In addition to private family celebrations tied to Mexico’s May 10 observance of Día de las Madres, local moms will enjoy a break from their daily routines at festive public events held in their honor throughout the weekend.
The Chapala municipal government will host the Alegre Día de las Madres festival on Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m., at Campo Juan Rayo, the municipal soccer field located at the north end of Avenida Madero. The evening’s live entertainment will feature comedian Víctor Padilla “El Chistero” and dance music by The Factory Show.
More than 500 parasols strung up at the plaza during the recent fiestas patronales in Santa Cruz de la Soledad are now being distributed among village women as Mother’s Day gifts.
The traditional Festival 10 de Mayo Adolfo Rayo will take place on Saturday, May 11, following the 7 p.m. Mass at the San Francisco Church. This annual event, organized and sponsored by a community steering committee, will be held on the steps of the church. A large crowd of mothers and their families is expected to enjoy live mariachi music, a spirited dance contest for the women of the day, and the free distribution of a variety of household goods.
Chapala moms will line up for gifts galore and shake a leg for the dance contest during the May 10 Mother’s Day fest staged outside the San Francisco Parish.
On Sunday, May 12, the Festival de la Mamá returns to Ajijic’s Lienzo Charro arena on Calle Revolución. Crowds typically begin gathering around 4 p.m., as mothers, children, and spouses arrive for an afternoon of fun. Highlights include moms trying their hand at riding a mechanical bull, tug-of-war contests, and the lively “heifer rustling” game, in which participants chase a live cow with a bundle of cash tied to its horns. Dozens of raffle prizes will also be awarded throughout the event.
On a more reflective note, many families will visit local cemeteries to honor deceased matriarchs with memorial Masses. Services are scheduled as follows:
• 7 a.m. in Ajijic
• 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. in Chapala
• 5 p.m. in Santa Cruz de la Soledad
• 6:30 p.m. in San Nicolás de Ibarra