Xalapa hosts 300,000 pilgrims for San Rafael Guízar festivities

Xalapa, Veracruz, is seeing a massive influx of religious pilgrims for the festivities honoring San Rafael Guízar y Valencia. According to the Archdiocese of Xalapa, approximately 300,000 faithful arrive annually to participate in celebrations at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Devotees are traveling from various municipalities, including Perote, Huatusco, Totutla, and Misantla, as well as from neighboring states such as Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City. The celebrations include traditional processions, musical performances, and solemn masses.

To manage the large crowds, local authorities and the State Transit Directorate have implemented special traffic operations. Significant road closures were established on the Xalapa-Coatepec state highway near La Florida from the evening of October 23 through the morning of October 24. Drivers have been advised to use the Briones highway as an alternative route. Authorities have also issued alerts for the Axocuapan-Tlaltetela stretch of the Totutla-Xalapa highway due to pedestrian groups.