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Sept. 16 marks the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day, the date in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Mexican priest, held an early morning mass and rang the bell of his church to encourage his people to fight against Spain for their freedom. The call signaled the official beginning of Mexico's war for independence. While Hidalgo was captured and executed the next year, Mexico won the war a decade later and became its own country.

The event is often confused with Cinco de Mayo, which is more popular in America. This date commemorates the Battle of Puebla, which the Mexican army won against the French on May 5, 1862. It is mostly celebrated in the state of Puebla, and though some other regions recognize it, Mexican Independence Day is the true nationwide holiday for Mexico.

To acknowledge the most important moment in Mexican history, several Sacramento restaurants and businesses will be holding their own festivals. Many are celebrating the event all week long. Here are a few activities happening in our community to in honor of Mexico's Independence:

Popular Mexican restaurant Zocalo is hosting a celebration starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

"We're starting the party then because the holiday falls on a weekday and we know people have to go to work the next day," manager Gabriel Rodriguez said of the night's expected liveliness.

Zocalo is also hiring a mariachi band, a band playing norteño-style music, and folklorica ballet dancers performing traditional numbers.

"There will be a professional jimador [a farmer who harvests and prepares agave plants] from Mexico who will do a demonstration on how to carve agaves and produce tequila," said Rodriguez.

The main event of the night is a tasting hosted by Herradura, which will feature the maker's top-shelf tequilas. Tickets for the event are $10. Tasters can also sample other brands from Zocalo's selection.

Ernesto's Mexican Food is celebrating from Monday through Wednesday. The downtown eatery is having drink specials and live mariachi performances on the day of the event. Margaritas made with Cazadores tequila are $7.

"We will also have girls from Tecate who will be handing out free prizes like shot glasses," said general manager Mel Barzola.

"While we are offering the drink specials those days, Wednesday is the major party with the music and dancing," said Barzola.

The restaurant has been celebrating Mexican Independence Day for almost all of its 18 years in business.

"It seems like most of the places are sort of doing their own thing and not really having one big festival together," added Barzola.

The local art scene is also joining the festivities. Private collector Larry Hoover will be opening his exhibition on Tuesday to coincide with the date. Hoover will be showing 30 masks from his his collection of 150 at La Raza Galeria Posada, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. ending on December 31.

The exhibit, called Sacred & Shared, will also host numerous programs for the public, including workshops and demonstrations by master mask makers and lectures about their craft.

The masks are from all over Mexico, demonstrating the diversity and widespread importance of the medium to the nation's culture.