Antigua Guatemala’s Lenten season and Holy Week for 2018 is already over – which is unusual since the season this year started a lot earlier than in previous years. But it’s never too early to start planning for next year!
To help you plan for 2019’s season, I’m laying out the Antigua Guatemala procession schedule almost a full year ahead of time. No excuses now, so if you’ve always wanted to attend the world-famous celebrations, begin planning now!
Times for processions may vary, so head to Parque Central or Calzada Santa Lucia and look for an information booth to get starting times and procession routes. Vigils usually start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 11:00 p.m., but not always.
If you’re planning on visiting Antigua soon, you might want to check out the Antigua Guatemala Essential Guide, which has a lot more interesting info. It’s also available in print – I’d be thrilled to autograph your copy :)
Antigua Guatemala Procession Schedule for 2019
Here are the dates for Antigua Guatemala’s processions and vigils:
MARCH SCHEDULE
March 2 (Saturday)
• Vigil – Santa Catarina Bobadilla
First Week of Lenten Season
March 6 – Ash Wednesday
• Vigil – San Felipe de Jesús Church
March 8 (Friday)
• Vigil – Santa Catarina Bobadilla village
• Vigil – San José Cathedral (read more here)
March 9 (Saturday)
• Vigil – San Felipe de Jesús Church
March 10 (Sunday)
• Procession – Santa Catarina Bobadilla village (more here)
Second Week of Lenten Season
March 13 (Wednesday)
• Vigil – Los Llanos, Jocotenango (read more here)
March 15 (Friday)
• Vigil – Santa Inés Church (read more here)
March 16 (Saturday)
• Vigil – Jocotenango
• Procession – Santa Catalina Bobadilla village
March 17 (Sunday)
• Procession – Santa Inés Church (read more here)
Third Week of Lenten Season
March 22 (Friday)
• Vigil – Jocotenango (read more here)
March 23 (Saturday)
• Procession (Children) – Santa Ana village (read more)
• Procession (Children) – Jocotenango
March 24 (Sunday)
• Procession – Jocotenango
• Vigil (Children) – La Merced
Fourth Week of Lenten Season
March 29 (Friday)
• Vigil – Santa Ana Church (read more here)
• Vigil – Escuela de Cristo Church
March 30 (Saturday)
• Vigil – San José Cathedral
• Procession (Children) – San Bartolomé Church
March 31 (Sunday)
• Procession – Santa Ana village
APRIL SCHEDULE
Fifth Week of Lenten Season
April 3 (Wednesday)
• Vigil – San Bartolomé Church
April 5 (Friday)
• Vigil – San Bartolomé Church
• Vigil – Santa Lucía Church
April 6 (Saturday)
• Procession (Children) – Escuela de Cristo Church
• Procession – San José Cathedral
• Vigil – Escuela de Cristo Church
• Vigil – San Francisco Church
April 7 (Sunday)
• Procession – San Bartolomé de Becerra
This well-attended procession is one of the largest in Antigua. The town will be swarming with visitors.
Sixth Week of Lenten Season
April 9 (Tuesday)
• Vigil – San Felipe Church
April 10 (Wednesday)
• Vigil – Escuela de Cristo Church
April 11 (Thursday)
• Vigil (Children) – San José Cathedral
April 12 (Friday)
• Vigil – San José Cathedral
• Vigil – San Cristobal El Bajo
• Vigil – El Calvario Church
• Vigil – La Merced Church
• Procession (Children) – San José Cathedral
• Procession – Jocotenango Church
April 13 (Saturday)
• Vigil – San Felipe de Jesús Church
April 14 (Palm Sunday)
• Procession – La Merced Church
Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala
April 15 (Monday)
• Vigil – La Merced Church
• Procession – Santa Inés Church
April 16 (Tuesday)
• Vigil – San Francisco Church
• Procession – El Calvario Church
April 17 (Wednesday)
• Vigil – Escuela de Cristo Church
• Procession (Children) – La Merced Church
• Procession – San Felipe de Jesús Church
April 18 (Maundy Thursday)
• Procession – San Francisco Church
• Procession – San Cristobal El Bajo Church
April 19 (Good Friday)
• Sentencing (12:00 a.m.) – La Merced Church*
• Procession (3:00 a.m.) – La Merced Church
• Crucifixion Act (12:00 p.m.) – San José Cathedral
• Crucifixion Act (12:00 p.m.) – San José Cathedral
• Burial Procession (3:00 p.m.) – San José Cathedral
• Burial Procession (3:00 p.m.) – San Felipe de Jesús Church
• Procession (4:00 p.m.) – Escuela de Cristo Church
The sentencing is worth staying up for, as a procession of “Roman” soldiers on horseback, torches on hand, ride through town well before 12:00 a.m. This is staged to recreate Jesus’ arrest at Mount Olive.
April 20 (Black Saturday)
• Procession – San Jose Cathedral Church
• Procession – San Felipe de Jesús Church
• Procession – Escuela de Cristo Church
April 21 (Resurrection Sunday)
• Procession – San José Cathedral
• Procession – San Pedro Church (Obras Sociales)
As always, watch your wallet, phone, and other electronic devices while attending crowded processions – pickpockets will be present.