Updated Sept. 2012: The Avenida Guadalupe neighborhood is gearing up for the annual Diez y Seis parade and festival to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. The event is a tradition rich in culture and family fun. 

The 31st annual Diez y Seis de Septiembre Festival begins a bit earlier than the parade, kicking off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, with a drill team competition at the Plaza Guadalupe on the city's west side. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Zarzamora and San Fernando streets. The parade will take a left on Guadalupe and continue until it reaches the Plaza Guadalupe.

The festival stage lineup will include Javier Galvan, Las Fenix, Mariachi Azteca de America, Grupo Karizzia and Walterio Magdaleno. The Annual Grito presented by the Mexican Consulate will take place 5-7 p.m.

Calling All Community Journalists: help capture the event

NOWCastSA is helping residents share the 2012 Diez y Seis parade and festival. NOWCastSA has Flip camcorders available to loan out to to those interested in helping. Residents who are interested in documenting the best of the parade and festival should contact NOWCastSA staff by emailing news@nowcastsa.org to arrange a quick training and pick-up of a camcorder.

NOWCastSA will be at the Plaza Guadalupe throughout most of the day. If you want some help offloading your photos and/or video, NOWCastSA staff will be happy to assist. NOWCastSA will later post the photos and video on the NOWCastSA website (see last year's photos below). Festival revelers can also use Twitter to share the experience by mentioning @NOWCastSA and using the hashtag #SAdiezyseis.

Community journalists helped us cover the sights and sounds of the parade in 2011. Below, you'll see pictures and video compiled by NOWCastSA staff and community journalists, whom we appreciate greatly. Thanks very much to Robert Ramirez of Holy Cross High School; Elizabeth Lopez, Leiah Leremia and Kimberly Rodriguez of Our Lady of the Lake University.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in 2011 by Joe Ruiz.  It has been updated for 2012 by Amanda Evrard.