{"id":21186,"date":"2025-05-23T17:09:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T22:09:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/?p=21186"},"modified":"2025-05-23T17:09:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T22:09:28","slug":"pilsens-mole-de-mayo-festival-canceled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/05\/23\/pilsens-mole-de-mayo-festival-canceled\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilsen’s Mole De Mayo Festival Canceled"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Mole De Mayo Festival<\/h2>\n

PILSEN \u2014 The popular Mole de Mayo street festival, a staple in the Pilsen neighborhood for 15 years, has been canceled ahead of its scheduled Memorial Day weekend festivities, according to reports.<\/p>\n

Reasons for Cancellation<\/h2>\n

WGN reported Friday that festival organizers have not given a reason for the festival\u2019s cancellation. Previous social media posts listed the event as being scheduled for Saturday-Monday on 18th Street between Halsted and Morgan streets.<\/p>\n

Organizers’ Response<\/h2>\n

Calls to a number listed for the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation, a nonprofit that has organized the festival, could not be completed Friday. Its website was also no longer active and the last post on the group\u2019s Facebook page was from September.
\nMarco Blancas, communications director for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), told Block Club Friday that the group \u201chas not been active in 2025 and has not returned our emails requesting an update about their 2025 festival plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

History of the Festival<\/h2>\n

The popular annual celebration of the traditional Mexican sauce \u2014 of which there are many varieties \u2014 has featured mole cook-offs, local food vendors, live music, a small business market and lucha libre Mexican wrestling.
\nThe event moved to 18th Street between Halsted and Morgan streets last year after previously taking place between Ashland and Blue Island avenues on the same street, following concerns from neighbors who lived near the previous festival site.<\/p>\n

Community Impact<\/h2>\n

Over the years, neighbors and Sigcho-Lopez called on the organization to move the festival to a side street over fatigue from street closures, parking headaches and noise. Alex Esparza, who had served as executive director of the Economic Strategies Development Corporation, told Block Club last year that it was important to keep Mole de Mayo on the bustling business corridor of 18th Street as an \u201cemblem\u201d of the neighborhood\u2019s prevailing culture.
\nWhen reached by phone Friday, Esparza hung up.\u00a0A PayPal link on the event\u2019s Instagram page was no longer active.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The cancellation of the Mole de Mayo festival has come as a surprise to many, and the reasons behind it remain unclear. The festival has been a beloved tradition in the Pilsen neighborhood for 15 years, and its absence will be felt by the community. Block Club reporter Madison Savedra contributed.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n