By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
English version
-San Miguel de Ixtla, an emblematic community of Apaseo el Grande, will experience a historic day this Sunday, April 12, with the official delivery of its designation.
-The festivities feature a diverse range of activities, from masses with "rondalla" music and horseback parades to workshops on traditional crafts like marzipan and "atole."
-The program's conclusion stands out for its historical value, offering a thematic tour regarding the Cristero War for those attending the celebration.
As part of the celebrations for the 500th anniversary of its founding, the municipality of Apaseo el Grande is preparing for an event of significant cultural and touristic importance: the official delivery of the "Pueblo con Encanto" (Charming Town) designation to the community of San Miguel de Ixtla. This distinction, promoted by the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Guanajuato, recognizes the historical, architectural, and traditional richness of local settlements.
The day will begin in the early hours of Sunday, April 12. At 6:30 AM, a mass will be held, accompanied by the rondalla from the House of Culture, Obrajuelo branch. Subsequently, physical and religious activities will merge in a tour of chapels starting at 8:00 AM from the main garden of the municipal seat, connecting with the start of the formal tour in Ixtla at 9:00 AM.
The morning offerings will be complemented by the opening of a gastronomic fair at 11:00 AM, featuring local traditional dishes, followed by a cabalgata (horseback parade) at 11:30 AM—a fundamental element of the region's rural and social identity.
Identity, culture, and historical memory
The main protocol ceremony will take place at 12:00 PM with the official inauguration and the delivery of the designation, an event attended by local and state authorities. From this moment on, the program will shift toward an artistic and educational showcase. The House of Culture, through its Obrajuelo and Ixtla branches, will present rondalla music and folk dance between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM.
One of the pillars of this celebration is the preservation of traditional knowledge. Starting at 2:00 PM, visitors can participate in practical workshops for making atole, marzipan, watercolors, and basket weaving—the latter being essential to the community's artisanal economy.
Music will continue with a performance by soloist María Isabel Alcantar at 2:30 PM, followed by local and guest artists throughout the afternoon. At 5:30 PM, pre-Hispanic and syncretic traditions will take center stage with the Danzantes de Ixtla, one of the most representative groups in the region.
To close the festivities, a tour focused on the Cristero War will take place at 7:30 PM. This historical component is vital for San Miguel de Ixtla, as the area was the setting for significant episodes during this 20th-century armed conflict, leaving a deep mark on its architecture and collective memory. With this agenda, Apaseo el Grande seeks to consolidate Ixtla as a premier destination for cultural and religious tourism in Guanajuato. #MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
