El Desfile de los Locos — San Miguel de Allende’s Wildest & Most Colorful Street Parade
One of San Miguel de Allende’s most beloved and eccentric traditions hits the streets again this June — and it’s a spectacle not to be missed. The “Convite de los Locos” (Festival of the Crazies) is a 40-year-old parade tradition held every mid-June in honor of San Antonio de Padua and San Pascual Bailón, rooted in the old custom of local farmers dressing in masks and palm-leaf hats to give thanks for a good harvest — handing out fruit to invite neighbors to a religious celebration. Passersby would shout “Ahí vienen los locos!” (“Here come the crazies!”), and the name stuck forever .
Today, participants dress as TV characters, superheroes, monsters, and even politicians, marching through the main streets of the UNESCO World Heritage city while tossing candy to the crowd .
- 📅 Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
- ⏰ Time: Starting at noon
- 📍 Route: Departing from the outskirts near the Celaya exit, through San Miguel de Allende’s main streets
- 🏙️ City: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
- 🎟️ Price: Free — open to all
- 🎉 Highlights: Costumes, masks, candy tossing, music & over 4 decades of tradition
Organizer
The Dirección de Cultura y Tradiciones of San Miguel de Allende is responsible for managing local cultural and traditional events, dedicated to preserving the identity of the Sanmiguelense community and supporting the continuity of diverse artistic and heritage expressions. Committed to excellence and service, this office employs effective operational programs and modern tools to ensure transparency, citizen satisfaction, and active participation in the cultural life of the city.
