SEPTEMBER FIESTAS by Micki Wendt
I’m over the moon like a skyrocket to the stars, and my heart is bursting with joy to bring all of you the Glad Tidings of the beginning of the richly wonderful Ajijic Fiesta Season. Ajijic is known throughout this region for having the best and most fun fiestas with a great spirit of alegria or cheerfulness due to the name of the town, Ah-Hee-Heek, which sounds like laughter in any language. Cheerful celebrating is a deep, enduring tradition here, going back centuries.
The Fiesta Season starts in September, and goes past New Year’s with many continuous traditional, centuries-old fiestas put on by the people of the pueblo. At that point it slows down a bit, but not much until after Carnaval. Stay tuned for updates for each month.
In Ajijic, the Fiestas Patrias or Independence Day Celebration now includes two full weeks of fun-packed pre-fiesta days and evenings, featuring new and special events culminating in the traditional parade and Grito,which are enacted all over Mexico.
New events include more dances with excellent local Bandas – just so you know you have options besides bars to go out and dance at night…and let me tell you, there is no fun in the world like a Mexican fiesta! Don’t miss it!
Official Schedule of Fiestas Patrias Events:
Sept. 1, Sunday, at the Plaza
6PM DANZON – popular Mexican dance lesson given every Sunday: come with or without a partner – casual, fun environment
9PM Presentation of the candidates for the Fiesta Queen
10PM Dance featuring Banda Sonora Primavera
Sept. 2 – 6, Monday thru Friday
Various evening events at the Cultural Center
Sept. 7, Saturday at Club Exotica at the Plaza behind Restaurant El Jardin
8PM Dance featuring Norteno Bandas, XO and Sonora Santa Cruz
(If you like Country Western, you’ll love Norteno, its Mexican cousin.)
Sept. 8, Sunday at the Plaza
5PM The beautiful Rebozo Fashion Show and Mariachis – featuring the beautiful women and girls of Ajijic modeling traditional outfits utilizing the Rebozo, the versatile shawl that can be worn so many ways.
7PM Dance with Banda Incomparable
Sept. 9, Monday
7PM Zumba Parade another new event starting at the plaza, looping around towards 6 Corners, Calle Ocampo, Marcos Castellanos, and back to the Plaza, followed by Zumba dance.
Sept. 10 – 12, Tues. through Thursday
7PM Various athletic and kids’ events in the Plaza
Sept. 13, Friday, Anniversary of the Battle of the Child Heroes in Chapultepec
6PM at the Delegacion, 7PM at the Plaza
Sept. 14, Saturday
4PM GLOBO REGATTA, SOCCER FIELD NEAR EL TORITO
Officially starts at 3, but there is a lot of set-up time…
8:30PM CORNONATION OF THE FIESTA PATRIA QUEEN
Auditorio de la Ribera
Sept. 15, Sunday
9AM Fishing Tournament, at the Malecon
10AM Bicycling through La Floresta, Carretera
12PM Special Mass for the Charros, San Andres Church
1PM Charro Parade from the church to the Lienzo Charro
2PM Escaramuza Xiricahuas – spectacular women’s equestrian drill team, along with children’s charro team, dancing horses, the Folkloric Ballet of Ajijic, and a Mariachi Band
Admission: 50 pesos Don’t miss it!!
5PM Popular Kids’ Games, Plaza
6PM Danzon – traditional Mexican dance lessons, Plaza
9PM Ballet Folklorico, Plaza
11PM TRADITIONAL GRITO CEREMONY, PLAZA
11:45 DANCE featuring Banda Caramelo, Plaza
Sept. 16, Monday (a national holiday, all government offices, banks, schools closed)
10AM Parade starting at Calle Constitucion to Calle Ocampo to 6 Corners, and back to Plaza for lots of fun through the afternoon.
2PM Futbol (soccer) game, campo de futbol near El Torito
4PM Evento con los Toros, with bull riding and roping, Lienzo Charro, with dance afterwards
7PM Orchestra, Plaza
8PM Battle of the Flowers (where the newly crowned Fiesta Queen parades through the Plaza as onlookers playfully throw flowers at her – great fun in the tradition of Mock Battles, rather than real ones!)
9PM Popular Dance at the Plaza
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