Looking for places to go to join your Mexican neighbors in celebrating the nation’s independence? Here is a brief guide to patriotic happenings going on this weekend in lakeside’s principal communities.
AJIJIC
Saturday, September 15 activities are centered at the plaza, kicking off at 5 p.m. with fun and games for village kids, including traditional contests and the greased pole climbing challenge. Celebrants congregate for live entertainment from 8 p.m., followed by the Grito ceremony, 10 p.m., capped off by fireworks and a town dance.
Sunday, September 16, festivities get under way with the civic parade, running west along Calle Constitución-Ocampo to Seis Esquinas before doubling back via Hidalgo to end at the plaza for a typical fair. Fiestas Patrias Queen Miriam Esmeralda Ramos Hernández leads her court in the traditional Combate de Flores, a simulated battle against spectators employing flowers and confetti as harmless weapons of war, 7 p.m., at the plaza.
CHAPALA
The local government will host an evening of festivity Saturday, September 15, scheduled to start at 7:50 p.m. with a program of music and dance staged in the street outside City Hall. A relay team bearing the Flame of Independence will arrive at 8:40 p.m., followed by the crowning of Aile Sarahi Ibarra Reyes as Fiestas Patria Queen, 9:40 p.m. The Grito de Independencia ceremony starts at 10:45 p.m. The night wraps up with a fireworks show and performance by The Factory Show dance orchestra, 11:20 p.m. to 3 a.m., at the waterfront.
The annual Independence Day parade will be the main event on Sunday, September 16. The route begins at Paseo Ramón Corona, 9 a.m., running along the south-north lane of Avenida Madero and looping back to City Hall on the opposite side.
JOCOTEPEC
The town’s September 15 Noche Mexicano takes place at the central plaza, opening with the reception of the Flame of Independence relay runners, 7 p.m., followed by the traditional torch parade led by the mayor and other local dignitaries. The coronation of the Fiestas Patrias Queen and live entertainment precede the Grito ceremony, set for11 p.m., followed by fireworks.
September 16 activities begin with a flag ceremony at the plaza, 8 a.m., segueing into the Independence Day parade that winds through Jocotepec: Civic Parade, 9 a.m., starting from the Plaza winding along main streets in the center of town.
San Antonio Tlayacapan and San Juan Cosalá will hold Fiestas Patrias celebrations over the September 22-23 weekend.