City of Pasadena Celebrates the Latino Heritage Parade and Festival on Saturday, October 5

PASADENA, Calif.- Celebrate the 26th Annual Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival on October 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is sponsored by the City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Pasadena Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Committee.

The parade and festival have long celebrated Latino history and culture, fulfilling their mission to promote educational and cultural programs for residents of Pasadena and surrounding cities. This year's theme, "We Are Pasadena: We Continue to Flourish," shines a light on a Latino community that is not only growing and thriving but also honoring its roots while enriching the broader tapestry of our city and nation. The event brings together family, friends, warmth, and tradition, enhancing the community with its rich cultural offerings.

More than 2,000 participants and spectators are expected to attend the parade and festival. The parade will begin at the intersection of Los Robles Avenue and Buckeye Street, heading south on Los Robles Avenue and culminating in front of City Hall at 100 N. Garfield Ave. Following the parade, the festival will feature live entertainment, educational booths, free children's activities, and food vendors.

"Pasadena's Latino Heritage Parade and Festival is a proud tradition that not only honors the contributions of our vibrant Latino community but also celebrates the strength, diversity, and unity of our city. This year's theme, 'Somos Pasadena: Seguimos Floreciendo,' reflects the resilience and growth of our community as we continue to build a future rooted in shared values, culture, and history. I invite everyone to join us in celebrating this wonderful event, where families and neighbors come together to honor our past and look toward a bright future." - Mayor Victor M.Gordo.

This year's Grand Marshals are Martín Dorado, an educator and beloved teacher at Madison Elementary School, and inspirational NASA astronaut José M. Hernández, a mission specialist on STS-128.

Martín Dorado, a 5th-grade teacher at Madison Elementary, is in his ninth year with the Pasadena Unified School District. Madison Elementary, a vital part of the Pasadena community, serves perhaps the largest number of Latino bilingual learners in the city. As a public educator, Dorado is dedicated to encouraging and mentoring his students, helping them grow into the individuals they aspire to be. He understands the importance of culture and identity in the classroom, fostering the expression of his students' diverse cultural backgrounds. As a Mexican-American, he is proud of his Zacatecano heritage.

NASA engineer José M. Hernández dreamed of flying into space ever since he learned that the first Hispanic-American had been selected for the Astronaut Corps. "I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, California, when I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Díaz had been chosen as an astronaut," Hernández recalls. "I was already interested in science and engineering, but that moment solidified my dream of becoming an astronaut." Years of hard work paid off when Hernández was selected to train as a mission specialist with the 2004 astronaut candidate class. In 2006, José completed Astronaut Candidate Training and in 2009, he was a mission specialist on the STS-128 mission on board the Space Shuttle, Discovery.

"We're thrilled to celebrate the 26th annual Latino Heritage Parade and Festival. Grab a lawn chair and invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join us for this spectacular celebration," said Koko Panossian, Director of Pasadena's Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department.

The following streets will be closed for the parade and festival during the times listed. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and use caution while driving through the area.

• Buckeye Street between Madison Avenue and Los Robles Avenue, 6 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Los Robles Avenue between Mountain Street and Walnut Street, 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Walnut Street between Los Robles Avenue and Garfield Avenue, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Garfield Avenue between Thurgood Marshall Street and Union Street, 6 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Free parking for the event:

• Pasadena Central Library Parking Lot (270 Garfield Ave.); entrance behind the library, off of Garfield Avenue
• City Parking Lot next to YWCA (255 Union St.); entrance from Union Street
• All Saints Church Parking Lot (200 N. Euclid Ave.); entrance from Euclid Avenue
• Limited street parking is available

Public transportation options:

• Bike: Use the new Union Street Protected Bikeway to attend the event
• Metro train A-Line (formerly Goldline) Memorial Park Station
• Nearby bus lines:
• Pasadena Transit Route 10
• Metro 686
• Metro 180
• Foothill Transit 187

View a picture album from past years.

For more information, please call (626) 744-6530.

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