Thousands of revelers flocked to the Civic Center and Denver’s Santa Fe arts district Sunday to celebrate El Grito.
Music, food, drinks, games and rides for the kids kept patrons smiling, and even a downpour of rain about 2:45 p.m. couldn’t dampen spirits.
After huddling under trees and in tents during the rain, festivalgoers went right back to celebrating when the cloudburst let up.
El Grito, or “The Cry,” commemorates Father Miguel Hidalgo’s call for Mexican independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810. Similar revolutions followed across Latin America.
Mary Hernandez, 16, an 11th-grader at Range view High School in Aurora, attended the Civic Center event with family and friends.
“I’m here to represent our independence,” she said.
The teen said she enjoyed all the celebration has to offer, especially, she said with a laugh, “watching the guys!”
Patrons on Sunday munched on tacos, cinnamon-roasted almonds and pecans, and mangos on a stick while dancing to the sounds of mariachi bands and cumbia music.
“The music is cool, even though I don’t know what they are singing about,” said Michael McKnight, 18, of Denver, who doesn’t speak Spanish.
McKnight said he liked the car displays at Civic Center and was especially impressed with a new Ford Mustang.
The festivities included a benefit El Grito 5K Run/Walk aimed at funding collegiate scholarships for graduating high school seniors who have competed in cross country or track in high school.
In its 14th year, the fundraiser has helped students attend the Community College of Denver, Colorado School of Mines and Boston University, among other schools, according to organizers.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
