This past weekend, Downtown Oxnard burst into a vibrant display of red, white, and green as Mexican flags and festive decorations adorned the streets, transforming the city into a festive atmosphere ahead of the Fiestas Patrias celebration, which Radio La M, organized this year. The festivities included a parade, the ceremonial “Cry for Independence,” and live music that echoed at Plaza Park. Attendees enjoyed a rich array of traditional foods, while vendors and information booths created a lively marketplace, offering everything from handcrafted goods to essential community resources.
Families filled the bustling downtown streets, many dressed in vibrant traditional Mexican attire, while some sat patiently, phones in hand, eagerly waiting for the entertainment. This year we celebrate 216 years of Mexico’s independence, a legacy we owe to our parents and grandparents who fought for our freedom. Our responsibility, as their children, grandchildren, and future generations, is to keep that spirit alive and continue celebrating our independence.
Fiestas Patrias celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16th. This day marks the historic moment in 1810 when priest Miguel Hidalgo issued the “Cry for Independence,” a passionate call for Mexicans to rise against Spanish colonial rule. Hidalgo’s cry for independence ignited a revolution that would eventually lead to Mexico’s freedom, and it is this moment of national pride that is honored not only in Mexico but in communities around the world. In Oxnard, the celebrations began on Saturday, September 5th with the 4rd Annual Señorita Fiestas Patrias 2025, hosted by the West Coast Cultural Arts (WCCA). Eileen Sanjuan, representing the beautiful state of Chihuahua, was the winner of the Certamen Fiestas Patrias 2026.
Hundreds of residents and local dignitaries joined Mexican Consul Ricardo Santana Velázquez on stage for the highly anticipated “Cry of Independence.” “As they say, it’s when we’re far from our homeland that we feel the deepest passion for Mexico,” said Consul Santana. In a moving tribute to Oxnard’s working-class families, Consul Santana Velázquez personalized the traditional “Cry for Independence,” paying special homage to the community’s migrant agricultural workers. His voice rang out:
Mexicans of Oxnard!
Long live Miguel Hidalgo!
Long live Morelos!
Long live Allende!
Long live Aldama!
Long live the heroes who gave us our homeland!
Long live the Mexican migrant workers!
Long live the Mexican farmworkers!
Mexicans of Oxnard!
Long live Mexico!
With each proclamation, the crowd roared in response, united in pride and gratitude for the generations of workers whose contributions continue to be essential to both Mexico and the United States.