San Miguel Fiesta: It’s a Feast of Family Fun

San Miguel’s Fiesta will offer two days of good food, music, and games this year as well as a chance to win $500 and $1,000.

Although there are no official records on the earliest days of the San Miguel Fiestas, the best estimate is that it has been an annual event in Socorro for more than 100 years.

The fiesta commemorates the feast of St. Michael the Archangel and is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29.

San Miguel, founded in 1615, is one of the oldest churches in the state and – if you count the founding mission – one of the oldest churches in the nation, with a unique place in American history. Socorro, in fact, was one of the first Spanish settlements in what is today the United States.

While the Fiesta’s attendance has had its ups and downs over the years, this year the committee plans to host the ever-popular Bingo games on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, along with the Silent Auction and the wide array of entertainment.

There will be a variety of food available including hamburgers, Frito pies, hot dogs, roasted corn and funnel cakes that are beyond delicious, and much, much more. Sunday’s food delights include barbeque and Navajo tacos. Almost all the food and drink have been donated by parishioners, which helps keep costs down.

This year’s event features a variety of music from some of New Mexico artists. Also performing this year will be the young dancers from the Rising Stars Dance Studio in Socorro.

Fiesta attendees will be able to play Bingo after Mass on Saturday night until 9:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Festivities begin Saturday at noon with the opening food booths games, silent auction and the White Elephant booth. A variety of entertainment also will start at noon with local DJ music as well as other local talent and entertainment.

At 5 p.m. the Fiesta will be paused for the Fiesta Mass at San Miguel Church followed by the crowning of the King and Queen Reyes and Rose Mary Rosas and Prince and Princess Paul Chavez-Lopez and Mary Elizabeth (Emmy) Riley respectively.

Booths will reopen after Mass at 6:30 p.m. with Bingo and other entertainment, including Mesa Blue (formerly Suavecito) and The Murillos.

The drawing for $500 will take place at 9 p.m.

On Sunday, the local celebration begins with the Fiesta Mass at 10 a.m. followed by a BBQ, fun booths, games and entertainment begins. Sunday’s entertainment also includes the ever-popular Los Amigos Nuevo Mexico mariachis band performing from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Bingo will start at 12:30 p.m.

The grand prize drawing of $1,000 will take place at 4 p.m. and will conclude the Fiesta.