Día del Niño

Submitted by Enrique Fajardo on Thu, 2011-11-17 16:07

An investment in the health and welfare of Chicago’s children

Día del Niño (Day of the Child) is a national holiday in Mexico, a day when families celebrate their children. As the Mexican population in the U.S. has grown more and more Día del Niño celebrations have sprung up across the country. The largest of these celebrations is presented by the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) each April in Chicago.

Chicago largest free family health and wellness celebration

In 2012 the National Museum of Mexican Art will celebrate 16th annual Chicago Día del Niño Festival: a free, all-day art, culture, health, nutrition, and fitness festival at the UIC Pavilion. Highlights from the festival include:

April 14th Día del Niño Festival 2012

For more information, please contact 312-433-3916

More than 8,000 people from the Chicago metro area and beyond attended the festival. This included attendees from 66 zip codes. The largest audiences came from Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards, West Englewood, Logan Square, Archer Heights, and Cicero. We even had visitors come from as far as Kenosha and Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

  • A broad range of health free screenings: Each year, free health screenings are provided on site, including glucose/diabetes, asthma, and dental exams, blood pressure and hemoglobin screenings. On average 3 out of 10 attendees receive valuable health services.
  • Nutrition, physical fitness and interactive games are offered, along with many giveaways. These include dance, hopscotch, obstacle courses, running, soccer, and baseball, all with the aim of promoting exercise!
  • 2.1 mile Health Walk! Each year participants begin their day with a 2.1 mile health walk. The Health Walk begins at the Museum, accompanied by music, health-promotion chants, and a lively environment makes it way to the UIC Pavilion.
  • Hands-on Art Activities are provided by Chicago cultural organizations. Activities are designed to engage young minds into the world of art, culture, and healthy lifestyles.
  • The Performance Stage keeps the crowd excited and energized throughout the day. With acts that include music and dance always engage participants and keep everyone clapping their hands!