Roads, Parking Lots Closing For Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe: Des Plaines PD

DES PLAINES, IL — Some business parking lots and roadways near the Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe will be closed due to expected large crowds for the annual two-day pilgrimage. According to Des Plaines police, the closures will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday and continue to about 10 p.m. Friday.

The closures will be off of Central Road, between Wolf and East River roads. Police said residents in the area and people with business in the neighborhoods will still have access to closed roads. Event attendees will likely use River Road for the pilgrimage, so those not attending should avoid the area if possible.

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Every year, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe brings thousands of Catholic pilgrims to the area to celebrate the patron saint of Mexico, but 2025 hasn't been typical for many planning to attend. While there's a chance fewer people make their way to the Shrine of Guadalupe due to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in the area, organizers believe it will still be well attended.

"I've been calling on the community to take some courage and come to the pilgrimage," Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, rector at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe since 2016, said Monday. "However, if people don't feel safe, if people don't feel comfortable in coming to the pilgrimage for whatever reason, be it the weather, age, illnesses, or whatever concerns they might have, it's ok."

Access a parking and shuttle map at desplainesil.gov/guadalupe. Learn more about the Pilgrimage at solg.org.