The Salinas Valley celebrates El Grito and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Salinas Valley residents are preparing for Mexican Independence celebrations and Hispanic Heritage Month. 

All the events will have vendors, live music and folklorico performances, and they are free to attend. 

Festivities begin a few days before Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, starting Sunday, Sept. 13 in Greenfield and Salinas. 

In Greenfield, the party is at the Memorial Hall parking grounds, 615 El Camino Real.

“It’s important to continue with the traditions of our ethnic groups,” says Victor Garcia, event coordinator with Alegria Musical.

The event is free to attend and includes several Greenfield-based bands that play Mexican regional music, including Poder Mixteco, which has Mixteco and Spanish repertoire, and Banda La Campesina. 

In Salinas, there are two events. Tradición Por Siempre is organizing the first on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 11am-5pm on Alisal Street in East Salinas. This event was briefly canceled but was reinstated a few days after residents and businesses rallied to bring it back. Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo donated $10,000 in discretionary funds for the event. It includes bands such as Grupo Tormenta de Mexico and Tamborazo Rancho Alegre. 

The second Salinas event is a week later on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Natividad Creek Park, 395 Nogal Drive, from 10am-6pm and Alegria Musical is also the organizer. This event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and it will have mariachi performances, traditional food and dances.  

In King City, El Grito will be on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the King City Town Square at the corner of 2nd Street and Broadway from 3:30pm-8:30pm. The event will have music, DJs, performances by Danza Azteca and more.