San Miguel Fiesta Starts This Weekend

By John Larson

SOCORRO - The fiesta commemorating the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the San Miguel Fiesta, is scheduled for Oct. 1-3 at San Miguel Church and promises three days of music, food, and activities for the family, all to generate funds for the church’s maintenance and insurance.
Although no records were kept of the earliest days of the fiesta, the best estimate is that the event has been an annual affair in Socorro for at least 100 years.
Most of the usual activities return to the fiesta this year, including activities for the children, drawings for prizes each of the three days, and an extended bingo night Friday. An added attraction this weekend is an Indoor Mercado, where vendors may sell arts, crafts, fruit, vegetables, and even advertise their businesses. 10 by 10 foot spaces are still available for $15. Call the parish office for more information at 835-2891.
The Indoor Mercado will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in Parish Hall.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. Friday immediately following Vespers, which will feature the crowning of the Senior King (Toby Jaramillo) and Queen (Ermy Jaramillo.)
The original mission was established in 1598 and the first building went up in 1612, making it the oldest in the state, and second oldest in the country. After the pueblo revolt in 1680, the mission lay in ruins for about 100 years. A section of the original adobe wall can be seen through a small Plexiglas window near the altar area.
The current church building is one of the major tourist draws in Socorro.

Friday, Oct. 1
5-6 p.m. - Vespers
6 p.m. - Booths open
6-8 p.m. - DJ music
7-11 p.m. - Bingo in the Parish Hall (doors open at 6 p.m.)
8-11 p.m. - Nosotros
9:30 p.m. - 3rd prize raffle drawing for $500.

Saturday, Oct. 2
11 a.m. - Booths open
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. DJ music from Patrick and Donavan Baldonado

1-2:30 p.m. - Grupo Fantasma
2:30-3:30 p.m. - DJ
3:30-5 p.m. - Monika E. Vette Y Confianza
5 p.m. - Booths close
5-6 p.m. - Mariachi Mass (Blue Mass)
6-7 p.m. - Mariachi Nuevo Sonido
7- 8 p.m. - Murillo Band
8-11 p.m. - Red Wine
9:30 p.m. - 2nd Prize Raffle $750

Sunday, Oct. 3
10 a.m. - Fiesta Mass
11:30 a.m. - Booths open
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Alta Moni
12:30- 1:30 p.m. - Julie Cottom Dancers
1-5 p.m. - BBQ
1:30-4:30 p.m. - Vicente de Velocidad
5-7 p.m. - AMA and The Fly Boyz
7 p.m. - 1st prize Drawing $1,500. Fiesta Wrap up.

San Miguel Fiesta Starts This Weekend