Mexican Independence Day Events
The 182nd anniversary of Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 15, will be marked with a variety of celebrations starting Friday. The ceremonies at City Hall next Tuesday will be sponsored by the city of Los Angeles, the Mexican Consulate General, the Mexican Civic Patriotic Committee and KMEX-TV.
In addition, a parade and other activities will mark the 178th anniversary of the independence of the Central American United Provinces, which ended Spain’s domination in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Here are the highlights of the celebrations. Events are free unless indicated. Parade--Olympic gold medal boxer Oscar De La Hoya will be the grand marshal at the Mexican Independence Day Parade Sunday in East Los Angeles. The parade will also feature retiring Rep. Edward Roybal (D-Los Angeles) and other officials and celebrities. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. at 1st and Lorena streets, going east on 1st to Gage Avenue, turning north on Gage to Brooklyn Avenue, east on Brooklyn to Mednik Avenue and south on Mednik to the corner of 1st Street.
Noche Mexicana--A four-day celebration in Montebello will include a carnival, food, and music by Tierra on Saturday and Malo on Sunday. It will be held at the Montebello City Park, 115 S. Taylor Blvd., Montebello; 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 3 to 10 p.m. Monday. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for seniors. Children under 11 will be admitted free.
Central American Festivities--Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica will have combined Independence Day celebrations on Sunday. A parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The route will follow Pico Boulevard to Alvarado Street to Wilshire Boulevard, ending at MacArthur Park. Entertainment and food will be featured at the park from noon to 6 p.m.
Hispanic Arts Festival--Exhibits will spotlight three periods of Mexican history--pre-Columbian Indian heritage, the colonial Spanish influence and modern day culture. Music and dance performances and workshops will span three Saturdays, Sept. 12, 19 and 26 at the Puente Hills Mall, City of Industry, off the 60 Freeway at the Azusa Avenue exit.Fiestas Patrias Festival--Traditional Mexican entertainment, food booths, carnival, a boxing exhibition, parade and folkloric dances will be hosted Sunday by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks, Radio Alegria, KIIS-FM and the Big Event Foundation at Belvedere County Park, 4914 E. Brooklyn Ave., Los Angeles, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
El Grito--On Sept. 15, ceremonies will mark El Grito, the call for freedom from Spain that was given in 1810 by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The ceremonies will be held outside Los Angeles City Hall, preceded by entertainment, beginning at 6 p.m. Scheduled entertainers include vocalists Alicia Juarez, Marisela and Tony Melendez, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Little Joe and La Familia and Grupo Folklorico Nayar de Icanay from Tepic, Mexico. At 10 p.m., a giant screen will carry a transmission of ceremonies from Mexico City. Beginning at 10:40 p.m., the Los Angeles El Grito ceremonies will take place, with the new Mexican consul general, Fausto Zapata Loredo, Mayor Tom Bradley and other local officials.
Park--Festivities will include food, games, dancers and music at Salt Lake Park, 3401 E. Florence St., from 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 17, 4 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18, noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 19, noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 20 and 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21. Admission is $1 for adults, 50 cents for children.
