Other than an occasional public baile (dance), corrida de toros (bullfight), or charreada (rodeo), Mascota people rely on simple diversions. You can join them in a stroll around the town plaza on any evening (especially Sat. and Sun.) or a climb to the top of Cerro de la Cruz.

Mascota life heats up during a number of regionally important fiestas. Fiestas Patrias kick off around September 10 with the crowning of a queen, and merrymaking continues during a week of performances, competitions, and patriotic events. On September 13, folks gather to solemnly honor the bravery of the beloved Niños Héroes; then, two days later, fireworks paint the night sky above the plaza as the crowd joins the mayor in a shouted re-enactment of Father Hidalgo’s Grito de Dolores. Concurrent with the patriotic tumult, the festival of Mascota’s patron, La Virgin de Dolores, continues with processions, pilgrimages, high Masses, and an old-fashioned carnival to boot.

Beyond Mascota, the nearby hamlets of Yerbabuena, Cimarrón Chico, and Navidad stage their own celebrations. Yerbabuena’s patron saint is the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the town honors her with native costumes, folk dances, and processions climaxing in a special Mass on December 19. Neighboring Cimarrón Chico celebrates its patron saint in a harvest-style fiesta September 20–29. Navidad honors patrons San Joaquín and Santa Ana with processions, dancing, and fireworks that climax on July 26.