SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego is home to a large Mexican American community, which means the city knows how to go big when it comes to celebrating Mexican Independence Day.
The holiday lands on Sept. 16 and marks the start of an 11-year war that culminated in Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. The main festivities, however, commence the night before when the El Grito celebration is held to honor the rallying call that started the country’s fight for freedom.
In Mexico City, every year around 11 p.m. on Sept. 15, the president rings a bell from the National Palace balcony to mark El Grito. While we might not have a palace here in San Diego, we have plenty of ways to celebrate Mexican Independence Day across the county.
El Grito: Banda La Reina
On Sept. 15 from 7-9 p.m., Tierra Caliente Academy of Arts is hosting an evening celebrating Mexican culture, heritage and history. There will be live performances, including the traditional Toque de Bandera, Himno Nacional, Juramento a la Bandera and the Grito de Independencia…