Today is Mexican Independence Day. Here’s how to celebrate in Tucson.

Mexican Independence Day is giving Tucson residents several ways to celebrate Mexican history, culture and community, from a ceremony at a historic downtown site to mariachi, folklórico dancing, food and family activities across the city. For people with ties to Mexico, El Grito is not simply a holiday event. It is a public expression of heritage and belonging, especially in a border region where families, traditions and identities extend across national boundaries.

The Mexican War of Independence began in the early morning of Sept. 16, 1810, when Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on residents of Dolores, Guanajuato, to rebel against Spanish colonial rule. That call became known as the Grito de Dolores. More than two centuries later, the tradition is observed in Mexico and by Mexican communities around the world. Ceremonies generally include patriotic calls, the ringing of a bell and the raising of the Mexican flag.

Fernando Sánchez, Mexico’s consul in Tucson, described the holiday as a celebration of heritage, family, history and pride. He said that although a border separates Mexico and the United States, it cannot separate culture or a person’s sense of belonging. He also characterized the ceremony as both an emotional moment and a responsibility, because participants invoke the women and men who helped win independence. For those gathered in Tucson, he said, the ceremony can make Mexico feel close rather than distant.

One of the largest public celebrations is scheduled for Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum, 196 North Court Avenue. The free event will include a performance by Danzacultura Mexicana, mariachi music from Los Changuitos Feos, a lecture about the history of El Grito and an independence ceremony led by a representative of the Mexican Consulate. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., and Danzacultura Mexicana is scheduled to perform from 6 to 6:45 p.m.

The Presidio setting adds a layer of local history to the celebration. The original Tucson Presidio was established in 1775 as a Spanish military fort. After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, the Mexican flag replaced the Spanish flag at the Tucson Presidio, which remained in use until U.S. forces entered Tucson in 1856. Kate Avalos, the museum’s director of interpretive programming, said visitors often remember the site’s Spanish history but may not realize that it was also a Mexican fort for four decades.

Danzacultura Mexicana’s appearance also reflects the effort to keep cultural traditions alive in Tucson. The group was founded in 1997 by Carmen Baron, a Tucson artist who was born in Atil, Sonora, Mexico, and raised in nearby Altar. Baron studied architecture at the University of Arizona while pursuing Mexican folk dance, then created the group after another Tucson folklórico organization ended. She has made nearly all of the costumes worn by her students, preserving traditional designs and sewing methods while teaching those skills to younger dancers.

Baron received a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the country’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. The award recognized her work as both a Mexican folk costume maker and a dancer. She has said that her central responsibility is keeping Mexican culture alive through dance and sewing, then passing it to younger generations. Dancer Sylvia Lopez likewise described performing as a chance to understand the meaning behind the costumes and dances and help preserve the traditions.

Families can also attend an El Grito and Mexican Independence Day program at the Richard Elías Mission Library. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. and is hosted by Nuestras Raíces as part of the start of Mes de la Cultura. The Consulate of Mexico in Tucson will lead the ceremony. The program will feature Mariachi Los Diablitos de Sunnyside and Los Diablitos Azules Folklorico of Sunnyside, along with refreshments, youth book giveaways and a photo opportunity. La Estrella Bakery is providing treats, and attendees are encouraged to wear traditional clothing such as china poblana skirts, embroidered shirts, folklórico dresses, rebozos or trajes.

Additional celebrations listed around Tucson include a fiesta at Main Event Tucson, 4700 South Landing Way, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m., with food, music and other festivities. On Saturday, Sept. 19, American Legion Post 59 Cocio Estrada, 750 North Grande Avenue, will host an indoor family event at 7 p.m. with the Suavecito Band, dancing, food and a Grito competition. On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 4 p.m., United Hearts of Arizona will hold its annual fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus, 601 South Tucson Boulevard. That event includes Mexican food, live entertainment, folklórico dancing and an El Grito ceremony led by the Mexican Consulate. Tickets are listed at $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. A separate event at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 East Ajo Way, is described as the 15th annual outdoor celebration of Mexican baseball traditions, although a date and time are not provided.