Each year the month-long festival of the cross ends in the neighborhood of Valle de Maiz with a big bang. Taking a walking tour group up to the festival is my only tour that is mainly resident foreigners that want an escort into Valle de Maiz, a neighborhood not known for its tranquility in the past. During the tour I explain who will be at the party and why. The cast of characters includes:
- The Chichimecas and Conquistadors
- The Sacred Cross
- Locos
- Mojigangas
- Martha’s Dragon
- Retablos
Most years a group of dancers from the town of Acambaro in the southern part of the state end the show by tossing out the bread their town is famous for. Left for a day or two, it forms the basis for great French toast.
Along with dancers the Valle de Maiz fiesta features food, games, music and battle reenactments between the Chichimecas and Conquistadors. Hard to say who will win!
The Valle de Maiz festival continues to be my favorite fiesta in a town well known for its parties! The tour is mildly strenuous taking about an hour and a half of uphill walking through our oldest neighborhoods and ending at Valle de Maiz’ fiesta. The cost is 400 pesos or 20 USD, whatever is easier for you and starts from in front of the Oratorio at 5PM, Saturday, May 26th.
For reservations contact Toone.Joseph@yahoo.com or visit JosephTooneTours.com.
Joseph Toone is the Historical Society’s short-story award winning author of the SMA Secrets book series. All books in the series are Amazon bestsellers in Mexican Travel and Holidays. Toone is SMA’s expert and TripAdvisor’s top ranked historical tour guide telling the stories behind what we do in today’s SMA. Visit HistoryAndCultureWalkin