On Sunday, Fulton Street came alive with music, traditional dances and cheers during the annual Fiestas Patrias festival.
Celebrated across Hispanic culture throughout September, Fiestas Patrias is a cornerstone tradition that brings communities together in honor of independence and heritage. In Fresno, the celebration drew about 1,000 residents and visitors from across the Central Valley.
Each year, this large-scale event transforms Fulton Street into a hub of culture, food, music and dance. This year’s festivities featured a vibrant parade, two stages with live performances, guest speakers, traditional bandas, and mariachi groups that kept the energy alive throughout the day.
The parade moved in a burst of color and sound, with Oaxacan dancers wearing devil masks stomping to the rhythm as they cracked leather whips against the ground, sending echoes through the street. Behind them, folklórico dancers twirled in wide, flowing skirts, their steps quick and bright against the beat of traditional music.
Families lined the sidewalks waving Mexican and Salvadoran flags, while groups of Colombians marched in festive outfits decorated with bright embroidery and ribbons. The air buzzed with cheers of “¡Viva México!” as children sat on their parents’ shoulders, waving little flags of their own.
For volunteers, the turnout was a reminder of how deeply the community values the event — especially at a time when recent actions by the Department of Homeland Security have sparked fear of deportations within the Latino community.
Among them was Joana Rodriguez, a volunteer at the festival, who said the day’s celebration carried a special meaning.
“It feels really good to see everyone come together,” Rodriguez said. “It feels good knowing that people are not scared right now. People are coming here because they want to feel at home.”
This sentiment was felt throughout the parade on Fulton Street, where groups such as the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A) marched, holding signs that read “Protect undocumented youth.” Their presence aimed to raise awareness about the challenges undocumented students face and to show solidarity with the broader Latino community during a time of heightened uncertainty.
Among those marching was Italia Mendoza Cervantes, a member of M.E.Ch.A, who said she was surprised by the turnout.
“With everything that’s been going on, I wasn’t expecting to see so many people here,” Cervantes said.
She noted that seeing so many people enjoying the festival, celebrating their culture through music and dance, was an incredibly powerful and beautiful experience.
This sense of inclusivity was echoed by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, who emphasized that the city welcomes all residents, regardless of documentation status. While the festival celebrates identity and culture through music, dance and food, Dyer acknowledged that not everyone in the community feels safe enough to join in.
“There are certain people in our community who live in fear in the present — people who are afraid to go to work, to a place of worship or even to a medical appointment,” he said. “There’s a fear of separation from family, from a country they’ve grown to love or even from the country in which some were born. It hurts me to see people live in fear in our city.”
Despite the challenges faced by some members of the community, Fiestas Patrias brought joy, color and a sense of togetherness to Fulton Street. Children danced along the sidewalks, families shared plates of hot dogs and elotes and the sounds of traditional music echoed late into night.
For many, the festival was more than a celebration; it was a reminder of heritage, pride and the vibrant spirit that makes Fresno’s Latino community shine.
