Here’s a calendar of just some of the summer happenings in San Miguel:
Thurs, June 11
This is known as “Jueves de Corpus Christi (Thursday of the Body of Christ).” This moveable holiday is a festive day for kids, who receive gifts. Toys are sold throughout the marketplaces and streets, and children perform dances in front of the Parroquia church, including one called Los Hortelanos (The Gardeners). In the late afternoon, crimson and white banners are draped throughout El Centro. After Mass is said in the Parroquia, a solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament winds through the streets.
Sat., June 13
“Festividad de San Antonio de Padua (Feast of St. Anthony of Padua).” The preacher and miracle worker is one of the best-known disciples of St. Francis of Assisi. Locally in San Miguel, he ranks second in popularity only to San Miguel Arcangel, the city’s patron saint. A parish church, a former convent, a neighborhood and one of the town’s busier streets all bear San Antonio’s name. His fiesta begins earlier in the month at La Parroquia de San Antonio church with a novena (nine days of prayer) and nightly fireworks. The weekend closest to the feast day brings a carnival and, most notably, the Fiesta de los Locos on the Sunday closest to June 13.
Sun., June 14
“Desfile de los Locos (Parade of the Crazies).” No one knows exactly when this special celebration and its costumed parade began in San Miguel, but its genesis was a parade of masked (and usually intoxicated) farmers who wound through town brandishing branches and tools while also handing out fruit to curious onlookers. Today, in an extravaganza only found in San Miguel, many of the town’s young people dress in wild costumes while the rest of town lines the streets to catch the thousands of pieces of candy thrown to the spectators. Residents of Colonia San Antonio sponsor the parade, and they divide into teams of locos (like Mardi Gras krewes in New Orleans) who save and raise money for the group’s costumes, the candy they toss along the parade route and their humorous floats (usually boldly decorated flatbeds of trucks). Women adopt the persona of their favorite celebrities, while men often dress as women, animals, monsters – or as the most infamous politicians of the moment. The parade is supposed to start at 11 am from in front of the San Antoniochurch, heading down Ancha de San Antonio, Zacateros and up Hernandez Macias into Centro. People start lining the streets several hours earlier.
Fri., July 24 to Sun., August 2
“Expresion en Corte (Short Film and Documentary Film Festival).” One of the largest, most competitive and prestigious film festivals in Latin America, this 10-day event is held in both San Miguel and nearby Guanajuato. In 2008, 1750 films from 82 countries were entered in the competition, and this year promises to be equally diverse. For more information, visit the festival’s website.
Sat., August 1 to Sun., August 16
“Festival de Musica de Camera (Summer Chamber Music Festival).” Now in its 31st year, the summer Festival de Musica de Camera not only sponsors artists from three continents, it also provides workshops and master classes for talented young Mexican musicians during this annual two-week event. Guest artists this year include the Miami String Quartet, Borromeo String Quartet, Trio Quetzal and the Yale Alumni Chorus, among others. You can find more information on the website.