"El Piogo" Miguel Herrera, the Mexican football coach whose exuberance for football added to compelling viewing at this year's World Cup, will be joining attendees at the New York Mexican Consulate event on Sunday, Sept. 14, to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.

The Mexican Consulate has events organized for two Sundays so that working families can attend the celebration.

Mexicans all over the world mark the day of Sept. 16, which this year falls on a Tuesday, to celebrate independence from Spanish rule over 200 years ago and to mark the beginning of the Revolution that topped dictator Porfirio Diaz.

On Sept. 16, 1810, father Hilalgo accompanied by several conspirators -- Ignacio Allende, Dona Josefa and Ortiz de Dominguez, names recognized as heroes of the revolution -- rang the bell of his church, calling everyone to fight for liberty.

This was the beginning of the Independence War, which lasted 10 years.

It is those details, the bell ringing and names of heroes, that are the backbone to celebrations re-enacted in plazas through Mexico and in locations all over the world where Mexicans have made their homes.

Streets, houses, buildings and cars are decorated everywhere in the country. On street corner vendors sell flags, balloons, sombreros and rehiletes with the green, white and red, the Mexican national colors.

People of all ages come to the fiestas and food is always a very important part of these festivities. Stands are set up and offer the traditional antojitos, Mexican candies and punch or ponche -- a drink made of fruits that are in season: guayabas, sugarcane, raisins and apples.

In New York, the Mexican Consulate is taking over the vast Kingsbridge Armory, in the Bronx on Sept. 14 -- a space that can accommodate 10,000 people, and offering a five-hour program, starting at 4 pm until 9 pm

Consulate-General Sandra Fuentes-Berain will give the grito address, re-enacting the bell ringing that began the Mexican Independence wars, naming the heroes and cheering, "Viva Mexico!"

There will be local and international musicians -- singers Dianstia Eulogio, Galo Urias, Erick Sanoval, Edna Vazquez, the Roman Ponce Mariachi band, Sonora Bakanera and folk dancing from Yvaidaxiu and Comparsa de Chinelos Guadalupana.

And, of course, there will be food and amusements for the children.

Kingsbridge Armory is 29 West Kingsbridge, Bronx, New York. Subway trains D, B, 4