02172015Tue
Last updateMon, 16 Feb 2015 1pm

2015 Lakeside festivities and special events

In addition to the national holidays and celebrations that will be observed during 2015, there will be dozens more special happenings going on in the Lake Chapala area. Here’s a glance at some of the traditionalfiestas patronaleshonoring religious patrons and important saints, plus other major events that will keep the community jumping over the next 12 months.

January 1: New Year’s Day parade – Ajijic.  

January 6: Dia de Reyes (Epiphany) festivities. 

January 6-18: Señor del Monte fiestas patronales – Jocotepec.* 

January 17: San Antonio Abad festivity, blessing of domestic animals and pets. 

January 20: San Sebastián fiesta – Ajijic.

February 2: Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas) blessing of infants and religious objects.

February 2: Día Estatal del Lago de Chapala (Lake Chapala Day) coincides with World Wetlands Day.

February 9-11: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes fiestas patronales – Chapala.

February 27-March 1: 37th Mexican National Chili Cookoff  - Tobolandia.* 

February 15-March 2: Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival 2014 – Ajijic.*

February 6-17: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) celebrations – Chapala, Ajijic*

March 11-19: San José fiestas patronales – Jocotepec.

March 27: Virgen de Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows) altar displays.*

March 29: Palm Sunday Processions.*

April 2: Maundy Thursday, Passion Play sequences begin – San Antonio Tlayacapan, Ajijic, Jocotepec.*

April 3: Good Friday processions and Passion Plays*

April 4: Holy Saturday observances, late night Easter Vigil and Resurrection Mass, followed by burning of Judas effigies.* 

April 23: Día Internacional del Libro (World Book Day), public reading of a famous book - Chapala.

April 25-May 3: Santa Cruz fiestas patronales – Santa Cruz de la Soledad

April 26-May 3: Señor del Guaje fiestas patronales  – Jocotepec* 

May 3: Día de la Santa Cruz (Day of the Holy Cross), construction site parties, processions, altar displays.

June 1: Día de la Marina  (Navy Day) commemoration.

June 5-13; San Antonio de Padua fiestas patronales – San Antonio Tlayacapan.

June 11-13: Nuestra Señora de Fátima festivities – San Juan Cosalá.

June 16-24: San Juan Bautista fiestas patronales – San Juan Cosalá, San Juan Tecomatlán.

June 4: Corpus Christi procession – Jocotepec.*

June 4-12: Sagrado Corazón de Jesús fiestas patronales – La Canacinta*

June 21-29: San Pedro Apóstol fiestas patronales – San Pedro Tesistán.

July 8-16: Nuestra Señora del Carmen fiestas patronales – Chapala. 

July 12: Virgen de Zapopan summer pilgrimage 

July 26: Ajijic’s 19th annual Chupinaya mountain running competitions (tentative date).*

July 17-25: Santo Santiago fiestas patronales – Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.

August 7-15: Virgen de la Asunción fiestas patronales-Mezcala de la Asunción.

August 8-9: Feria del Membrillo (Quince Fair) – Atotonilquillo.*

September 12: Regata de Globos exhibition of paper balloon flying – Ajijic.* 

September 14: Charro Day, equestrian parades and rodeo events.

September 15: Grito de Independencia celebrations.

September 16: Día de Independencia (Mexican Independece Day) civic parades and festivities. 

September 26-October 4: San Francisco de Asís fiestas patronales – Chapala.

October 1-31: Virgen del Rosario festivities – Ajijic.

November 1-2: Days of the Dead, altar displays and cultural events.

November 14-22: Cristo Rey fiestas patronales – Chapala.*

November 17: Revolución Mexicana (Mexican Revolution) holiday commemoration.

November 20: Revolution Day parades in some localities.

November 21-30: San Andrés fiestas patronales – Ajijic.

November 22: Santa Cecilia festivities, musicians honor their patron saint. 

November 25: Heroic Defense of Mezcala Island commemoration – Mezcala de la Asunción.

November 28-December 6: San Nicolás de Bari fiestas patronales – San Nicolás de Ibarra.

December 12: Virgin of Guadalupe processions and altar displays.

December 16-24: Christmas Posada celebrations.

December 31: New Year’s Eve street parties

* Moveable feasts, dates change from year to year.