La Fiesta de los Locos (The Feast of Fools or Crazy People) is held in San Miguel de Allende every June, the first Sunday after the Feast of San Antonio, so around the middle of the month. A few years ago we were “lucky” enough to have the fuel pump go on our truck forcing us to stay an extra week in San Miguel waiting for a new part. It just happened to be while the “locos” was taking place.

San Miguel was and still is primarily a framing community. The festival originally began as an act of faith, a thank you for a year of good crops. During colonial times many people dressed as scarecrows. Slowly over the year the festival became the celebration of more than just good crops, it was combined with San Pascual Bailón’s day, Corpus Christi day and San Antonio’s day (there always seems to be a celebration in San Miguel) morphing into the fiesta it is today.

People turn their “sun” umbrella upside down to catch candy.

Politically incorrect costumes.

Our personal favourite, a good jabbing at the press.

During La Fiesta de los Locos the streets are packed with people in costumes, some politically incorrect. Those not in the parade, line the streets hoping to catch candy thrown by the parade participants. Family friendly: music, dance and candy are the main ingredient that makes for a good time.