Day and recognized several West Side organizations.
Elaine Moreno, a community health worker student at Northwest Vista College, appreciated the event and her part in it.
It was an awesome experience to just be able to see people come out (and) have fun," she said, "making it a friendly environment for others to get out and enjoy the floats, the vehicles that are passing by, and just being able to show ourselves to the community. ..."
We had such a great time at the 16 de Septiembre annual parade! A huge congratulations to our Westside Community Center, which also celebrated their three year anniversary. 🧡💙#UTSA #UTSAHHM22 pic.twitter.com/0PUT6jidYT
— UTSA (@UTSA) September 17, 2022
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg also participated. "It's an important celebration of our bi-national heritage and our Hispanic Heritage Month kicking off," he said.
"We’re in the West Side of San Antonio, which is really the heart and soul, and the beauty of San Antonio, and of course the heart of our bi-national heritage here."
The four dozen parade entries represented several West Side groups, charros on horseback, Aztec dancers, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Military Armed Services Marching Band, and vintage vehicles.
The celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day continues! 🇲🇽
— Mayor Ron Nirenberg (@Ron_Nirenberg) September 17, 2022
This morning Erika and I had the honor to participate in @AvenidaSA’s 41st Annual 16 de Septiembre Parade. ¡Viva Mexico, viva San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/tXgzhLp7gc
Gabriel Quintero Velasquez, president and CEO of the Avenida Guadalupe Association, was pleased the event was back.
"We are excited to re-engage our community in the parade after the unanticipated hiatus caused by the global Coronavirus pandemic," he said.
The parade event began in 1981 to showcase positive, transformative economic development victories of the neighborhood-led community development corporation in one of the nation's most important Mexican American communities.
The parade was part of National Hispanic Heritage Month activities in San Antonio.
It's #FiestasPatrias2022 San Antonio and great arts & culture events are happening all over San Antonio. Find these events and MANY more at https://t.co/JpPvF8DOQ4#getcreativesa #GetCreativeSanAntonio #FiestasPatriasSanAntonio #hispanicheritagemonth #diezyseis #arts #culture pic.twitter.com/Ajr76t1HFP
— Arts&Culture_COSA (@getcreativesa) September 16, 2022
Jennifer Gonzalez contributed to this report.
