Photos: El Día de San Juan Fiesta
The annual summer fiesta, El Día de San Juan, celebrates the beginning of the 'Season of El Chubasco', or monsoon rains. This celebration of St. John's birthday, who is the patron saint of water, was once one of the most important events in Tucson and the Southwest. Look through the gallery to view photos of the festival throughout the years.
El Día de San Juan
Bernadette Cruz, 4, right, dips for holy water as she watches her grandmother Patricia Cruz make the sign of the cross at the foot of the Saint John The Baptist statue at the 16th annual El Dia De San Juan Fiesta at Mercado San Augustin, 100 S. Avenida del Convento on Monday, June 24, 2013 in Tucson, AZ. The Fiesta honors the Saint Day of John the Baptist as the one who brings the water marking the beginning of the Monsoons. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star.
El Día de San Juan
Florecitas del Desierto Escaramuzas perform during the 13th annual Dia De San Juan Fiesta along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River near off of Congress, Thursday, June 24, 2010. The annual fiesta celebrates the begining of the monsoon rains. Photo by David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star.
El Día de San Juan
06/23/2007. 4A; People line up to place flowers and receive holy water at the feet of the San Juan statue. Several people line up to place flowers and get some of the holy water at the feet of the San Juan statue during the 10th Annual Dia de San Juan Fiesta.
El Día de San Juan
Celisa Ramirez, 11 rest her head on Sandra Alfaro, 11 as the two, who are with Mariachi Corazon de Oro, wait to perform at the El Dia de San Juan Celebration at Menlo Park in Tucson. Photo by David Sanders. Photo taken on 6/24/98.
El Día de San Juan
Marianna De La Rosa leads the Cuauhtemoc Mayan Dance group drumming and dancing in honor of El dia de San Juan at a celebration held on W. Congress St.. Photo by Sarah Prall. Photo taken on 6/24/2000.
El Día de San Juan
Participants lay flowers at the base of a shrine in honor of El dia de San Juan at a celebration held on W. Congress St.. Photo by Sarah Prall. Photo taken on 6/24/2000.
El Día de San Juan
Andreina Smith, 12, front of the dance group Flor De Primavera and Carla Rodriguez, 12, in green behind left, dance during the El Dia De San Juan celebration on west Congress street near the Santa Cruz River Sunday June 24, 2001. The festival celebrates the coming monsoons. Photo by Max Becherer
El Día de San Juan
Guadalupe Tafoya, left, and Raquel Angulo wave during the procession at the 11th annual el Dia de San Juan Fiesta ( on W. Congress St. Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The fiesta celebrates St. John's Birthday, the patron saint of water, and continues the tradition of celebrating the beginning of the monsoon rains. Photo by Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
Rebecca Leon, a member of Mariachi Herencia de Cuco del Cid sings during the 11th annual el Dia de San Juan Fiesta on W. Congress St. Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The fiesta celebrates St. John's Birthday, the patron saint of water, and continues the tradition of celebrating the beginning of the monsoon rains. Photo by Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
Alfredo Flores, 6, watches the entertainment at the 11th annual el Dia de San Juan Fiesta on W. Congress St. Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The fiesta celebrates St. John's Birthday, the patron saint of water, and continues the tradition of celebrating the beginning of the monsoon rains. Photo by Jill Torrance/Arizona Daily Star Transmission
El Día de San Juan
Father Raul Trevino led the procession during the 12th annual El Dia de San Juan, Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Tucson, Ariz. El Dia de San Juan celebrates the beginning of the 'Season of El Chubasco', or monsoon rains. The celebration of St. John's birthday(the patron saint of water) was once one of the most important events in Tucson and the Southwest. 6/24/09 Photo by James S. Wood Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
The Las Florecitas del Rio Dancers perform during the 12th annual El Dia de San Juan, Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Tucson, Ariz. El Dia de San Juan celebrates the beginning of the 'Season of El Chubasco', or monsoon rains. The celebration of St. John's birthday(the patron saint of water) was once one of the most important events in Tucson and the Southwest. 6/24/09 Photo by James S. Wood Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
David Mercado, has fun warming up with the Mariachi Tesoro group before the procession of the 12th annual El Dia de San Juan, Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Tucson, Ariz. El Dia de San Juan celebrates the beginning of the 'Season of El Chubasco', or monsoon rains. The celebration of St. John's birthday (the patron saint of water) was once one of the most important events in Tucson and the Southwest. 6/24/09 Photo by James S. Wood Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
Danza Cultura Mexicana performs during the 12th annual El Dia de San Juan, Wednesday June 24, 2009 in Tucson, Ariz. El Dia de San Juan celebrates the beginning of the 'Season of El Chubasco', or monsoon rains. The celebration of St. John's birthday (the patron saint of water) was once one of the most important events in Tucson and the Southwest. 6/24/09 Photo by James S. Wood Arizona Daily Star
El Día de San Juan
06/23/2007. 4A; Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas blesses people with holy water during event. Bishop Gerald Kicanas bless the people with holy water during the 10th Annual Dia de San Juan Fiesta.
El Día de San Juan
Changuitos Feos leads the procession carrying the statue of St. John the Baptist at the start of the fiesta of El Dia de San Juan Monday, June 24th, 2002 which took place at Congress and the Santa Cruz River. Jim Davis
El Día de San Juan
Folklorico dancers from Charros/ Azteca dance on the stage Monday, June 24th, 2002 during the El Dia de San Juan. From left are Anissa Balbastro, Jose Reyes, Samantha Figueroa and Antonio Barcello. Jim Davis June 25, 2002
El Día de San Juan
Jose Reyes of Charros/ Azteca performs in the arena with a rope during the El Dia de San Juan Fiesta just west of downtown Monday, June 24th, 2002. Jim Davis
El Día de San Juan
Mia Quihuis, 5, and Alyssa Gutierrez, 4, watch performers as they wait their turn to perform during the 13th annual Dia De San Juan Fiesta along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River near off of Congress, Thursday, June 24, 2010. The annual fiesta celebrates the begining of the monsoon rains. The two are with Danzacultura a Parks and Rec program. Photo by David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star.
El Día de San Juan is an annual summer event to celebrate the coming monsoon season and honor St. John the Baptist (patron saint of WATER).