State Senator Lou Correa and friends walk in the Fiestas Parade
I visited “Las Fiestas de Independencia” today, in Santa Ana. My six year old son, Jacob, and I had a blast. The crowds were about 25-35% less than last year, but there were still a lot of folks there to watch the parade and to have fun at the booths set up in the festival area on 4th St.
Several local elected officials showed up to ride in the parade, which started a bit after 4pm today. Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido rode atop a vintage firetruck that is owned and maintained by the Santa Ana Firemen’s Benevolent Association. You can see more pictures of the parade after the flip.
Several Santa Ana City Council Members get ready for the Fiestas Parade
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido rides a vintage fire truck at the Fiestas Parade
Councilman Sal Tinajero and his family
Councilwoman Michele Martinez and my son Jacob, before the parade
Santa Ana College ASG President Alex Flores and Councilwoman Michele Martinez
Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez and her family
Councilman David Benavides and his little boy, who fell asleep during the parade!
Councilman Carlos Bustamante
Former RSCCD Trustee Alfredo Amezcua and a friend
Councilman Vince Sarmiento and his family
Assemblyman Jose Solorio gets interviewed at the Fiestas Parade
SAUSD Trustees Rob Richardson and Audrey Noji, with SAUSD Superintendent Jane Russo at the wheel
SAUSD Trustee Roman Reyna
Mexican Consul General Carlos Rodriguez
Traditional dancers (ballet folklorico) at the Parade
Local kids enjoy the Parade
The Santa Ana Soccer Club marched in the Parade too
The Santa Ana High School Saints Flag Team
The Santa Ana High School Marching Band
A vaquero at the Parade
The SAPD mounted police
Vendors sell traditional goods at the Festival
The crowd enjoys the music
Everyone had a great time
Where is my pic.? I was there. 🙂 btw, don’t you think this event is a bit commercialized? Any face painting? I didn’t see any. How about police officers, they looked too unfriendly. I didn’t see them give out stickers to little kids.No fire trucks. No health screens. But a lot of Sprint, Directv, Dish Network,soda and flyers galore.
#1,
LOL! I took a lot of pictures but didn’t post them all.
I also noticed how many companies were using this as a marketing event. My son and I were happy to get several mini boxes of free Honey Nut Cheerios from Albertsons, but I agree that face painting and balloon animals would have been a lot of fun.
A Santa Ana fire truck would have been a nice way to teach kids about firefighting and maybe get them interested in firefighting as a career.
I also thought the police on the motorcycles were a bit imposing but I spoke to several officers and they were very polite. Most were just tired from being there all day.
Perhaps our city leaders will take note and do some of this next year.
Readers – what would YOU do to improve this festival?
I missed the Las Fiestas de Independencia and parade, was in San Deigo training Census people. Great pictures.