Our senses can notice that Fiestas Patrias, or Mexican Independence Day, is coming to San Diego.

Our eyes can see the green, white, and red, all over the place. Our nose can smell the Mexican food in the air. Our mouth can taste the flavor of the traditional dishes being cooked in our homes. Our ears can hear the mariachi sounds and the shouts of “Viva Mexico!” in every single event that celebrates Mexican Independence Day in San Diego County.

“The celebration of another anniversary of the start of the struggle for Mexican Independence represents a great moment for the Mexican community living abroad to celebrate its roots and identity with pride,” said Remedio Gomez Arnau, Mexican Consul General in San Diego.

The fun starts on Sunday, Sept. 9, with an event at Memorial Park in Barrio Logan, with Fiestas Patrias de Uniradio. The free event, which is presented by La Poderosa and La Invasora radio stations, will include the music of Chuy Lizarraga, Noel Torres and Nena Guzman.

One of the most traditional and largest events in San Diego is El Festival del Grito, sponsored by Univision Radio San Diego. This year the free event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bayside Park North in Chula Vista. It includes presentations by El Coyote, Voz de Mando, among others.

This is one of the Mexican Consulate official events and the Consul will give the Grito , or Independence Shout, which commemorates Priest Miguel Hidalgo call to fight for Mexican Independence in 1810.

In North County, paisanos in Oceanside will also have a major event. Noche Mexicana will be on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza, 330 N. Coast Highway. There will be mariachi music, food, and children’s games. More information on this free event is available at www.osidenochemexicana.com.

At Old Town, the Fiestas Patrias celebration will be on Sunday, Sept. 16, from noon to 4 p.m.

The Chula Vista Public Library will have several events during Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts with Mexican Independence Day.

Danza group Mexi’cayotl will have two exhibitions at the library, with presentations on Sept. 22 at the South Chula Vista branch, and on Sept. 25 at the Civic Center branch.

Then, on Saturday, Sept. 15, the South Chula Vista branch will have a Hispanic Literacy Day celebration with book and author presentations.

With so many Fiestas Patrias events in San Diego, it is with pride that we shout, “Viva Mexico!”