What Mexican Independence Day is
Mexican Independence Day — Día de la Independencia — marks the moment in the early hours of September 16, 1810 when the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bells of his church in the town of Dolores and called the people of Mexico to rise against Spanish rule. That call is remembered as 'El Grito de Dolores,' and it launched the eleven-year war that won Mexico its independence.
It is the most important patriotic holiday on the Mexican calendar — bigger, in Mexico, than Cinco de Mayo. The celebration centers on the night of September 15, when the President re-enacts El Grito from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City and every town square across the country does the same. The party rolls straight into Independence Day proper on September 16.
How Mexico celebrates El Grito
On the night of the 15th, plazas across Mexico fill with families dressed in green, white and red. At 11 p.m. a local official steps onto a balcony, waves the flag, and leads the crowd: '¡Viva México! ¡Viva la Independencia! ¡Vivan los héroes!' — and the square roars 'Viva!' back after each line. Then the bell rings, fireworks light the sky, and the fiesta begins.
The food is the heart of it: pozole, chiles en nogada (served in the patriotic colors), tacos, tamales and tequila or mezcal. Mariachi plays late, papel picado and flags hang everywhere, and the celebration runs through the night and into the 16th, when military and civic parades take over the streets. It is loud, proud, and joyful — a whole nation throwing the same party at once.
How El Squid Roe celebrates Viva Mexico
In downtown Cabo San Lucas, El Squid Roe turns El Grito into one of the biggest nights of the year. The whole venue goes green, white and red, the DJs and live entertainment run across all three floors, and just before midnight the crowd of locals and travelers joins in the Grito — flag waving, '¡Viva México!' echoing off every level — before the fireworks and the all-night party take over.
Tequila and margaritas flow, the floors stay packed, and the open-air levels keep the celebration going until the early hours. Reserve a bottle-service table for a guaranteed spot with full service all night, or grab an open-bar package to keep the tequila flowing flat-rate. Open since 1989 on Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 1112, El Squid Roe has been throwing Cabo's Independence Day party for decades — and there is no more authentic place to spend it than here, on home soil.
Viva Mexico FAQ
What is Mexican Independence Day?+
It's the day Mexico celebrates the start of its war of independence from Spain. It centers on 'El Grito de Dolores,' the 1810 call to arms by Miguel Hidalgo, re-enacted across the country every September.
When is Mexican Independence Day — September 15 or 16?+
Both. El Grito is shouted the night of September 15, and Independence Day proper is September 16. El Squid Roe's biggest celebration in downtown Cabo San Lucas is the night of the 15th.
What is El Grito?+
El Grito is the patriotic shout — '¡Viva México!' — that re-enacts Hidalgo's 1810 call to arms. At El Squid Roe, the whole venue joins the Grito across three floors just before midnight on September 15.
Is Independence Day a bigger deal than Cinco de Mayo in Mexico?+
Yes. In Mexico, September 16 — and the Grito on the 15th — is the major patriotic holiday. Cinco de Mayo is a much smaller affair domestically and is mostly a US celebration.
What should I wear for Viva Mexico?+
Wear green, white and red — the colors of the Mexican flag. The whole crowd at El Squid Roe goes patriotic for the night, so the more color the better.
What time does El Squid Roe's Grito start?+
The Grito traditionally happens just before midnight on September 15, followed by fireworks and an all-night party. Arrive earlier in the evening to get inside before the floors fill up.
What food and drink is served for Viva Mexico?+
Expect plenty of tequila and margaritas, plus classic fiesta fare. El Squid Roe is a three-floor bar and restaurant, so you can eat and drink your way through the night across all three levels.
Is Viva Mexico at El Squid Roe family friendly?+
El Squid Roe is a restaurant by day and a nightclub by night. The Grito night is a high-energy 18+/21+ party scene, so it's geared to adults rather than young kids.
Where is the best place to celebrate El Grito in Cabo?+
Downtown Cabo San Lucas, on the Marina, is the heart of the action — and El Squid Roe has thrown Cabo's Independence Day party there since 1989. There's no more authentic spot to shout '¡Viva México!'
Do I need a reservation for Viva Mexico?+
It's strongly recommended — it's one of the busiest nights of the year downtown. Reserve a bottle-service VIP table or an open-bar package to guarantee your group a spot and skip the line.
Where is El Squid Roe?+
Blvd. Lázaro Cárdenas 1112 in downtown Cabo San Lucas, on the Marina — three floors, world-famous since 1989. Questions: info@elsquidroe.com.
Spend Mexican Independence Day where it belongs — in Mexico.