EL CENTRO - In El Centro, thousands of Imperial Valley residents took to a baseball field tonight… to celebrate Mexican Independence Day of course.
The event is called El Grito de Independencia & taco Cook-off.
Mexican Independence Day might've been last Sunday, but don't tell these folks. They flocked to Stark Field in El Centro tonight to celebrate, and did they ever.
"The event is great",says El Centro resident, Andres Delgado. "It really brings the community together. We need to have more like these for the whole family".
The night was filled with live music from the oldest musical tradition in Mexico, Mariachi.
Later it was the traditional folkloric dance numbers that entertained the large crowd.
"As a dancer it feels really good", says Alexandra Gutierrez. "To be able to represent what Mexican culture is all about and what our past heroes fought for in Mexico for us to have this freedom as Mexicans".
Ah yes, and then there was the food. Dozens of local restaurants and vendors came out and showed off their own unique style of cooking.
Everything from hotdogs, to burritos and pizza, and yes the tacos.
Speaking of tacos, there was a good ol' fashioned taco cook-off, with judges tasting over a dozen entrees.
Antojitos took first price while Rey Tacos came in at a close second.
The event marks a special day in Mexico and those that attended say that it's important to know a little bit of the history.
Social Tools