Itinerary: Mexican Independence Day

Cinco de Mayo may be the better-known Mexican holiday in the Los Angeles area, but May 5 is not--as some might think--Mexico’s independence day.

El dieciseis de septiembre--the 16th of September--is the date chosen to mark the beginning of Mexico’s rebellion. It was actually late on the night of Sept. 15, 1810, that priest Don Miguel Hidalgo raised the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe and issued El Grito, or cry for freedom. His cry was directed at the French, who had temporarily deposed Ferdinand VII from the Spanish throne--but it was more broadly aimed at colonial rule.

Hidalgo led his army of Indian and mestizo soldiers in a series of battles and even captured Guanajuato before being defeated. Hidalgo was captured and executed, but the idea of freedom had been planted, and 11 years later the independent republic of Mexico was established.

The anniversary of El Grito is next Thursday, but the celebrating starts this weekend.

Friday

Things begin almost a week early at Olvera Street Plaza (between Main and Alameda streets, south of Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, [213] 628-3562). Fiestas 16 offers free live music Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Among the performers scheduled over those three days are Los Tiranos del Norte, Jorge Muniz, Angeles Ochoa, Mariachi Juvenil de Mexico, Carmen Jara, Banda Lizarraga, Geradito Fernandez, Junko, Mariachi Internacional de Mexico, Banda Costa de Oro and Timothy Pollard. For kids, there will be rides and craft areas.

Then, at 8 p.m. at the cultural arts center Plaza de la Raza, writer-actor Ruben C. Gonzalez (not to be confused with the octogenarian Cuban pianist) performs his solo show “The Diary of a Mad Mexican”--described as a journey through the abyss of the Chicano psyche. (Plaza de la Raza, Margo Albert Theatre, 3540 N. Mission Road, Lincoln Park. $10. [323] 223-2475. Also Sept. 17.)

Saturday

At the California Heritage Museum (2612 Main St., Santa Monica; open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays), the exhibition “Ceramica--Mexican Pottery of the 20th Century” contains 300 clay objects, from the burnished blackware of Oaxaca to the brightly glazed Majolica pottery. The show also contains ceramic dolls, Dia de los Muertos creations and animal figures from Tonala.

There are more festivities at Latino Fest Pasadena (Playhouse District, centered at El Molino Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, [626] 744-0340) from noon to midnight. The free street festival will have food, dancing, music and art from Mexico, Central America and South America.

The evening will bring some serious fun toat Self-Help Graphics (3802 Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles. [323] 881-6444), where there will be an opening reception for “Los Cartoonists” from 6 to 9 p.m.

The show of self-published comic books, comic strips, zines and illustrations includes the characters of Lalo Lopez Alcaraz, who draws “La Cucaracha,” seen in the LA Weekly, Esteban Zul of Pocho magazine and Andy Ledesma of Mas Caras e-zine, as well as artists from the Professional Amigos of Comic Art Society and HO! Comix. “Los Cartoonists” will be on display through Oct. 10.

Sunday

Head to the Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, [562] 437-1689; reservations, [562] 435-4048) for Sunday brunch. Each week the museum offers a five-course meal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ($19.95), plus a movie at 1 p.m. ($3) and arts workshops from noon to 4 p.m. ($5). Sunday the movie is “Frida Kahlo: Portrait of an Artist” at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. At 2 p.m., 10-foot-tall Frida and Diego puppets put on a show for kids.