U.S. Patriotism Will Spice Up Fiesta

The ice cones still may be white, red and green, the colors of the Mexican flag, but almost everything else at this year’s Mexican Independence Day festival will be red, white and blue.

The three-day fair in downtown Santa Ana that has been celebrated annually for more than a decade has been retooled as an event to bolster U.S. patriotism, even more so since it was postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Even 12 downtown Santa Ana pushcart operators, many of whom are Mexican citizens, have pledged $100 each toward an American Red Cross collection for the victims of the attacks on New York and the Pentagon. “Before, people took [the event] for granted,” said Carmen Avila, owner of the Viajes a Mexico travel agency. “Now, everyone is contributing to the event.”

Elsa Gomez, treasurer of the Santa Ana Downtown Business Assn., said she expects to be turning away volunteers who would operate the Red Cross booth. “It’s been a real outpouring,” she said. “This tragedy was a real wake-up call to everyone. We realized we needed to be united.”

Since 1978, the downtown business group has organized a fair to commemorate Sept. 16, 1810, the day the Mexican War of Independence began. For the first time this year, organizers decided to rename the so-called Fiestas Patrias to Fiestas de las Americas. They wanted to be more inclusive of people from other Latin American countries.

After the terrorist attacks, organizers rescheduled the event for this weekend and renamed it Fiestas of the Americas--America United.

As a result, event chairman Frank Palmer and others say, more people than ever are volunteering to help with the event. American flags are flying, and everyone is excited about the new spin.

“I have never seen the enthusiasm for the American flag here--usually it’s the other way around,” said Ray Rangel, owner of R&R; Sportswear. “Now, Mexican people have accepted the American flag.”

The event features continuous entertainment by several bands and local dance groups, and includes five blocks of food and crafts on 4th Street between Ross and French streets in downtown Santa Ana. Carnival rides are at 3rd and Bush streets.

“This is something we wait for every year. But this year, it’s something different with American flags,” said Veronica Ruiz, 27, who was passing by the festivities site Thursday. She plans to return with her sisters and a daughter.

The event begins with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5 p.m. today and runs through the weekend. Today’s festivities end at 10 p.m. Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. No alcohol will be served.