CAN'T RAIN ON OUR PARADE!

The skies may have been gray, but Cermak Road was anything but.

Rain fell from beginning to end during the Town of Cicero's annual Mexican Independence Day Parade — but if Mother Nature thought that ways going to dampen Cicero's spirit, she clearly doesn't know this community!

Cicero District 99 was proud to come out in full force for this incredible celebration of Mexican heritage, culture, family, and community. Students, families, teachers, staff, administrators, Board of Education members — and even our school mascots — braved the steady rain to be part of a tradition that means so much to so many of the families we serve. 

And what a sight it was!

Our school buses rolled down Cermak Road filled with D99 pride as students and staff waved, celebrated, and tossed candy to families lining the parade route. Our mascots joined the fun, music and laughter carried through the rain, and Superintendent Aldo Calderin and Board President Tomschin weathered the elements aboard the District 99 float, proudly representing our schools from start to finish.

But perhaps the best part was looking out at the sidewalks.

Nobody was going anywhere.

Hundreds of people came ready for the weather and determined to celebrate. Umbrellas became Mexican flags. Ponchos covered traditional clothing and festive outfits. Red, white, and green seemed to be everywhere you looked. Families cheered from beneath umbrellas, children reached for candy, flags waved through the raindrops, and smiles somehow seemed brighter against the gray sky.

For a few hours, Cermak Road wasn't defined by the weather.

It was defined by the people.

That is what makes celebrations like this so meaningful to District 99. Our schools don't simply exist in Cicero — we are part of Cicero. The culture, traditions, history, and heritage of our families are woven into the identity of our school community. When our students have an opportunity to celebrate where their families come from and share that pride with their teachers, neighbors, friends, and community, that is something worth showing up for — rain or shine.

And show up, Cicero did.

There was something special about watching our students continue waving from the buses, our mascots keep entertaining the crowd, and families along Cermak keep cheering while the rain continued to fall. Nobody needed perfect weather to have a perfect reason to celebrate.

Maybe that was the best picture of our community all day: soaked by the rain, surrounded by red, white, and green, and still smiling.

District 99 extends a heartfelt thank-you to Town President Larry Dominick, the Cicero Board of Trustees, the Department of Special Events, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to bring this wonderful community tradition together.

Most of all, thank you to every D99 student, family, educator, staff member, administrator, Board member, and community member who refused to let a little rain get in the way of a whole lot of pride.

The rain came down.

Cicero showed up anyway.

¡Viva México!
¡Viva Cicero!
And viva District 99!