Nov 20-Viva la revolucion-Fiesta in Town Square.

When the parade finished activities moved to the Town Square.   Hundreds of Mexican families, both young and old, intermingled with the tourists in attendance.    People stood, or sat if they could find a good vantage point, around the pagoda in the centre of the park.   The atmosphere was electric as everyone patiently waited for the performances to begin.    Mexican mothers beamed with pride as tourist snapped photos of their beautifully dressed children.  

Waiting for performances to start.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The excited chatter of the crowd was shattered by the sudden blaring of the sound system.   A master of ceremonies, speaking only Spanish, welcomed everyone to the celebration of the Revolucion de Mexico 1910, and stated the fiesta was in honour of Francisco Madero and Emiliano Zapata, leaders of the revolucion.    He then asked everyone to join in the singing of the Himno nacional mexicano.  

 

Crowd standing for National Anthem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The M.C. then introduced the 2008 Fiesta princess, and the two runners-up.    Being the centre of attention in front of a crowd this size caused one of the runners-up who was too shy, to start crying, and she left her chair, running to her mother for comfort.

Fiesta princess minus one runner-up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is runner-up in the arms of her mother.

The first to perform were the young mercenaries and their ladies who did several traditional dances to the warm applause of the crowd.  

Mercenaries & ladies performed dance routines.

The festivities took a humourous twist when the next group, dressed like old men, performed a comical routine.   They hobbled around as if they had bad backs, and pretended to hit each other with their canes.  At the end of the performance all the old men collapsed on the concrete.

The activities ended with a dance group of young men and women dressed in cowboy attire.  The did several traditional dances, but the highlight of their performance was the intricate footwork they did while dancing around quart beer bottles.

Beer bottle dance performed by this group.

Not to be outdone, some of the young children put on performances of their own after the official activites were finished.

Young boy imitating mercenaries.

Young girl dancing to the music.

At the end of festivities everyone lined up for traditional Mexican food that was for sale.   Nicole had shrimp , vegetable seviche and I had the fish seviche.   Both were excellent.  For those who may not be familiar, seviche is an appetizer made from raw seafood marinated in lime or lemon juice often with oil, onions,peppers, and seasoning.

We left the park about noon, but the Mexicans stay on, chatting and socializing.   Some of the younger children were given rides on the horses. 

Young child treated to a ride on horseback.

Others headed home riding in tandem.

Heading home tandem style.

We throughly enjoyed the Mexican Revolution celebrations.   Our Mexican friends, as usual, were warm, friendly and cordial, allowing the tourists to help them celebrate this important day in Mexican history.

We walked away feeling we had gained many new Mexican friends.