The mine collapsed on 5 August 2010, cutting off the miners at a depth of more than 700m (2,300ft).
The last miner was winched to safety on 14 October after a 22-hour televised rescue that gripped the world.
Safety improvements An ecumenical Mass will begin the anniversary events, before the Phoenix II capsule - used to haul the men to safety - is placed in a local museum commemorating the rescue.
The museum will also house the now-famous note, written by miner Jose Ojeda to rescuers while underground, which translates as: "We are all well in the refuge, the 33 of us".
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69 days: The miners' long wait for rescue
He says many of the miners regard this as a day they would rather forget, when they were plunged into darkness, entombed in the earth and when they thought they were going to die.
Shift leader Luis Urzua told Agence France-Presse: "Some have problems with their memories and they're suffering. We don't all have the same capacity to bounce back."
Friday is the first of several anniversaries, culminating in a huge celebration on 13 October to mark the start of the final rescue operation.
Millions watched on TV as they emerged one by one from underground after a massive rescue operation had managed to drill a hole large enough to pull them to the surface.
Current mining minister, Hernan de Solminihac, told the BBC that safety in Chile's mines had improved greatly.
Mr de Solminihac said that improved miners' training and an increased number of inspections had halved the number of fatal mining accidents in the first six months of the year, compared to 2010.
"This accident was a lesson for us and we are working very hard since then to improve the safety of our industry," he said.
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