Weeks of celebration of the town’s spiritual patron El Señor del Monte (The Lord of the Mount) endSunday, January 20.
Devotion stems from answered prayers following lethal outbreaks of cholera that hit the town in 1833 and 1850, and the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918.
The fiestas patronales are marked by religious processions: Saturday, January 19, 1 p.m.; and Sunday, January 20 the sacred patron is lowered from the altar at 4 p.m. for a huge parade that draws much of the populace and hundreds of visiting pilgrims. To manifest their faith, some will make the long trek on their knees, others will walk along barefoot and blindfolded, and many will carry elaborately decorated candles. Part of the festivities include a bustling street fair in the town center, bull-riding contests, cock fights, cultural events, high decibel musical spectacles and gigantic nighttime fireworks displays.