23-05-2025
Popular Mole de Mayo Festival shuts down
CHICAGO — The popular street festival Mole de Mayo will not be happening this Memorial Day weekend.
The event has been a tradition in the Pilsen neighborhood for 15 years with food, music and professional wrestling matches known as lucha libre.
Organizers have not said why the event that attracted thousands of people to Pilsen has been canceled. Mole de Mayo was hosted by the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation, a non-profit organization helping businesses in the predominately
Mexican neighborhood thrive.
The organization's website ( ) has also been shut down.
WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud
WGN Investigates reached out to 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez to ask about the Memorial Day weekend event. The Alderman's Communications Director said, 'ESDC has not been active in 2025 and has not returned our emails requesting an update about their 2025 festival plans.'
Last year – Mole de Mayo was moved a few blocks from its original location of 18th Street between Ashland and Blue Island after complaints from residents.
Each year the festival crowns the Chicago restaurant with the best mole in town – helping attract customers to the historic Pilsen neighborhood.
Organizers have not responded to WGN Investigates
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