September 16 military parade

It is also attended by members of the Cabinet of Mexico, the Congress of the Union, civil service employees, the Secretaries of National Defense and Navy, members of the Mexican Armed Forces, uniformed service veterans, the state diplomatic corps, delegations representing the religious sector, indigenous peoples, sports and the private sector, and the general public.

After the flag raising the President and the National Defense and Navy Secretaries ride on a military vehicle to inspect the parade on the Zócalo.

As the President of Mexico walks towards the balcony of the National Palace with the First Lady, the National Defense and Navy secretaries and the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as they meet the military delegation present the massed Corps of Drums' principal bugler sounds a call to attention and the parade is ordered to present arms.

As they appear on the balcony the bugle majors and the principal bugler give the signal for Marcha de Honor ("Honours March") to be played.

Following the double march the military exhibition begins with a parachute drop by members of the Brigada de Fusileros Paracaidistas and the Mexico Naval Infantry Force's airborne battalion on the Zócalo.

Once the permission has been granted the bugle majors and the principal buglers of the Corps of Drums give the signal to start with (paso redoblado) and as both them and the massed military bands play the National Defense March the parade proper begins with the march past the Mexican national flag and its color guard, the standard bearers of the Mexican Armed Forces and the colour guards of the Heroic Military Academy, the Heroic Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, followed by soldiers carrying national flags.