Patriotic party time has arrived, with loads of lively events happening over the next few days wherever you go in the Lake Chapala area.
CHAPALA
Local horsemen will mark the Dia del Charro Saturday, September 14 with an equestrian parade along Avenida Madero, starting around Noon at the Lienzo Charro opposite the Pemex station.
Festivities on Sunday, September 15 will be centered on Avenida Madero in the immediate surroundings of the city hall building where a typical street fair gets underway around 5 p.m. Live entertainment starting at 7 p.m. will include rebozo shawl and typical Mexican costume contests, coronation of the Fiestas Patria Queen, songs by the Coro Redes y Cantos, folk dance shows by the Ballet Folklorico Municipal and Son de Mexico. Mayor Joaquin Huerta will appear on the city hall balcony for his first Grito de Independencia ceremony at 10:45 p.m. A street dance with live music by Sonora Caramelo wraps up the celebration.
A traditional September 16 parade marking the 103rd Anniversary of Mexico’s Independence runs a full loop along Avenida Madero, starting from the south end at Paseo Ramon Corona, 9 a.m.
AJIJIC
Holiday spirits take flight at Saturday’s colorful Regatta de Globos paper balloon exhibition, held at the soccer field just south of the highway, starting around 3 p.m. weather permitting. The town’s Fiestas Patrias Queen pageant will takes place at the Auditorio de la Ribera, 8:30 p.m.
September 15 brings a full day of activity, starting at 9 a.m. with a traditional fishing tournament held at the waterfront Malecon. Members of the local Charro Association will gather for Mass at the San Andres church, Noon, followed by a parade to the Lienzo Charro arena on Calle Revolution where the newly formed Escaramuza Xiricahuas female drill team will make a debut appearance, 2 p.m., with dancing horses, tricks by junior charros, folk dancing and mariachi music also on the bill; admission 50 pesos.
Festivities at the plaza kick off with traditional games for kids, from 5 p.m., continuing into the evening with live entertainment, the Grito ceremony at 11 p.m., and a town dance with Banda Caramelo.
Monday’s Independence Day parade starts at 10 a.m., running east to west on Constitucion-Ocampo and doubling back to the plaza via Hidalgo. A bull riding free-for-all with live music by the Banda La Nueva San Andres is booked for 4 p.m. at the Lienzo Charro; free admission. The celebration closes with the traditional Combate de Flores, a light-hearted mock battle led by Fiestas Patrias Queen and her court armed with flower petals and confetti, taking place at the plaza, 8 p.m., followed by dancing to tropical tunes performed by Banda Parritas.
JOCOTEPEC
Events scheduled for Saturday, September 14 include live theatrical entertainment at the Casa de la Cultura, starting at from 5 p.m. and an amateur singing contest at the plaza, 8 p.m.
September 15 will be highlighted by customary festivity at the central plaza starting around 8 p.m. with the arrival of relay runners carrying the Flame of Independence, followed by a torch parade around the square, coronation of Señorita Jocotepec 2013 and the 11 p.m. Grito ceremony. The Dia de Independencia parade around the center of town begins after the 9 a.m. flag ceremony held at the plaza. Kids will flock back to the plaza at 6 p.m. for the greased pole climbing contest.
Next Weekend San Antonio Tlayacapan and San Juan Cosala will hold their local Grito celebrations on the evening of Saturday, September 21 and Independence Day civic parades the following morning.