Today’s weekend gets an early start on the eve of Independence Day. There are no shortages of parties this weekend to celebrate the day off work, and oh right, Mexican Independence, and The News has a few tips for our readers.
THURSDAY
Bust out your red, green and white face-paint and your Mexican flags if you head to the Presidential “Grito” in the Zócalo in the Historic Center. El Grito is the yearly spectacle re-creating Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s impassioned cry on the night of September 15, 1810, calling Mexicans to rebel against the Spanish Crown.
Turn-out is expected to be low for Peña Nieto’s Grito in the Zócalo, as he faces multiple scandals. Better yet, check out the festivities in one of the borough plazas around Mexico City. Each borough puts on a concert and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. One of the best options this year is in Venustiano Carranza, where New York salsa legend Willie Colon will be playing. The concert starts at 10 p.m. and more information is on the borough website. In the Cuauhtémoc borough, the cumbia stand-bys Sonora Dinamita and Los Askis are both performing. The festivities start at 3 p.m. with food vendors and the first acts. The big names go on starting at 10 p.m. Read more here.
If cumbia and salsa aren’t your cup of tea, the American Legion is hosting a reggae night, “Heavy Manners IV” starting at 10 p.m. There’s no cover and the Facebook event has more details.
FRIDAY
Once you’re over your hang-over on Friday, you can watch the annual Independence Day Parade (Desfile) which starts at 10:30 a.m. Also take into account that roads will be closed for the Parade.
Friday night is the seventh edition of the popular Mami Slut party at Bar Bahía in the Juárez neighborhood. The party starts at 10 p.m. and has an 80 peso cover. Bar Bahía is on Tolsá 36. Check out more information on Facebook.
This weekend the K-Pop (Korean pop music and culture) “K’Show 2016” comes to Expo Reforma at Morelos 67 in the Juárez neighborhood. There are regular entry tickets for 120 pesos and VIP tickets for 250 pesos. It is the first convention dedicated to K-Pop in Mexico. The headliner is Dabit from South Korea. More information on the event website.
SATURDAY
Saturday the Digital Culture Center is hosting a Slam Poetry open mic. The event starts at 5 p.m. at the Center, on the Paseo de Reforma on the corner of Lieja Street in the Juárez neighborhood. The requirements for entry are on the Center’s website.
Saturday night at Cine Tonalá in the Roma Sur neighborhood, comedian Mau Nieto takes the stage for a solo stand-up show. Tickets at 200 pre-sale or 220 the day of the event. Cine Tonalá is at Tonalá 261 and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. Read more on their Facebook page.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, if you still have Juan Gabriel fever, check out the musical homage to the great singer. The Teatro de la Ciudad Bicentenario in Naucalpan de Juárez will be honoring the legend with two shows, one at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free but the borough government recommends arriving half an hour early for tickets. More information is available on the Facebook event.