At El Jardin, San Miguel de Allende's main square, we often see giant papier-mache puppets called "mojigangas." The puppets can be rented for special occasions such as weddings, where they become part of the wedding procession.

That's Darlene at the entrance to the Museo de Mascaras--the Museum of Masks. The museum showcases masks used in ceremonial and religious rituals, collected mostly from rural villages all over Mexico and Central America. Some are quite old and rare.

Although we weren't allowed to take photographs of the masks inside the museum, we were allowed to take some pics of masks that are available for purchase from the museum's storeroom.

We also visited the Museo La Esquina--The Museum on the Corner--also known as the Toy Museum. The museum features vintage, handcrafted toys that are artistic creations in their own right.

There's always some kind of festival or parade going on in San Miguel. It's one of those towns where the people love to party and will cook up just about any excuse for having a fiesta. Today it was the Dia de los Locos parade, in honor of San Pascual Bailon, the patron saint of agriculture. What started out long ago as a parade of farmers doing weird, ceremonial dances has evolved into a modern-day spectacle of madness, showcasing the most elaborate and flamboyant costumes the participants can devise.

We had a great vantage point for the Dia de los Locos parade, sitting in a rooftop bar drinking margaritas and wolfing down some excellent guacamole. The parade lasted for hours, and we were nicely buzzed by the time the last revelers danced by.

Here's a brief video of the start of the parade. The parade route wound its way through the narrow, cobble-stoned streets of San Miguel and went on for miles. I haven't been here long, but I'm already in love with this town.