Mercado on Fifth is urging Quad Citians to save the date on Oct. 28. That’s when the downtown Moline outdoor marketplace is expected to bring back 2022’s successful Día de los Muertos parade.
Antonio Varela, Mercado on Fifth’s communications director, told the QCBJ “We are doing the finishing touches to the parade details now that we have the route and times.”
This year’s parade – which is once again designed to amplify the annual Mexican Day of the Dead celebration traditionally observed Nov. 1-2 – will begin at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28. There will be an After Party immediately afterward at Mercado on Fifth.
“The title sponsor is Group O but we will be getting other sponsors to be a part of the event,” Mr. Varela said. “Our previous director Anamaria (Rocha) was passionate about the holiday and she made it happen and even though she is no longer with us we would like to continue the celebration to inspire and represent that Hispanic culture in the Quad Cities.”
Ms. Rocha left Mercado on Dec. 1, 2022, to become business manager at Iman Consulting.
Last year, the organization’s inaugural Día De Los Muertos parade and after-party capped a record-shattering 2022 season for the Friday outdoor market on Moline’s Fifth Avenue that also supports Hispanic entrepreneurs.
This year, Mercado’s outdoor market will end its season on Friday, Sept. 29, pending rain-outs.
