Baja Californians prepare independence festivities

By Sandra Dibble Sept. 14, 2013

 A flag vendor in Tijuana's Colonia Cacho this week. - Sandra Dibble

TIJUANA - Thousands of revelers are expected to gather Sunday in Tijuana's Río Zone to shout !Viva México!" as the city partakes in the independence day celebrations.

The festivities are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Monumento de La Independencia, a traffic circle on Paseo de los Héroes also known as Las Tijeras.

The celebration includes food, crafts, and music. But the main event is the traditional independence cry, or grito, scheduled for 9 p.m. by Mayor Carlos Bustamante.

The tradition dates back to 1810, when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato, ordered the ringing of church bells. The event marked the beginning of Mexico's war of independence from Spain, and is celebrated in city halls and town squares across Mexico.

On Monday, a public holiday, Tijuana's traditional independence day parade is scheduled to launch at 10 a.m. at Parque Teniente Guerrero on Calle 5 de Mayo, passing down Calle Segunda before ending on Avenida Revolución at Calle Octava.

For those who want a small-town feel, the city of Tecate has scheduled in independence festivities Sunday starting at 5 p.m. at Miguel Hidalgo Park. The event will feature Mexican dishes, music, and art. Tecate's independence day parade is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday at the park.

In the Baja California capital of Mexicali, Baja California Gov. José Guadalupe Osuna Millán, is expected to lead the festivities. Entertainment starts at 7 p.m. in the Civic Center's Plaza de los Tres Poderes, with performances scheduled by include Orquesta Río Nuevo, Kike Marín, Jovank Ibarra.

The governor is scheduled to deliver the grito at 11 p.m.