Santa Ana's Fiestas Patrias stands as Orange County's signature celebration of Mexican and Latino cultural heritage, marking its 45th edition as a major festival in the region. The event honors El Grito de Independencia (The Cry of Independence) with tributes to the independence and national pride of Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.

Held across two days in the heart of downtown Santa Ana, the festival unfolds on historic 4th Street from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, with a parade launching Sunday morning at 11 a.m. from Main Street and Washington Avenue, traveling south along Main Street to Santa Ana Boulevard. The experience encompasses a street fair with vendors, free live music performances, cultural exhibitors, carnival rides, and a beer garden at Plaza Calle Cuatro.

The 2026 edition features regional Mexican music headliners Luis Coronel and Roberto Tapia on Saturday, followed by El Dasa and La Septima Banda on Sunday. An El Grito ceremony anchors Saturday's main stage at 7 p.m. The parade itself showcases colorful floats, traditional music, and folkloric dance celebrating Mexico's various states and other Latin American countries.

The festival has secured partnerships with major sponsors including the Anaheim Ducks, Disneyland Resort, Northgate Market, Project Kinship, and Telemundo 52, each offering special activations throughout the festival grounds. Admission is free, though the beer garden requires a 21+ wristband for entry. For attendees planning their visit, updated information including street closures and parking recommendations are available through the Santa Ana Parks website.