San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza will host a free community celebration on Tuesday, September 15, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to mark Mexico’s Independence Day. The event features folklórico dancing, live music, traditional Mexican food, and the ceremonial Grito de Independencia. Organizers encourage attendees to display their spirit by wearing green Mexico national soccer team jerseys. Media partners NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48 are collaborating with the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco for the 2026 festivities located at 335 McAllister St.
Rooted in History and Grassroots Tradition:
The Grito de Independencia commemorates the historic “Grito de Dolores” delivered by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on the night of September 15, 1810, in Dolores, Guanajuato, which initiated Mexico’s 11-year war of independence from Spain. Globally, Mexican consulates mirror the tradition performed by the sitting President of Mexico, who rings a replica of Hidalgo’s bell from the National Palace balcony in Mexico City. Locally, San Francisco’s El Grito stems from a grassroots movement initiated over 60 years ago by organizer Doña Simo Padilla. Today, the official ceremony at Civic Center Plaza features San Francisco’s mayor alongside the Consul General of Mexico, with support from community partners like MNC Inspiring Success and the Comité Cívico Mexicano. The Consulate General, situated at 532 Folsom Street, serves northern California and Hawaii, drawing regional participation.
A Historic Landmark and National Hispanic Heritage Month:
The celebration takes place at Civic Center Plaza, constructed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style following the 1906 earthquake and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The September 15 event coincides with the launch of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was expanded into a 30-day federal commemoration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Mid-September was designated to honor the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Chile. With Hispanic and Latino residents representing over 130,000 individuals roughly 16.2% to 17.3% of San Francisco’s population El Grito acts as a cornerstone for the city’s broader September programming. Similar consular-backed events are taking place across the Bay Area, including in San José and Redwood City, reflecting the widespread Mexican American presence during Hispanic Heritage Month.
