The town looks on in amazement and one can sense the excitement in the streets as the day-long construction of the Ferris wheel finally comes to an end.  While this Ferris wheel might not appear so amazing to American eyes that are used to larger, more grandiose rides, to a small town with no more than a handful of two-story buildings, this is a spectacle.   Every year the people look on in wonder as the town prepares to celebrate the Day of Saint Luke (San Lucas) on October 18.

  “This celebration is a rich tradition in their culture,” explains Father Gregory Schaffer.  “I encourage the people to honor this custom and enjoy this week of celebration.”

  In honor of the Day of Saint Luke, the saint from which the town of San Lucas derives its name, the townspeople are able to enjoy a week-long celebration known as “feria” with a variety of festivities and a vacation from work. 

  Mayhem of the feria streets begin at the base Ferris wheel on the edge of the park.  From there, hundreds of wooden booths with vendors selling clothes, toys, CDs, movies, games and all sorts of greasy foods stretch the length of the main street and various side streets.  People mill from booth to booth enjoying the feria and its food, only instead of seeing candied apples, one more commonly sees corn-on-the-cob on a stick, slathered in mayonnaise and ketchup in the hands of fair goers – adults and children alike.   

  As families eat their corn-on-a-stick treat, they line the streets for the morning parade hosted by the schools of San Lucas.  Some schools march in elaborate costumes like the traditional red and white-striped shirts and pants worn by San Luqueños or the less traditional hot-pink skirts with cowboy hats and boots. The parade is complete with floats, beauty pageant queens, and the foot-tapping rhythm of marching bands.

  Evenings are filled with dancing in the park and at the Cofradia.  The Cofradia, where Maximon is housed, is filled with flowers, incense and lit candles as the people dance in celebration.  The night of October 17, those at the Cofradia dance well into the early morning to usher in the day of Saint Luke.  At 3 a.m. on October 18, bombas (loud firecrackers) are set off to wake the town and call the people to church for more noise, celebration and early morning chatter until the 5 a.m. mass honoring Saint Luke and the community of San Lucas.

  After mass, Saint Luke is processed through the streets of San Lucas on the shoulders of community members.  And after seven days of celebrating, eating, parading, dancing, weary eyes look on as the Ferris wheel is disassembled and packed away to be hauled off to the next town and the next feria.