Mexican Independence Day, L.A.

LAist (laist.com); Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Ashley Wells, Pfc. Sandoval, Wisdom Quarterly

Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16) festivities take over downtown L.A., Costa Mesa, and Santa Ana on Sunday, Sept. 15. The Halloween/Dia de los Muertos season begins as Horror Nights and the Haus of Creep open. The Son of Monsterpalooza has a weekend run in Burbank. And there are art and music festivals in Glendale, Mid-Wilshire, Rosemead, and Santa Monica. More

Mexican Independence Day Concert

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, 6:00-9:00 PM

San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, 320 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel

Celebrate the holiday with a concert from Mariachi Cantares de México. Watch the dancers of Esperanza Flores Ballet Folklorico open the festivities at 6:00 PM. Come hungry because downtown San Gabriel businesses are open. Chanos' Mexican Food will be available for purchase along with all natural ice lollies from Nomad Ice Pops. Parking is free. Chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, or bring your own. COST: FREE admission.

Rosemead Moon Festival on Valley Blvd.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, 3:30-11:30 PM

Between Ivar Ave. and Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead

The 6th annual Rosemead Moon Festival on Valley Blvd. is a mid-autumn family fest features a night market with more than 120 Asian street food and drink vendors, family-friendly games and entertainment. Performances start at 6:30 PM in front of Rosemead City Hall on Valley Blvd. The traditional mooncake giveaway on the stage could happen anytime between 6:30 and 10:30 PM. COST: FREE.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, 3:30-11:00 PMNFMLA Film Festival InFocus: Latinx & Hispanic Cinema FestivalLinwood Dunn Theater, 1313 Vine St., HollywoodNewFilmmakers Los Angeles teams up with AMPAS for a short film festival that screens local and international films by emerging filmmakers from Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Spain, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Australia, Canada and the U.S. Doors open to the public at 3:30 p.m. with receptions before each of the three screening programs. COST: $15; MORE

Aztec dancers in the 2018 Fiestas Patrias parade in Santa Ana (Mario Tama/Getty)

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 and SUNDAY, SEPT. 15Fiestas Patrias602 N. Flower St., Santa AnaSanta Ana's Mexican Independence Festival offers family-friendly activities over two days. Watch performances by El Dasa, Los Rieleros del Norte, and Angeles Ochoa, buy authentic foods, and enjoy carnival rides, games, and art and culture exhibits. The traditional El Grito Ceremony, led by the Mexican Consulate, takes place on Saturday night. The big parade marches down Main Street in Santa Ana beginning at 4:00 PM on Sunday. COST: FREE; MORE

Additional Fiestas Patrias events include:

• Que Buena Fiestas Patrias 2019 at Los Angeles State Historic Park in downtown L.A. on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free.
• Family Day: Fiestas Patrias at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A. on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 12 - 4 p.m. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 15, 5:00-10:00 PM El Grito City Hall Spring St. Steps and Grand Park — 200 N. Spring St., downtown L.A.In addition to local vendors, food trucks and a carnival, there's live music with headliners Los Tigres Del Norte. COST: FREE; MORE

SUNDAY, SEPT. 15, 1:00-7:00 PMMariachi Festival 2019
Ontario Town Square, 224 N. Euclid Ave., Ontario
This family music fest doubles as a fundraiser to keep the unidos por la música program active in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Listen to mariachis while noshing on street tacos and other snacks from vendors. Browse arts and crafts or sip on a cool drink (for those 21+). COST: FREE admission; MORE