Mexico Marks 215th Independence Anniversary with Historic “Grito” and Nationwide Celebrations

Mexico City, September 16, 2025 - President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo led the traditional “Grito de Dolores” ceremony from the National Palace balcony, inaugurating the country’s 215th Independence Day celebrations.

Nut Graf The first female president to preside over this hallmark event, Sheinbaum’s rendition of Miguel Hidalgo’s rallying cry underscored a milestone in Mexico’s political history and set the tone for nationwide parades, concerts, and cultural festivities that followed.

First Female President Leads Historic Grito

  • At 11:00 PM on September 15, President Sheinbaum rang the original bell used by Father Miguel Hidalgo in 1810, delivering three resounding “¡Viva México!” calls to thousands gathered in the Zócalo.
  • Her role marked the first time a woman has conducted the Grito ceremony, symbolizing progress in gender representation at the highest levels of government.

Grand Parade and Fireworks

  • On the morning of September 16, military divisions and precision formations marched through Mexico City’s central plaza, accompanied by air force flyovers and martial music.
  • Fireworks and a vibrant light mapping show illuminated the National Palace façade, drawing crowds to balconies and terraces across the historic center.

Diaspora Celebrations and Civic Pride

  • In Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, an estimated 400,000 spectators joined the annual parade under the theme “Pride and Power: Our Strength, Our Legacy,” demonstrating solidarity amid ongoing immigration concerns.
  • Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing hosted its 25th Mexican Independence Day Festival, where over 13,000 attendees enjoyed folkloric dance, mariachi performances, and authentic cuisine along the Delaware River waterfront.

Continuing Festivities

  • Throughout the day, public offices, banks, and schools remained closed nationwide, and cities large and small held flag ceremonies, concerts, and communal meals featuring chiles en nogada and pozole.
  • Social media buzzed with images of tricolor decorations, traditional dress, and calls of “¡Viva la Independencia Nacional!” echoing from town squares to urban plazas.

Mexico’s Independence Day 2025 celebrated both the nation’s storied past and its evolving present, uniting citizens at home and abroad in a shared expression of cultural pride and unity.