Chicano Park Day, now in its 49th year, returns on Saturday

Aztec dancers from numerous groups in the United States and Mexico performed during the 48th Chicano Park Day in 2018.

April 18, 2019 4:18 PM PT

Chicano Park Day returns Saturday for a daylong celebration held in the historic park just south of downtown San Diego under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.

This year’s event, which is free and open to the public, is themed “Danzantes, Protectors of Our Traditions and Chicano Park, 500 Years of Anti-Colonial Struggle.”

Chicano Park was established in 1970 by Chicano activists who protested against plans for what had been designated in 1969 by the City Council as the site of a new park.

Since its founding, the park has been cited through the years for its contributions to the community as well as the significance of its history.

In 1997, it was added to the California Register of Historical Resources. In 2013, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places, and three years later, in December of 2016, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Saturday’s festivities, organized and presented by the Chicano Park Steering Committee, will include musical and dance performances, art workshops, arts and crafts, food and a display of more than 300 lowrider cars and bicycles.

49th annual Chicano Park Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Chicano Park in Barrio Logan. Free. chicano-park.com

Michael James Rocha

Michael James Rocha is the digital creative director at the Union-Tribune. He oversees the online presentation of Union-Tribune stories online and has oversight of the photo and graphics teams. Most recently, he was the arts and entertainment editor. During his tenure, the Union-Tribune’s Sunday arts section was named the best in the nation two years in a row (2021 and 2022). Michael started his career at the Union-Tribune in December 1997 as a features page designer. He eventually became the features design editor, managing a staff of 15 designers and 17 features sections. Through the years, he has done stints as the front page designer, audience development editor and home decor editor. He previously wrote a monthly column on outdoor living, which focused on outdoor decor. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications (with an emphasis on print journalism) from California State University-Fullerton in 1994. He is a founding member of the Asian American Journalists Association’s San Diego chapter, and he has taught magazine writing, editing and design at Point Loma Nazarene University. He also loves dogs.