Jalpan celebrates a number of religious festivals throughout the year, and few secular holidays as well. Major festivals in town includeː
- Feast of the Holy Child of the Mezclita - January 5 and 6, celebrates the story of an infant child found in Guanajuato in 1890 who was turned over to the church. The bishop took the child to Jalpan just in time for the Feast of the Epiphany. Several miracles have been attributed to the child and now up to 20,000 people fill the town of Jalpan each year to celebrate.
- Serrana Regional Fair - April 21 (plus or minus a week), commemorates the founding of Jalpan as a Franciscan mission. Artistic and cultural events together with a sport fishing tournament. Busiest festival week in the Sierra Gorda region.
- Day of Santiago the Apostle - July 25, celebrates the town's patron saint and the one to whom the Mission of Jalpan is dedicated. Parades, fireworks, first communions, confirmations, maybe even a wedding or two, round out the festivities.
- Day of the Dead - November 1 and 2, Jalpan celebrates the mystery of death by visiting the graves of loved ones and decorating their graves. On the night of November 2, a contest is held in the town square as locals vie for the prestige of creating the most meaningful and beautiful altar of the dead.
- El Dia del Paisano - December 20 (minus a week or plus a day or two), celebrates the return to home of native sons who have migrated to the United States for work but come home for the holidays to be with family and friends. A parade of decorated pickup trucks and lots of huapango dancing mark the day.
