Aside from all the celebrations observed nationwide, the Lake Chapala area has its own special brand of hoopla.
Traditional festivities honoring patron saints and other special happenings booked for 2013 include the following:
January 1: New Year’s Day parade – Ajijic
January 8-20: Señor del Monte festivities – Jocotepec
January 20: San Sebastian festivity – upper Ajijic
February 1-12: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities – Chapala, AjijicFebruary 9-11: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes festivities – Chapala
February 15-March 2: Northern Lights Music Festival
February 22-24: Chili Cookoff – Tobolandia
March 22-31: Easter season activities include Virgin of Sorrows altar displays,
Palm Sunday processions, and Passion Plays in different localities.
April 27-May 5: Señor del Guaje festivity – Jocotepec
April 25-May 3: Santa Cruz festivities – Santa Cruz de la Soledad
May 3: Day of the Holy Cross, construction site parties, processions, altar displays
June 1: Dia de la Marina (Navy Day) commemoration
June 5-13: San Antonio de Padua festivities – San Antonio Tlayacapan
June 16-24: San Juan Bautista festivities – San Juan Cosala, San Juan Tecomatlan
July 8-16: Nuestra Señora del Carmen festivities – Chapala
July 14: Dia del Lago celebration honoring the Virgin of Zapopan
July 17-25: Santo Santiago festivities – Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos
August 7-15: Virgen de la Asuncion festivities – Mezcala
August 10-11: Expo Membrillo (Quince Fair) – Atotoniquillo
September 7: Regata de Globos paper balloon exhibition – Ajijic
September 15-16: Mexican Independence festivities
September 26-October 4: San Francisco de Asis festivities – Chapala
October 1-31: Virgen del Rosario festivities – Ajijic
November 1-2: Days of the Dead, altar displays and cultural events
November 18-20: Revolution Day celebrations
November 21-30: San Andres festivities – Ajijic
November 25: Heroic Defense of Mezcala Island commemoration – Mezcala
November 28-December 6: San Nicolas de Bari festivities – San Nicolas de Ibarra
December 12: Virgin of Guadalupe processions and altar displays
December 16-24: Posada processions and other Christmas festivities
December 31: New Year’s Eve street parties