In this edition of the COSAS newsletter, find everything you need to know about the Fiestas Patrias festival and parade this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15, in Downtown Santa Ana! Plus more Santa Ana news and events.
Spotlight Photo
Painter painting storefront near Borchard Avenue.
Photo Credit: Frankie Vera
To submit your own original photo of Santa Ana to be featured in the next newsletter, complete this form.
City Manager’s Highlights
Get ready for Fiestas Patrias!
The City of Santa Ana will celebrate Mexican independence and commemorate Santa Ana’s vibrant Hispanic and Latino cultures at the 44th annual Fiestas Patrias festival and parade on Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15, in Downtown Santa Ana. Read on for everything you need to know to enjoy the festival, watch the parade, and avoid street closures.
Event layout, parking and street closures
This year, Fiestas Patrias will take place in the Downtown Santa Ana area. Please consult the map to locate parking structures, food options, restrooms, first aid stations, and the lost and found. Downtown Santa Ana parking structures will be open throughout the duration of the event and will have a $10-per-day special event parking rate that will apply for cash-only transactions upon entry. Standard parking rates will apply for credit card transactions.
Fiestas Patrias event layout and street closures
Festival program schedule and activities
The Fiestas Patrias festival will take place from 12 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Mariachi Los Reyes will perform on Saturday at 8 p.m., followed by Larry Hernandez at 9:15 p.m. The Santa Ana City Council will honor visitors from our sister city, Sahuayo, Michoacan, Mexico, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on the main stage.
On Sunday, Marisol Terrazas will take the stage at 6 p.m., with Ezequiel Peña following at 8 p.m. There will be carnival rides, vendors, great food, a beer garden, and other exciting community performances throughout the day that you won’t want to miss!
See the full Fiestas Patrias entertainment lineup here.
Watch the parade – 10 a.m. Sunday
The Fiestas Patrias parade will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at Main Street and Washington Avenue, and will continue along Main Street to Santa Ana Boulevard. Once the parade reaches Main and Civic Center Drive, there will be a parade exhibition area with performances and limited guest seating.
If you can’t watch the parade in person, you can watch the livestream on the City’s YouTube channel and TV channel (Spectrum channel 3).
Fiestas Patrias parade route map
Watch the Fiestas Patrias parade livestream
El Grito de Independencia – 7 p.m. Sunday
On Sunday, the City of Santa Ana is honored to host the ceremonial El Grito de Independencia in partnership with the Mexican Consulate, beginning at 7 p.m. on the festival’s main stage. Mexico’s official “Cry of Independence” ceremony is on Sept. 15 and honors the traditional call to arms on the eve of Mexican Independence Day.
News
A new park is coming to 10th and Flower
The Public Works Parks Services Division is planning a new park on the southeast corner of 10th and Flower streets, just north of Civic Center Drive. The concept plan for this 1.4-acre neighborhood park includes a basketball court, skate park, playground area with rubberized play surface, an exercise area, canvas shade structures, turf play areas, new site lighting, water wise landscaping with shade trees, automated irrigation system, site furnishings including benches, bike racks, trash receptacles, drinking fountain and picnic tables, and a park monument sign. This park would be a walk-up, pedestrian park without a vehicle parking lot and would primarily serve the local neighborhood.
The project is anticipated to begin construction in 2025.
View the draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the new park
Garage sale weekend extended to September 14-15
Due to the extreme heat last weekend, September garage and yard sales have been extended to Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15. Sales are allowed at residential properties without a permit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Sports field closures September 30 through November 22
To effectively provide and maintain City athletic fields, scheduled rotating field closures occur during the year for turf recovery, field maintenance and overall improvements. Our Public Works Agency staff coordinate the schedule with our local sports leagues to minimize the impact and ensure that they have the highest quality fields when it’s time to play. Find the list of upcoming field closures at the link below.
Sports field closures Sept. 30 to Nov. 22
Street closures and permitted events September 12-18
You can find the locations of upcoming permitted events and road closures in Santa Ana at the link below. Please drive slowly and safely in construction zones and around crowded events. If a weather event occurs on the anticipated start date, the street closures for construction activity will be delayed until the weather clears.
Street Closures and Permitted Events
Tales of the City
Environmental Justice Action Committee has inaugural meeting
The City’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Action Committee held a successful inaugural meeting on Sept. 4 at the Garfield Community Center. The committee’s main goal was to conduct listening sessions to gather community feedback on priorities regarding environmental justice and the implementation of the City’s General Plan 77 EJ actions.
The formation of the EJ Action Committee underscores the City’s long-term commitment to environmental justice. This committee, which includes resident representatives from each of the five EJ Cluster areas, community-based organizations, and staff from County Health and the City, will be instrumental in executing future EJ actions as detailed in the City’s General Plan. The EJ Action Committee will continue to engage with residents by holding additional meetings across all EJ Clusters in the coming months.
Learn more about the Environmental Justice Action Committee
City Council Meetings
Subscribe here to receive City meeting agenda notifications. City Council meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with the closed session beginning at 5 p.m. or earlier. The open meeting session begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings have both in-person and virtual participation and attendance and are live streamed on the City’s YouTube channel and our TV channel, CTV3 (channel 3 on Spectrum.) If you’d like to provide public comments on agenda and non-agenda items, you can email, attend in person, or join the Zoom webinar online or by phone.
Events
Fiestas Patrias festival and parade – September 14 & 15
Celebrate Mexican independence and our Hispanic and Latino communities on Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15. The festival will include a street fair and vendors, live entertainment, a carnival and family fun.
- Saturday, Sept. 14: 12-11 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 15: 12-10 p.m. (parade at 10 a.m.)
- Downtown Santa Ana
Santa Ana Zoo Free Residents’ Day – September 15
Santa Ana Zoo offers free admission for Santa Ana residents on the third Sunday of every month. Bring current ID for every adult (18 years or older). If your ID has an old address, bring that old ID plus a current utility bill that shows your Santa Ana address. School or business addresses are not valid. Adult residents without proof of current Santa Ana address will be charged full ticket price.
- Sunday, Sept. 15
- 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave.
Renter Protections Community Workshops – September and October
Learn about your rights as a renter! Join our upcoming informational workshops to learn about the City of Santa Ana’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. See the upcoming dates below and click the link for more details.
Workshop dates:
- Sept. 17
- Sept. 25
- Oct. 9
- Oct. 23
Attend a renter protections workshop
Learn more about the Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Inner-Coastal Cleanup Day- September 21
Make a difference in your community and help keep our ocean, beaches, and creeks beautiful! The Public Works Agency is hosting an Inner-Coastal Cleanup Day at Jerome Park on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Sign up to volunteer and join us in keeping Santa Ana clean and prevent pollution from reaching the ocean. We’ll be focusing on removing trash and debris from the Santa Ana Gardens flood control channel and nearby park area to prevent pollution from reaching the ocean. All volunteers are required to sign a waiver, and if under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver. Volunteers need to wear protective footwear (closed toe shoes) and should bring a hat and sunscreen. Drinks and small snacks will be provided.
- Saturday, Sept. 21
- 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Jerome Park, 2115 W. McFadden Ave.
If you would like to participate in the cleanup, please contact Craig Foster at (714) 647-5659 or cfoster@santa-ana.org.
Find more Coastal Cleanup Day opportunities at http://CoastalCleanupDay.org
The Knowledge Mobile: STEAM on wheels – September 24 & 25
Catch the Knowledge Mobile and unleash your inner scientists, artists, and engineers with STEAM On Wheels! Perfect for all ages, our activities blend science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into a whirlwind of discovery.
- Tuesday, Sept. 24
- 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
- Madison Park, 1528 S. Standard Ave.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25
- 2:30- 4:30 p.m.
- Rosita Park, 706 N. Newhope St.
Author Hour: Andrea Gonzalez – September 28
Join Santa Ana Public Library for an Author Hour with Andrea González, writer, journalist, and television host on Univision Los Angeles, presenting her book “Latinas de Éxito.” This collection of interviews conducted by Andrea over the years features influential Latina women, detailing their journeys of struggle, perseverance and triumph. These women, coming from various sectors such as politics, entertainment, philanthropy, and financial education, have not only excelled in their respective fields, but have also become positive role models for society. The panel will be moderated by Univision host and journalist Ninette Ríos. Free book giveaways while supplies last.
- Saturday, Sept. 28
- 2-4 p.m.
- Newhope Library, 122 N. Newhope St.
Resources
Report issues with the mySantaAna app
The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the City of Santa Ana government in the palm of your hand! Download the app to quickly and easily report issues such as potholes, graffiti, downed trees and much more.
Who do I call at City Hall?
Important phone numbers:
- City Hall main line: (714) 647-5400
- Code Enforcement: (714) 667-2780
- Graffiti Hotline: (877) 786-7824
- Emergency Water Services: (714) 953-8026
- Public Works dispatch (street sweeping, trees): (714) 647-3380
Find more phone numbers for all City services
Utility services
- City utility services
- Southern California Edison: Call (800) 447-6620
- Southern California Gas: Call (800) 207-8567
- Trash pick up: Call (657) 467-6220