Chapala’s faithful will honor patron saint San Francisco de Asis with nine straight days of festivities running from Monday, September 26 through Tuesday, October 4.
Spiritual activities begin daily with fiesta sponsors meeting for the Mañanitas prayer service held at the north end of Avenida Madero, 6:30 a.m., followed by a march to the parish church for the 7 a.m. celebration of mass.
A picturesque evening procession along the full length of the main thoroughfare heads out from the same departure point, 6:30 p.m., with pilgrims carrying an image of Saint Francis in the lead en route to the 7 p.m. mass.
To beef up religious fervor, parish priest Enrique Monteon is scheduling appearances of cherished religious icons to be showcased in the sundown processions and devotions at the church.
Cultural entertainment programs will be staged outside the church atrium after the evening services. 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 fireworks display in front of the temple, around 10 p.m.