Sutter's Fort Mexican Flag Day

Mexican Flag Day (Día de la Bandera) is an annual event held at Sutter's Fort State Historic Park on February 24th. In 1940, Mexico’s President Lázaro Cárdenas decreed February 24 as the Day of the Flag. The last modification to the Flag of Mexico was in 1968. This event is made possible in partnership with Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California.

When John Sutter migrated to the Sacramento Valley in 1839, California was a part of Mexico. In 1840, Sutter became a Mexican citizen and a representative of the territorial government. The Mexican Flag was flown at the Fort until July 1846 when the United States military seized California during the Mexican-American War. Every day at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, we fly the Mexican Civil Flag, also known as the Merchant Flag, to interpret a time in California’s history before it was a part of the United States.

For the event, it is free for the public (10am to 12pm) and we block off Reserve California reservations during that time. 

We do have other classes visit though from a local school and many of them read an essay they prepared about the Mexican Flag. It has varied subtly over the years with other organizations participating, such as folklorico dancing, speeches, Aztec dancers, and tamales provided to those in attendance.