Fiesta for Mexico’s Freedom Lights Up Centennial Park

For Frank Garcia, Mexican Independence Day isn’t just about mariachis, folk dancing and spicy food. To him, celebrating Mexico’s historic struggle for liberty from Spain is about cultural pride, he said, and the value of trying to make something of yourself.

With that in mind, Garcia, a 51-year-old Anaheim restaurant owner and community activist, has organized a weekend festival aimed at teaching local high school students about Mexican culture and raising money for scholarships and youth projects.

“These kids are from all different races, but they’re going to learn something about Mexico and how to get along with each other,” Garcia said, referring to the local teen-agers who will participate.

“I decided to do this to remind people of the meaning of the holiday, about freedom and also the importance of education,” he said.

The Gran Fiesta de Independencia de Mexico started up Friday at Centennial Regional Park with a family carnival. The carnival continues Saturday and Sunday, but with a full slate of Mexican music, dance and games.

About 60 students from Mountain View Continuation High School Key Club and Saddleback High cheerleading club will staff the booths, serving tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, tamales and fresh fruit. A big menudo contest is also planned.

Sales will help raise funds for their groups, as well as Orange County’s Latin American Sports and Cultural Assn., a Santa Ana soccer league, and the Pop Warner Football League in Anaheim.

The youths are hoping to raise several hundred dollars for college scholarships to help defray book and supply costs, said Lorenzo Lopez, 19, a senior at Mountain View Continuation High School.

This weekend’s celebration has its roots in the midnight cry of Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla that rallied Mexican villagers to begin the fight for freedom from Spanish rule on Sept. 16, 1810. Spain finally granted Mexico its independence in 1821.

As he worked on posters for the event with classmates Thursday afternoon, Lopez said the holiday is important to him.

“It gives me a sense of pride about where I came from,” Lopez said. “It gives me a feeling that if they could do that back then, then I can do something too.”

Racheal Gonzales, 18, a Mountain View senior who is studying to be a computer specialist, said she will be working in a booth Sunday to raise scholarship funds.

“Education is what you are,” Gonzales said. “Without it, it’s a lot harder to do anything.”

Garcia, who only finished fourth grade, often tells his five children that his lack of schooling forced him to work long hours in menial jobs for 10 years until he was able to go into the restaurant business.

The 30-year Orange County resident’s Casa Garcia Mexican Restaurant in Anaheim, provides more than 11,000 free meals to the needy every Thanksgiving.

“I had to learn everything the hard way, but I don’t want kids today to have to do the same,” Garcia said. “I recommend education to everybody. I tell them you have to go all the way. It’s the key to success.”

Garcia’s father, who came to the United States from Mexico in 1908, always celebrated Mexican Independence Day with his family.

“I love America. I vote every year,” Garcia said. “But I still got that blood. Everyone is proud of where they come from. I can’t forget where my father came from.”

With Latinos, mostly Mexican Americans, making up 24% of the county’s population Garcia expects up to 75,000 people at the event.

“Everybody’s welcome to see the culture of Mexico,” Garcia said. “I think we’ll have fun.”