Chapala’s faithful will honor patron saint San Francisco de Asis with nine straight days of festivities running from Friday, September 26 through Saturday, October 4.
Each day of the celebration starts with fiesta sponsors for that date gathering for a Rosary prayer service held at the north end of Avenida Madero, 6:30 a.m., followed by morning mass at the San Francisco parish, 7 a.m.
An evening procession along the full length of the main thoroughfare heads out from the same departure point, 6:30 p.m., with a small statue of Saint Francis leading the pilgrims to the church for the 7 p.m. Mass.
To beef up religious fervor, parish priest Enrique Monteon is continuing his custom of scheduling appearances of cherished religious icons from diverse parts to be showcased in the evening processions and devotions at the church.
Following the service, free cultural entertainment events will be presented at the church atrium. Throughout the night crowds will head around the corner to Paseo Ramon Corona to munch on typical foods and treat youngsters to mechanical rides and games of chance. Each night caps off with a glittering castillo fireworks display outside the church, around 10 p.m.
The line-up of guest icons is programmed as follows:
September 26: El Señor de Esquipulas
September 27: La Virgen de Talpa
September 28: Santo Santiago
September 29: La Virgen de Lourdes
September 30: La Virgen de la Soeldad and San Isidro Labrador
October 1: La Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos
October 2: San Judas Tadeo
October 3: La Virgen de Zapopan, Reina del Lago
October 4: Santo Toribio; the temple’s life-size image of San Francisco will parade through the town in a procession starting at the church, 6 p.m.
Motorists should note that traffic and parking along most of Paseo Ramon Corona is banned throughout the Fiestas Patronales calendar.