Mexican Independence Day celebrations underway in downtown Chicago

SATURDAY TO YOU, SIR. I'LL TELL YOU, THE STREETS OF CHICAGO RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY HERE DOWNTOWN ON MICHIGAN AVENUE, ARE PACKED WITH MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY REVELERS. WE'RE SEEING WALK UP AND DOWN MICHIGAN AVENUE RIGHT NOW. WE ALSO SEE RIGHT HERE, EVEN AT LAKE STREET, THEM STARTING TO PUT BARRICADES IN PLACE JUST TO CONTROL THE CROWD TO IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOLKS A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE, BUT ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CELEBRATIONS DON'T GET OUT OF ORDER. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A DECADE EL GRITO FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE IN GRANT PARK. AARON CARTER AND HIS WIFE FROM SKOKIE. WHAT DO YOU LOVE SO MUCH ABOUT MEXICAN CULTURE? OH EVERYTHING. THE MUSIC, THE PEOPLE. MY WIFE, MY KIDS. I MEAN, THEY'RE HALF HALF COLOMBIAN, HALF MEXICAN. SALVAJE AND GEORGE FROM MICHIGAN. BEFORE YOU LEAVE, YOU HAVE TO EAT. WHAT? EAT EVERYTHING. AQUI ESTAN LOS TACOS. THE FAMILY ORIENTED FESTIVAL WELCOMING THOUSANDS INTO GRANT PARK, FEATURING DOZENS OF VENDORS SELLING TRADITIONAL MEXICAN GARB, JEWELRY. ALSO, WHAT WE CALL SOCCER. THEY CALL IT FOOTBALL. NADIE TE PUEDE IGUALAR Y LA. OH, MAN. IT'S AMAZING. EL GRITO. YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT EXPLOSION. LIVE AND LIVING IT IN THE MOMENT. THAT'S WHAT EL GRITO REALLY MEANS. SO IN MEXICAN, WE DO IT TO CELEBRATE AND SHOUT OUT TO THE WORLD LIKE, HEY, COME AND SHOUT WITH ME. LIVE MUSIC, STAGES AND EVERYWHERE YOU TURN. MICHELADA. AND OF COURSE, MY FAVORITE, THE FOOD. THIS WAS THE LONG LINE FOR FUNNEL CAKE PAMBAZO STEAK TACOS AND PORK SKIN TACOS. THE FOOD IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. DOES IT TASTE AUTHENTIC LIKE IT WOULD BACK HOME? 1,000%. TENS OF THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO RALLY DOWNTOWN FOR MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE FESTIVITIES OUTSIDE GRANT PARK. HORNS HONKING MEXICAN FLAGS ATTACHED TO PEOPLE'S VEHICLES. CHICAGO POLICE INCREASING PATROLS, ROAD CLOSURES ALSO IN PLACE WITH SALT TRUCKS IN POSITION, SOON CREATING BARRICADES. AUTHORITIES HOPING EL GRITO WILL MINIMIZE CAR CARAVANS. EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE TOGETHER. DANCE A LITTLE BIT, DRINK A LITTLE BIT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. AND AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT CHICAGO POLICE HAVE MADE VERY HAVE PUT VARIOUS PROTOCOLS IN PLACE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CROWD REMAINS UNRULY. WE KNOW RIGHT NOW, AGAIN, HERE AT LAKE AND MICHIGAN THAT THEY ARE PUTTING BARRICADES UP JUST TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL