When Rubi Ibarra Garcia's parents posted a video inviting guests to attend her quinceanera, they never could have predicted just how many people would accept.
But on Monday, thousands of strangers descended on a ranch near La Joya, a rural town in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to celebrate the girl's 15th birthday.
Rubi, dressed in a fuchsia gown and a sparkling tiara, was swarmed by guests as she made her way to a Mass held as part of the coming-of-age celebration.
Attendees watched bands perform and feasted on traditional Mexican cuisine before Rubi and her father shared a father-daughter waltz. Red Cross workers and state police were on hand to monitor the party, The Associated Press reported.
© Provided by CBS Interactive Inc. Rubi Ibarra Garcia celebrated her 15th birthday with a bunch of new friends.
The massive event unfolded weeks after Garcia’s parents accidentally posted a public invitation on Facebook. In the message, her father, Crescensio Ibarra, said there would be a horse race as part of the event, with the winner taking home 10,000 pesos, or about $500.
"Everyone is cordially invited!" Ibarra said at the end of the video.
His wife later clarified that he'd meant "everyone" from neighboring communities, not "everyone" from across the globe.
But it was too late. The message went viral and as many as 1.3 million people responded to the event to say they'd be attending.
It became so large that Interjet, a Mexican airline, dropped flight prices to the area by 30 percent with the slogan: "Are you going to Rubi's party?"
On Monday, guests travelled from across Mexico and even from the U.S., NBC reported.
But the event also brought tragedy as Felix Pena, 66, a local stablehand, was knocked down by one of the racing horses and trampled to death, CNN reported. Pena had previously said he would be entering the competition.
The horse race was subsequently called off
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