Celebrations around county to mark Mexico’s 215th Independence Day
Mexico City FILE photo screen capture courtesy of uceap universityofcalifornia edu Celebration around San Diego County will mark Mexico s th Independence Day this weekend featuring music dancing food and traditional crafts from Chula Vista to Escondido The official Mexican Independence Day is Tuesday but multiple events will commemorate the Grito de Delores Cry of Delores on Saturday and Sunday On Sept Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang a church bell in Dolores Mexico and gave a call to arms that ignited the Mexican War of Independence This independence from Spain took a bloody years and days to achieve but the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire was signed on Sept In San Diego s historic Old Town the Fiestas Patrias begins Saturday at Old Town State Historic Park with a parade featuring park staff and contributors wearing s period clothing Visitors can also experience traditional crafts such as cascarones confetti-filled eggs corn husk dolls and paper flowers living history demonstrations and historic adobe walking tours with Folklorico dancers performing throughout the day Avocado lovers can taste contestants entries in the first Old Town Guac Off to find the best guacamole in the neighborhood The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park will host its Mexican Independence Day Celebration on Saturday starting at a m featuring performances by Mariachi Continental SD DanzArts Radical Ensamble Tato Monraz and Ricardo Arredondo M sica del Barrio and Los Charros de Rancho del Sol de San Ysidro Ambassador Alicia Kerber Consul General of Mexico in San Diego will commemorate the day by reciting El Grito followed by a sing-along of the National Anthem Also Saturday the fourth Annual Celebracion Mexicana will kick off at University of San Diego s Shiley Theatre Mariachi Real de San Diego will perform while dancers of all ages will showcase their skills and outfits Following the performance there will be Mexican snacks candy pan dulce and artesan as available for purchase in the garden area while the mariachi continues to play in the garden On Sunday Chula Vista will commemorate El Grito with Mayor John McCann hosting a traditional Mexican Independence Day celebration This event runs from p m - p m in Chula Vista s Memorial Park Park Way It will feature mariachi ballet folkl rico and music from Norte o singer Tapy Quintero The El Grito will begin at p m conducted by the Consul General of Mexico s Office in San Diego If you find yourself in North County head to Escondido s Grape Day Park N Broadway for the Fiestas Patrias Festival The all-day event begins with a church mass at noon followed by traditional dancing mariachis ballet folklorico and live performances Two stages a beer and wine garden food and craft vendors and a children s area will run throughout the day with an official El Grito performance at p m At noon Vista will host its second annual Fiestas Patrias featuring a soccer tournament kids play area live music and dance local food and businesses and The Mexican Consulate in San Diego will lead the Grito de Independencia Ceremony City News Function
