Travel — Mexico City

September 16th in Mexico City: Unpredictable Thrills of Independence

The Desfile Civico Militar — A Parade That Keeps You on Your Toes

Cindy Roaming
3 min readSep 17

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Photo by Author

If you thought the Independence Day celebrations — El Grito de Independencia — were exciting, wait till you see what’s next! On September 16th, locals and tourists alike flocked to celebrate the Desfile Civico Militar and let me tell you, it was an amazing thing to behold.

The energy in the air was electric. Even I could hear the crowd’s cheers from where I lived. It was as though the entire city had come to life with excitement. I couldn’t resist participating in the festivities around 11 p.m., so I headed to Reforma Street. And, you know what, the place was already buzzing with people eager to catch a glimpse of the parade.

Throng of visitors in Desfile Cívico Militar 2023 Mexico City. Photo by Author

As I searched for the perfect viewing spot, the enthusiasm of the visitors became obvious. They couldn’t stop chanting “Mexico,” “Bravo,” and “Gracias” as the parade passed by. Applause flooded the air, and it was lovely to see everyone joining together to enjoy this special day.

People rush to get a new spot to see the parade in Desfile Cívico Militar 2023 Mexico City. Photo by Author

But what truly caught me by surprise was the parade’s unpredictable route. Just when they thought they had the best spot, the direction changed suddenly, and the crowd shifted. People would rush to the new path to get an excellent viewing position. And then, in another twist, the parade would switch back to its original path, causing the same throng to hurry back to their initial places.

Photo by Author

This delightful back-and-forth added an element of surprise and fun to the event. It kept them all on their toes, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sheer excitement of it all. The Desfile Civico Militar wasn’t just a parade; it was a rollercoaster of…

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Cindy Roaming

I write about my travel story, tips, and itinerary. Currently in Mexico City🇲🇽