A day of celebration anticipating Dia de Independencia is set at St. Mark’s Anglican/Episcopal church in Guadalajara for Sunday, September 14, two days before the actual holiday. The festivities begin at the 10:30 a.m. English Mass, with the 10-member English choir, invited soprano Karla Martinez and guitarist Daniel Lemoine performing “México Lindo y Querido” along with hymns, directed by Debra Rodriguez with acclaimed organist Ana Silvia Guerrero.

Next, starting at 12:30 p.m., Spanish speaking parishioners celebrate Mass in Spanish and then host a five-hour party in the garden and hall, culminating in energetic couples dancing that lasts until 6 p.m. Tickets for the party will be available at the door. They cost 100 pesos for adults and 50 pesos for children 6 and under, and include a taquiza and mariachi band.

“We hope people in the community will come, beginning with the Masses,” said Jim Priddy and Ramon Rios, priests at St. Mark’s.

Although the party will include folkloric dancing, a mariachi band, a bar, a taquiza and best-costume and best-singer contests, it promises to be more tranquil than the rowdy celebrations held in Guadalajara’s city center, where participants are advised to hold onto their hats and their wallets.

Father Rios said the day will begin in a solemn tone, and that Spanish Mass will be followed at about 1:30 p.m. with an outdoor flag ceremony, singing of the national anthem and a talk by Professor Armando Rios.

Then things lighten up, with singers performing favorite tunes such as “Cielito Lindo,” a best-singer contest, five high-powered ballet folklorico dance groups, a full taquiza (taco spread with all the fixings including dessert), a bar offering tequila for 20 pesos and beer for 15 pesos, a seven-person mariachi band and two hours of couple dancing that wind up with a best-costume contest.

For tickets, call Maria Gunn (English or Spanish), (33) 3611-0520; or Father Ramon Rios (Spanish) (33) 3665-6534.

St. Mark’s Anglican/Episcopal church, corner of Chichimecas and Aztecas in colonia Terrazas Monraz at end of bus route 33-A, or a two-minute drive north of Plaza Mexico. (33) 3641-6620.