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

For Tucson residents, Mexican Independence Day offers more than a single celebration. El Grito, the traditional call marking Mexico’s break from Spanish rule, will be part of a week of local events featuring mariachi, folklórico dancing, Mexican food, family activities, music and community gatherings. Events are scheduled across Tucson, giving residents several ways to celebrate Mexican heritage and the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mexican Independence Day is observed every Sept. 16, commemorating the start of the country’s independence movement in 1810. In the early morning hours of Sept. 16 that year, Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on residents of Dolores, Guanajuato, to rise against Spanish colonial rule. That moment became known as the Grito de Dolores, or the Cry of Dolores. More than 200 years later, the tradition continues in Mexico and in communities around the world, including Southern Arizona.

In Tucson, the holiday carries particular weight because many residents maintain close cultural, family and historical ties to Mexico. Fernando Sánchez, Mexico’s consul in Tucson, described the celebration as an expression of heritage, pride and belonging. He said an international border can separate countries, but it cannot separate people from their culture, history, families or sense of home. During El Grito, the ceremony typically includes patriotic calls, the ringing of a bell and the waving of the Mexican flag.

The Mexican Consulate in Tucson will lead El Grito at several community events. Sánchez said standing before the local Mexican community with the flag creates a powerful connection to the people who fought for independence. For families in Southern Arizona, the holiday is also a chance to pass traditions to children and younger generations. Mariachi music, folklórico performances, colorful decorations, Mexican food and community fiestas all help make those traditions visible in Tucson.

One celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Main Event Tucson, 4700 South Landing Way. The restaurant fiesta begins at 5 p.m. and will include food, music and activities marking Mexican Independence Day. Also that day, Nuestras Raíces is hosting a family event at the Richard Elías Mission Library beginning at 4:30 p.m. The program will feature the El Grito ceremony led by the Mexican Consulate, performances by Mariachi Los Diablitos de Sunnyside and Los Diablitos Azules Folklórico of Sunnyside, refreshments, youth book giveaways and a photo opportunity. La Estrella Bakery will provide treats, and attendees are encouraged to wear traditional clothing such as china poblana skirts, embroidered shirts, folklórico dresses, rebozos and trajes.

Saturday, Sept. 19, brings additional opportunities to celebrate. American Legion Post 59 Cocio Estrada, at 750 North Grande Avenue, will host an indoor, family friendly event at 7 p.m. The evening will include live music from the Suavecito Band, dancing, food and a Grito competition. The University of Arizona will also hold a free Hispanic Heritage Celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bear Down Field, accessible from the Cherry Avenue entrance. The celebration is part of Bear Down Bash and will highlight Southern Arizona’s Hispanic culture. The Wildcats will play Northern Illinois University at 7:30 p.m. at Casino del Sol Stadium, though football tickets are separate. A VIP Bear Down Bash ticket includes shaded seating, cooling, dedicated bars and restrooms, access to an entertainment stage, nonalcoholic drinks and a plate from Si Charro.

Sunday, Sept. 20, includes both a traditional cultural fundraiser and a quieter wellness gathering. United Hearts of Arizona will hold its annual Fiesta Mexicana from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 601 South Tucson Boulevard. The event will feature Mexican food, live entertainment, folklórico dancing and El Grito led by the Mexican Consulate. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12, with proceeds supporting the organization’s folklórico students and community work. The Respiro Wellness Festival and Market will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Presidio Museum and Brandy Lion, 196 North Court Avenue. Its schedule includes Pilates at 6:30 p.m., a dance class at 7:30 p.m. and a sound bath at 8:30 p.m., along with local artists, vendors, El Grito and an introduction to the piñata. General admission is $5, and participants should bring their own mat.

Other events extend the celebration beyond the holiday itself. Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, at 2500 East Ajo Way, will host the 15th annual outdoor, family friendly cultural event celebrating Mexican baseball traditions, although the event listing does not specify a date or time. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is also continuing its Latin American programming. “Latin Sizzle” will feature Venezuelan music with violinist Alexis Cardenas, cuatro player Jorge Glem and bassist Elvis Martinez at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Tickets start at $21.05. The series concludes with a Día de los Muertos concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, featuring Edna Vazquez, Mariachi Aztlan and Folklórico Los Guerreros de Pueblo High School. Tickets start at $25.70.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, creating a broader framework for these gatherings. Tucson residents can also explore that history through Mission Garden, a living agricultural museum at 946 West Mission Lane that represents more than 4,000 years of cultivation in the Tucson Basin, with Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese and African American traditions. The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum offers exhibits on Tucson’s Indigenous, Spanish and Mexican history, while the Tucson Botanical Gardens’ permanent Frida’s Garden recreates elements of Frida Kahlo’s garden at La Casa Azul in Mexico City. Together, these celebrations and institutions show how Mexican and Hispanic heritage is woven into Tucson’s food, music, history, gardens and everyday community life.