We wanted to view the production line operations, but visitors were not allowed. We looked at many guitars and tested a few. Quality varied from those constructed quickly and simply for fast merchandising at reasonable prices, to those built with deliberation using high grade tonal woods to achieve concert quality. For every guitar we saw under construction, we noticed the fan bracing for the sound board was a Torres type design. Paracho has held a guitar festival every year since 1973, the festivities lasting a week.
Every day is packed with events.
There are folkloric dances and music by the Purepecha people, parades by tradespeople of many categories, guitar making seminars, concerts by many different bands, chess tournaments, burro races, soccer games, and much more, including speeches by many dignitaries. But the highlight of the festival comes when guitar performers and judges arrive from Mexico City. They come to play, evaluate, and prepare a critique on every guitar entered in the competition. Usually around 20 guitars are entered, and the judges select the top three instruments. The XX Feria Nacional de la Guitarra in Paracho took place around the middle of August.