Echos of the Cry of Dolores, also commonly known as “El Grito de Independencia” will be heard Saturday evening in the heart of Chula Vista for the first time in history.
Chula Vista will celebrate Mexican Independence Day with this ceremony, considered one of the most important historical events in Mexican history, as it marks the beginning of the fight for the independence of México. Although the Cry of Dolores is commemorated every year on Sept. 16, the City of Chula Vista will hold its celebration on Sept. 17 from 5 -9 p.m. at Memorial Bowl Stage.
The event will have live performances from the Banda de Guerra, Folkloric & Flamenco Sunshine Ballet de El Centro, Danza Mexicayotl led by Dr. Mario E. Aguilar, among others. Visitors can find bites to eat from local businesses along Third Avenue.
The event will include a welcome from Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. The Grito de Independencia ceremony will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will be led by the Consul General of México in San Diego, Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez.
The Cry of Dolores was the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, first uttered on Sept. 16, 1810, by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, México.
Hidalgo was involved in a plot against the Spanish colonial government, and, when the plot was betrayed, he decided to act immediately. After arming the people, he addressed them from the pulpit, encouraging them to revolt.
México's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Thursday night, rung bells of Mexico City's Zócalo, the capital's main square, alluding to Hidalgo's call while celebrating the country's identity and people, culture, and the challenges it faced.
