SANTA ANA, Calif. – The City of Santa Ana invites the public to come together in celebration of Chicano culture and history at the fourth annual Chicano Heritage Festival this Sunday, August 24.
Santa Ana was the first city in Orange County to officially recognize August as Chicano Heritage Month in 2021, and this year marks the fourth consecutive year of festivities honoring this vibrant cultural legacy.
This free, family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, a car cruise, cultural exhibits, local food vendors, community resource booths, and a variety of interactive activities for all ages. The festival will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave., in Santa Ana.
“On behalf of the Santa Ana City Council, I am thrilled to invite the entire community to join us at the Chicano Heritage Festival to celebrate this important part of our culture and heritage,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “Chicano contributions have played a vital role in shaping our city’s identity, from educational equity and political representation to vibrant, cultural expression through art, music and fashion.”
A community car cruise will kick off the festival, arriving at Centennial Park at 2 p.m. The car cruise vehicles will be on display during the event.
Joining us at the event will be civil rights pioneers Vickie Castro, a leader in the Chicano Civil Rights Movement who helped mobilize students in the historic East L.A. walkouts in 1968; and members of the Guzman family, one of four families involved in the landmark Mendez v. Westminster case that helped end school segregation in California.
The festival will have an exciting musical line-up hosted by Becky Lu with performances from:
- El Chicano
- Thee Midniters
- Diamond Ortiz and Zackey Force Funk
- Pachuco Jose y Los Diamantes
- The Desperados
- DJ group Funk Freaks
- Danza Azteca Xochipilli
In addition to dynamic entertainment, attendees can look forward to special participation from our Title Level Partners:
- Anaheim Ducks, who will be on site with exciting themed activities and prizes for all their Santa Ana fans.
- Project Kinship, a local non-profit that aims to provide services and training to lives impacted by incarceration, gangs, and violence in the community through hope, healing, and transformation.
Park gates will open at 12 p.m. for early arrivals. Parking is free but limited at Centennial Park. Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, blankets and picnic meals to enjoy the festivities. Canopies are welcome in designated areas throughout the park. Please note that alcohol, smoking, grilling, and overnight camping are prohibited.
In honor of the significant contributions of Mexican American culture amongst the community, the Santa Ana City Council will present a proclamation on Tuesday, Aug. 19, declaring August as Chicano Heritage Month in Santa Ana.
For performance times and more event information, please visit the Chicano Heritage Festival website.