Along with all the national holidays and festivities that will be observed during 2016, there will be many special celebrations going on in the Lake Chapala area. Check the Reporter’s pages for news of big events the local government will be scheduling month by month. Meanwhile, here’s a glance at the principal fiestas patronales honoring religious patrons and important saints, plus other traditional happenings that will keep the community jumping through the year:
(Events marked with an asterisk (*) change dates from one year to the next.)
January 1: New Year’s Day parade-Ajijic.
January 5-17: Señor del Monte fiestas patronales-Jocotepec.*
January 6: Día de Reyes (Epiphany) festivities.
January 17: San Antonio Abad festivity, blessing of domestic animals and pets.
January 20: San Sebastián fiesta-Ajijic.
January 29-February 9: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) celebrations-Chapala, Ajijic*
February 2: Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), blessing of infants and religious objects.
February 2: Día Estatal del Lago de Chapala (Lake Chapala Day) coincides with World Wetlands Day.
February 9-11: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes fiestas patronales-Chapala.
February 20-March 4: Northern Lights Music Festival-Ajijic.*
February 26-28: 38th Mexican National Chili Cookoff-Tobolandia Water Park.*
March 11-19: San José fiestas patronales-Jocotepec.
March 18: Virgen de Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows) altar displays.*
March 20: Palm Sunday Processions.*
March 24: Maundy Thursday, Passion Play sequences begin-San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, Jocotepec.*
March 25: Good Friday processions and Passion Plays*
March 26: Holy Saturday observances, late night Easter Vigil and Resurrection Mass, followed by Quema de Judas (burning of Judas effigies).*
April 23-May 1: Señor del Guaje fiestas patronales -Jocotepec*
April 25-May 3: Santa Cruz fiestas patronales-Santa Cruz de la Soledad
May 3: Día de la Santa Cruz (Day of the Holy Cross), construction site parties, processions, altar displays.
May 26: Corpus Christi procession–Jocotepec.*
May 26-June 3: Sagrado Corazón de Jesús fiestas patronales-La Canacinta*
June 1: Día de la Marina (Navy Day) commemoration.
June 5-13; San Antonio de Padua fiestas patronales-San Antonio Tlayacapan.
June 11-13: Nuestra Señora de Fátima festivities-San Juan Cosalá.
June 16-24: San Juan Bautista fiestas patronales-San Juan Cosalá, San Juan Tecomatlán.
June 21-29: San Pedro Apóstol fiestas patronales-San Pedro Tesistán.
July 8-16: Nuestra Señora del Carmen fiestas patronales-Chapala.
July 10: Virgen de Zapopan summer pilgrimage*.
July 17-25: Santo Santiago fiestas patronales-Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.
July-August, date TBA: Chupinaya Mountain Running competitions. *
August 7-15: Virgen de la Asunción fiestas patronales-Mezcala de la Asunción.
August 13-14: Feria del Membrillo (Quince Fair)-Atotonilquillo.*
September 10: Regata de Globos exhibition of paper balloon flying-Ajijic.*
September 14: Charro Day, equestrian parades and rodeo events.
September 15: Grito de Independencia celebrations.
September 16: Día de Independencia (Mexican Independece Day) civic parades and festivities.
September 26-October 4: San Francisco de Asís fiestas patronales-Chapala.
October 1-31: Virgen del Rosario festivities-Ajijic.
November 1-2: Days of the Dead, altar displays and cultural events.
November 12-20: Cristo Rey fiestas patronales-Chapala.*
November 17: Revolución Mexicana (Mexican Revolution) holiday commemoration.
November 20: Revolution Day parades in some localities.
November 21-30: San Andrés fiestas patronales-Ajijic.
November 22: Santa Cecilia festivities, musicians honor their patron saint.
November 25: Heroic Defense of Mezcala Island commemoration-Mezcala de la Asunción.
November 28-December 6: San Nicolás de Bari fiestas patronales-San Nicolás de Ibarra.
December 12: Virgin of Guadalupe processions and altar displays.
December 16-24: Christmas Posada processions.
December 31: New Year’s Eve street parties.