A Fiesta of Pride, Heritage : Celebration: Santa Ana parade draws about 30,000 to commemorate Mexico’s push for Independence in 1810.

Lydia Rivera stretched to hold her 5-year-old son a little higher Sunday, but the smiling youngster still had trouble seeing over the crowd packed along the downtown sidewalks.

But despite his obscured view, little Joseph Rivera had no problem hearing the parade, and he whooped and cheered along with everyone else at the chant of “Viva Mexico!”

Joseph may not have grasped the full meaning of that phrase, which was constantly repeated at Santa Ana’s celebration of Fiesta Patrias de Independencia , but his mother said she’ll make sure that he learns about that and other aspects of his heritage.

“I brought him here today so he could see the Mexican musicians and hear the Mexican music,” said Rivera, 30, almost yelling to be heard over the crowd, estimated by a city official at 30,000. “I grew up in Mexico, but my children were all born here. I want them to know what it means to be Mexican, and I want them to be proud.”

Pride and celebration were themes hard to avoid during the Sunday celebration that closed off more than 10 blocks of downtown for a two-hour parade, daylong live music, food, dancing and carnival rides and games. The festivities were part of the Fiesta Patrias de Independencia , a weekend-long observance of the start of the push for Mexican Independence that began in 1810.

The Diez y Seis (Sept. 16) anniversary, which actually is today, marks the day 181 years ago that Mexicans were rallied by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who made his famous grito (shout) for independence from the Spanish.

The celebration also commemorates independence declarations made in Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. But Sunday, the Santa Ana fiesta had a decidedly Mexican flavor.

“This is such a wonderful celebration here,” said Councilman John Acosta, one of the parade’s participants. “And of course, that has a lot to do with Santa Ana being 65% Hispanic. Frankly, I’m surprised at this turnout. I knew there would be a lot of people here, but I didn’t expect this kind of crowd or this kind of enthusiasm.”

Besides dignitaries such as Acosta, the parade included high school bands, equestrian groups, motorcycle stunt riders, military groups and Shriners. The crowd favorites were the floats and acts geared toward the day’s theme, such as Ballet Folklorico de Jeanette Martinez, which performed Mexican and Latin American dances.

Santa Ana resident Al Cruz worked his way along the sidewalk and occasionally ventured into the street to tape the parade with his camcorder. He plans to show the recording to his children Monday after they return from visiting their grandmother in Pomona.

“They love this kind of stuff,” he said, smiling as a prim-and-proper honor guard marched by. Cruz, who works for a Southland Latino magazine, said he had come out for his third Independencia Fiesta because he enjoys the cultural unity it promotes.

“It brings everybody together, at least for one day,” he said. “For Mexican-Americans, for Latinos, it helps keep alive the tradition that our grandparents and our forefathers taught us. And that’s important, especially here in Santa Ana where there are so many of us.”

He added that the Independencia Fiesta is also an opportunity for the non-Latino population to learn about the culture and heritage of Latinos in a fun environment. “It’s a great way to share and learn.”