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San Felipe’s Fiestas – Saturday Day 2 of 3
June 3, 2023 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Schedule of Events
About San Felipe’s Fiestas in Old Town Albuquerque:
Originally, the San Felipe Fiestas in Old Town Albuquerque was a Catholic tradition to honor the feast days of Albuquerque’s patron saints and those from Spain. Today, it has evolved into a community event where people take a break from early summer work to join in the celebration. The Fiestas is a place where everyone gathers in Old Town Albuquerque to enjoy food, drinks, and dancing. The event is also marked by religious ceremonies that reflect the deep faith of the participants. In Catholic tradition, patron saints are regarded as guides and protectors. San Felipe, the patron saint of friendship and joy in relationships, is an honored figure at this three-day event.
Every year in June, the Fiesta of San Felipe continues to thrive with local and regional bands and singers who fill the plaza with music from Friday at 6pm until Sunday evening. Instruments such as guitars, horns, drums, accordions, and violins create a lively atmosphere. Dance troupes featuring styles from flamenco and Aztec to Folklorico perform in the gazebo. Following the Fiestas mass at San Felipe de Neri, a procession, known as a ‘marcha’, leads worshippers back to the plaza, accompanied by the vibrant sounds of Mariachi music.
The Royal Court is a special tradition of the San Felipe Fiestas that has been preserved since the early 1900s. It involves the crowning of ‘la reina’ (the Fiestas queen) and her royal court. The queen, a young, unmarried Catholic woman, along with her four princesses, act as role models at other fiestas across New Mexico and public celebrations throughout the year. These women play a crucial role in safeguarding and promoting the Hispanic customs that have been part of Albuquerque’s culture for over four centuries.
