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The 2018 Santa Ana Fiestas Patrias is set for Sep. 15 and 16

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40th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade this Weekend

The City of Santa Ana’s 40th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival will take place on Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16, 2018. The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. each day on Flower Street between Santa Ana Blvd. and Civic Center Dr. This annual tradition celebrates Santa Ana’s vibrant Mexican culture with A-list performers each night, delicious food, affordable shopping, interactive activities, and exciting carnival rides for children of all ages. The Festival will also include a beer garden open for adults only to enjoy cold, refreshing beverages as well as VIP ticket areas.  Continue reading→

The 39th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade is set for Sep. 16 and 17 in DTSA

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: The 39th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade / El 39o Festival Anual de Fiestas Patrias y Desfile

SANTA ANA, CA –The City of Santa Ana’s 39th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival is taking place on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17, 2017. The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. each day on Fourth Street in historic Downtown. This annual tradition celebrates Santa Ana’s vibrant Mexican culture with A-list performers each night, delicious food, affordable shopping, interactive activities, exciting carnival rides for children of all ages, and a beer garden open for adults only to enjoy cold, refreshing beverages while enjoying on stage performances. Continue reading→

Wanted man crashed his car into the Fiestas Patrias stage on Friday night while fleeing from the SAPD

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Miguel Umana, 30, an armed parole violator who uses the nickname “Little Stomper,” was arrested by the SAPD after leading the police on a crazed pursuit that injured three people when he crashed into a stage at the Fiestas Patrias event, on Friday night, according to the O.C. Register.

The police chase began when an SAPD police officer tried to pull Umana over at the 800 block of South Cypress Ave., at around 8:30 p.m. on Friday night. The police officer had identified Umana as a wanted parolee at large. Continue reading→

38th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade set for Sep. 10 and 11 in DTSA

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: 38th Annual Fiestas Patrias Festival and Parade / 38o Festival Anual de Fiestas Patrias y Desfile

The City of Santa Ana’s 38th annual Fiestas Patrias Festival is taking place on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11, 2016. The festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. each day on Fourth Street in historic Downtown. This annual tradition celebrates Santa Ana’s vibrant Mexican culture with A-list performers each night, delicious food, affordable shopping, interactive activities, and exciting carnival rides for children of all ages. The Festival will also include the Plaza de la Cultural, a visual art display commemorating some of Mexico’s most notable heroes, as well as a beer garden open for adults only to enjoy.

On Saturday, September 10, Latin Grammy award winner Ana Barbara will be gracing the festival’s main stage. Ana Barbara has become a prominent figure within Latin entertainment since her professional debut in 1994 and is among one of the leading female figures in regional Mexican music. With a distinct vocal range, songwriting and producing talent, Ana Barbara has defined the modern Grupero performance and is one of the few regional Mexican acts to garner an international following that extends beyond México and the United States. In the past two decades, Ana Barbara has released eleven studio albums, eighteen compilation albums, over thirty music videos, as well as four music video DVD’s. She has sold over 6 million records in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the United States and has been the recipient of Latin music’s most prestigious accolades. Continue reading→

More pictures from the 2015 Fiestas Patrias parade in DTSA

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Gerardo Mouet, Santa Ana 1 Comment
Miss Guerrero at the Fiestas Patrias Parade

Miss Guerrero at the Fiestas Patrias Parade

I already posted the pictures I took of our local elected officials at this Sunday’s Fiestas Patrias Parade (celebrating Mexican independence).  But I also took a lot of other pictures – of the floats and other participants.  I am posting them here.

If you don’t usually attend this parade I encourage you to do so.  It is a lot of fun and a great look at the history and culture of Mexico. Continue reading→

Our local politicians showed up for the Fiestas Patrias parade today

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Angelica Amezcua, Arts and Culture, Cecilia Iglesias, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Karina Onofre, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Lowriders, Politics, Republican Party, Rick Miller, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment
David Benavides at the 2015 Fiestas Patrias Parade

David Benavides at the 2015 Fiestas Patrias Parade

I stopped by today’s Fiestas Patrias parade in Downtown Santa Ana – mostly to take pictures of the local politicians but also to take in the spectacle.  I was not disappointed on either count.

Somethings never change – Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides appeared to be riding in the same car he was in back in 2013 – with his kids. Continue reading→

Watch our goofy elected officials in today’s Fiestas Patrias parade in DTSA

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Janet Nguyen endangers her child

I try not to miss the annual Fiestas Patrias parade in Downtown Santa Ana not because it is a great parade but rather because it always presents me with the opportunity to take goofy pictures of our local politicians.

A couple years ago I caught career politician Janet Nguyen (who at the time was a Supervisor and is now a State Senator) dangling her unsecured toddler while sitting on the back seat of a convertible car (see the picture above).  If only I had been taking video!  She was screaming “Viva Mexico” at the time.  (I am sure her fellow Republicans would love to see that video today!). Continue reading→

37th Annual Fiestas Patrias event set for Sep. 12 and 13 in Downtown Santa Ana

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Fiestas Patrias 2015 in Santa Ana

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: BIG FIESTA IN DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA / FIESTA GRANDE EN EL CENTRO DE SANTA ANA

The 37th annual Fiestas Patrias event will take place on Saturday and Sunday September 12 and 13 in the City of Santa Ana’s historic downtown. The street fair is on 4th street between French and Sycamore and is filled with food booths, great cultural merchandise, arts and culture booths, and a large main stage showcasing over fifteen performances.

The headliner for the main stage on Saturday at 8 PM is Maribel Guardia and for Sunday at 7 PM is Fidel Rueda. Ms. Guardia is a singer, dancer and a well-known T.V and Film actors. Mr. Rueda increased his popularity with the release of the very popular disc entailed Paz en Este Amor, which landed his music on the Billboard charts in both the Regional Mexican Airplay and Hot Latin Tracks categories. The Fiestas Patrias 2015 fun begins at 12PM both Saturday and Sunday and ends at 10 PM. Continue reading→

The politicians were all over the “non-political” Fiestas Patrias fiesta and parade

Posted on by Posted in Ballot Measures, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Free Speech, Politics, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Loretta Sanchez at the Fiestas Patrias Parade

U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez playing politics at the 2014 Fiestas Patrias Parade

As we reported in earlier posts, the City of Santa Ana forbade the Measure CC medical marijuana initiative campaign from reaching out to the voters at this weekend’s Fiestas Patrias fiesta and parade in Downtown Santa Ana.  But lo and behold there were politicians all over DTSA this weekend!  Thanks to our friends from OC Norml for the pictures.

Most of the politicians pictured below are going to be on the November General Election ballot.  But because they are incumbents the City of Santa Ana gives them more free speech rights than their opponents, who are outright banned from participating with booths at the fiesta or riding in the parade.  I expect that the ACLU will be filing a lawsuit against the City of Santa Ana soon as this is a blatantly unconstitutional abridgment of free speech by our city leaders. Continue reading→

Outrageous free speech hypocrisy on display at the DTSA Fiestas Patrias event

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Ballot Measures, Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Democratic Party, Gerardo Mouet, Latinos, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Congresswoman Sanchez' booth at the Fiestas Patrias

The City of Santa Ana says U.S. Rep. Sanchez “isn’t political”

Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Agency Director Gerardo Mouet called me today to assure me that all is on the up and up over at the Fiestas Patrias event that is taking place this weekend in Downtown Santa Ana.

Mouet explained that it is okay to let local elected officials participate in the Fiestas Patrias because, well, they’re elected.  But it is not okay for other candidates and campaigns to have booths at the Fiestas Patrias or participate in the parade on Sunday because, well, they’re not elected.

Huh?  Did I miss something? Does becoming an elected official automatically bestow extra Constitutional powers to our incumbent politicians?  Because that is what Mouet is saying.  Free speech is apparently available in Santa Ana but only if you were fortunate enough to win an election.  Free speech is not extended to anyone else!  Is this what we expected from our all-Democrat Santa Ana City Council?  Does this mean the “Santa Ana Spring” is dead? Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana shuts down free speech at the Fiestas Patrias event

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Marijuana, Politics, Santa Ana 16 Comments

SAPD talk to protesters at the Fiestas Patrias

The Measure CC campaign (Santa Ana Medical Marijuana Initiative) were all set to run a booth at this weekend’s Fiestas Patrias event in Downtown Santa Ana when they got a call from Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Director Gerardo Mouet.

Mouet cancelled their booth.  He said that it was not his policy to allow any political booths.  The Measure CC campaign director had previously been told by another City of Santa Ana employee that he got an internal email that stated that the Measure CC booth would be a “public safety risk.”

The Measure CC campaign was previously told that it would be okay for them to participate in the Fiestas Patrias event as their goal was to register and educate voters. Continue reading→

Thousands expected at 36th Annual Fiestas Santa Ana weekend event & parade on Sep. 12-14

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Fiestas Santa Ana

City of Santa Ana
Community Alert: Thousands Expected at 36th Annual Fiestas Santa Ana Weekend Event & Parade on September 12-14

SANTA ANA, CA (September 9, 2014) – Thousands are expected to converge on the City of Santa Ana for the 36th Annual Fiestas Santa Ana Weekend Event & Parade on Fourth Street. The festivities begin on Friday, September 12 at 5:00pm with carnival rides provided by Christian Amusements. The street fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon with great food, information booths and cultural products for sale.

Entertainers include Banda Arkangel R-15, El Dasa, Banda Tierra Explosiva, Marisa Ronstandt-Mendoza, Los Chicos de la Calle, and Adriana La Morenita. Continue reading→

Supervisor Janet Nguyen endangered her child during the Fiestas Patrias Parade

Posted on by Posted in Janet Nguyen, Public Safety, Santa Ana 44 Comments

Janet Nguyen endangers her child

UPDATED:  Ruh roh! http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2013/09/janet_nguyen_supervisor_car_se.php

When I saw Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen motor through the Fiestas Patrias Parade this past Sunday, in Downtown Santa Ana, I was taken by her bleating “Viva Mexico” and missed something else that I should have caught.

Nguyen endanger her child and broke the law.  Look at the picture above – she was holding one of her boys in her lap, with no seat belt, no safety seat and with only one arm to secure the toddler.

Here is what the State of California has to say about this: Continue reading→

There were 22 crimes reported in Santa Ana on Sunday, 9/15

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SAPD talk to protesters at the Fiestas Patrias

There were 22 crimes reported in Santa Ana on Sunday, Sep. 15, 2013, according to our friends at CrimeMapping.  That is a rather low crime total considering how many people were in our Downtown area for the annual Fiestas Patrias event this weekend.

Here is our latest Daily Santa Ana Crime Report: Continue reading→

Large crowd shows up to watch the Santa Ana 2013 Fiestas Patrias parade

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Independence, Mexico, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The 2013 Fiestas Patrias Parade was held this afternoon in Downtown Santa Ana.  This annual event is always well attended and despite the heat today there were a lot of people lined up along the parade route, which stretched along a route that ended on Civic Center, by the O.C. Courthouse.  Click here to see the pictures that are included in the video slideshow above.

The usual politicians showed up to ride in the parade including local elected officials such as Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides, Michele Martinez and Vince Sarmiento.  There were also several legislators including State Senator Lou Correa, former Assemblyman Jose Solorio who is now a Community College District Trustee, Assemblyman Tom Daly and U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez. Continue reading→