Several hundred people lined Front Street for the recent Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession, organized by Saint Catherine of Alexandria Roman Catholic Church in Avalon.
The event included traditional dress and dances, as members of the church celebrated the traditional day for Mexican Catholic Churches.
The day honors the Virgin Mary and her reported appearance before Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531.
Father Dario Miranda said there was a great turnout along the procession route and also that many people watched the event from balconies and restaurant fronts.
The main dancers were ladies in sophisticated Aztec Attire and young girls dressed in traditional native Mexican attire.
A band trailed as the final procession of participants made their way to the church.
A mass followed at the church, followed by food, music and dancing to close the celebration. All the costumes are hand-made and participants start rehearsing their performances around July.
“It was just a beautiful occasion for all of the community,” Father Miranda said.
