Article updated: 12/13/2012 12:14 PM

Thousands come to Lady of Guadalupe festival

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Carlos Garcia of Chicago and his daughter Ashley place roses at the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Pilgrims light candles and place flowers on the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

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A pilgrim prays at Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Victor Rodriguez, left, and Florentino Gutierrez of Danza Devocion Guadalupana perform an indigenous Mexican Indian ritual dance in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Victor Rodriguez and Danza Devocion Guadalupana perform an indigenous Mexican Indian ritual dance in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Emanuel Lopez of Mount Prospect prepares to place roses at Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Rolando Herrera of Chicago and his son Brendon pause for a milk break in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

One-year-old Alejandro Nava of Palatine pays a visit to the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Maurilio Barrera of Chicago and his sister Erica light a candle at the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Florentino Gutierrez of Danza Devocion Guadalupana performs an indigenous Mexican Indian ritual dance in front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

About this Article

As many as 100,000 Catholic pilgrims converged on Des Plaines Tuesday night and Wednesday for the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration, the largest gathering of its kind in the Northwest suburbs. The festival honoring the Patroness of the Americas began about 4 p.m. Tuesday and continued through the closing Mass at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1170 N. River Road, adjacent to the Maryville Academy campus in Des Plaines.