Mexican American labor leader Cesar Chavez made his name fighting for the rights of farmworkers.

On Saturday, painters and tapers, glaziers and carpenters were among those who turned out for a parade and street fair in San Francisco’s Mission District to honor Chavez’s life. The workers said Chavez’s fighting spirit carried added resonance in today’s recessionary times.

"People who sell their labor for a living need now, more than ever, to stand together in solidarity," said 83-year-old Denis Mulligan, a carpenter for 61 years. "Cesar Chavez is a hero to me. He made sacrifices to improve the lives of the working class."

The parade and festival, marking the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez, born March 31, 1927, drew hundreds of people and support from 150 community organizations. Participants gathered before noon across from Dolores Park and made their way to 24th and Bryant Streets.

John Garibaldi, 62, said he’d "been pounding nails since 1969," and turned out for the parade because he wanted to "show respect for the working people."

Carpenter Bob Mattacola, 56, who has been working the trade for 35 years, recently returned to work after four months of anxious unemployment.

"I started working again two weeks ago," Mattacola said. "You realize how important your job is when you get to the point where you can’t pay your bills."

Azalia Merrell, 36, also a carpenter, said Chavez sacrificed for workers who were struggling to put food on the table. Chavez, whose family lived for a period in San Jose, was a founder of the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. He died on April 23, 1993.

"His work and legacy is about spotlighting the plight of hard-working people," Merrell said.

A street fair began where the parade ended. Several blocks on 24th Street were closed for music, dancing and vendors. A side street quickly filled with gleaming lowrider cars, many of which had been a part of the parade.

Tony Ibarra, who was born in Mexico City, stood next to his gunmetal gray, six-cylinder, 1954 Chevy. He said he takes time each year to honor Cesar Chavez.

"He gave a lot of people a lot of hope," said Ibarra. "It’s a message that is important today, as people are really struggling."

Don Mabutas worked on his 1951 Chevy Skyline DeLuxe Sedan, which he has been tricking out for two decades.

As he polished his car’s chrome floater hubcaps – shaped in the form of a woman’s body – Mabutas said the relevance of the day was not lost on him.

"I’m a construction worker," he said. "I’m like everyone else. I’m paycheck to paycheck. Trying to stay afloat, to take care of my family, to keep the faith. That’s what Cesar Chavez stood for."

E-mail Julian Guthrie at jguthrie@sfchronicle.com.