Here is the 2009 official Puerto Vallarta City Calendar of holidays and celebrations. The print is small and in Spanish so click to enlarge to read. Courtesy of the Puerto Vallarta Culture Department. This listing shows all governmental holidays and how the Mexican flag should be flown (full or half staff), where the official ceremony will be held and if civic personnel have to attend. Full staff flying of flags indicates a basic holiday. Half staff indicates a current or historical date of death.
VII Campeonato Nacional Charro » February 18 to 22, 2009
The Puerto Vallarta yearly traditional Championship Mexican Charreada (Rodeo) will be held February 18 to 22, 2009. If you like charros (cowboys) and horses and pageantry, this is a very exciting event.
THE MALECONEADA:
A special highlight open to everyone without charge will be on Friday, February 20, at 10 pm, the traditional Maleconeada, a promenade on the Malecón with many Charros, chicas, walking bands and free tequila being passed out to all those attending. The Maleconeada begins late in the evening and continues on until it’s over. It starts at the north end of the Malecón at Park Hidalgo and proceeds down to the Presidencia where it ends with a public dance. The march is slow and the people are “happy” and loose.
GENERAL PROGRAM:
February 18, Wednesday
- 3 pm – Inauguration Ceremony
- 3:30 pm – Carlos Sánchez Llaguno, Jal., Regionales de Jalisco and Charros de Vallarta -B- with a special performance of la Escaramuza Charra La Providencia, from Jalisco
- 7 pm – Charros de El Relicario, EdoMex., Dos Ases de Ezequiel Peña, Nay. and Charros de Vallarta -A-
- 9:30 – Tradicional Verbena Popular, A Show at Los Arcos Ampitheater with the Xiutla Ballet, Rope Dances and Mariachi bands.
FEBRUARY 19, Thursday
- 11 am – Regionales de Tizayuca, Hgo., Rancho Las Cuatas, Nay. and Tapatía de Charros Jalisco
- 3 pm – Puente de Camotlán, Nayarit, Rancho El Jaralito, SLP and Rancho Agua Santa, Jalisco
- 7 pm – Youth Competition with the special appearance of Los Tres Potrillos, -Childrens National Champions-, Charros del Rancho San Gabriel and Charros del Pitillal, –Children’s Third Place National Champions-, together with la Escaramuza Charra La Providencia –Infantil-
FEBRUARY 20, Friday
- 11 am – Charros de Cuauhtémoc -B-, NL, Tres Regalos, Q. Roo. Tequila Hacienda Vieja, Jalisco, Campeones Nacionales and San Martín Caballero -B- EdoMex.
- 2:30 pm – Charros de Jalisco, Hacienda Tamaríz, Pue., Santa Fe de Valladolid, Mich. and Rancheros de Sonora, together with la Escaramuza Rancho Los Olivos del estado de Jalisco
- 6:30 pm – Charros de El Cócono, Mor., Rancho La Biznaga, EdoMex, Rancho Nuevo de Tepa, Jalisco and Rancho El Quevedeño, Nayarit
- 10 pm – Tradicional Maleconeada, the Parade on the Malecón.
FEBRUARY 21, Saturday
- 11 am – Hacienda de Guadalupe, NL, Tequila Don Roberto, Jalisco, Charros de Cuauhtémoc -A-, NL and San Martín Caballero -A-, EdoMex
- 3 pm – Charros de Tracomsa, NL, Los Tres Potrillos, Jalisco, Hacienda Naveja, Jalisco and Rancho El Edén, EdoMex
- 7 pm – Rancho El Olivo, DF, Regionales de Texcoco, EdoMex, Charros de Chalco 36, EdoMex. and Charrería Lo Nuestro, DF
FEBRUARY 22, Sunday
- 11 am – Ganadera Santa Isabel Pueblo, Charros de Félix Flores de Texcoco, EdoMex, Perla del Pacifico, BCN. and Los Tamaulipecos, Tams.
- 3 pm – 1st Grand Finale Teams 1,2, and 3
with la Escaramuza Las Alteñitas, del Estado de Jalisco, Tricampeonas Nacionales - 6 pm – 2nd Grand Finale Teams 4, 5 and 6
- Upon completion of the two finals cash prizes will be awarded to the 6 teams and to the 10 individual champions
COST:
- Wednesday to Saturday – 80 pesos for adults and 30 for children.
- Sunday – 120 for adults and 30 for children
LOCATION MAP
Lienzo Charro Miguel “Prieto” Ibarría in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
MORE INFORMATION:
Circo Manaos » December 28, 29, 30
Circo Manaos, three nights of free entertainment will be presented from December 28 to December 30.
- “Fuoco di Strada” A pair of jugglers, Monica Rodriguez Diaz and Jeús Inzunza Jimenez, will perform two acts, one with glass spheres and one with fire.
- “Extreme Flair” will be formed by Osvaldo Garcia Perez, Alejandra Campos and Mariana Diaz Echauri Quevedo, appear to show viewers a lucidor where bartenders demonstrate their unique way of preparing and serving drinks, throwing bottles to unimagined heights.
- “Prana” with Alejandro Peredo, Juan Mendez and Peredo Homer who close the show with an entertaining presentation of Malabarismo.
SCHEDULE:
- December 28 – Pitillal Plaza, 6:30 & 8:30
- December 29 – Park Lázaro Cárdenas, 6:30 & 8:30
- December 30 – Park Hidalgo, 6:30 & 8:30
Mexican History and Culture Lecture Series » Dan Grippo
Winter, 2009 Lecture Series at the IFC !
Daniel Grippo will again be offering two lecture series on Mexican history and culture at the IFC this winter begining January 16. Dan has taught at several U.S. universities and holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies, an M.A. in Religious Studies, and a Ph.D. in Latin American History.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
I’ve taken Dan’s classes in the Spring of 2008 and I honestly can’t think of a better person to teach Mexican history and culture. His classes go far beyond traditional education and well into entertainment (with understanding). He knows the subject inside and out and relates it to *real life* here in Mexico on a broad level.
La Noche del Gran Milagro » December 16 to 22, 8 pm
Municipal Theater Group presents “La Noche del Gran Milagro” (The Night of The Great Miracle), a traditional Pastorela, a theatrical representation of the pilgrimage that Mary and Joseph made to reach Bethlehem for the birth of baby Jesus at Christmas.
The Puerto Vallarta Municipal Government, through the Department of Arts and Culture, is continuing this tradition under the direction of Professor Alberto Fabian for the 16th year.
In addition to the traditional Pastorela theme, this presentation combines the essence of traditional pastorelas with a contemporary and colloquial interpretation.
Characters such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angel and the devil will be in this story as in the original plot, with the addition of characters and icons that exist within Mexican society.
The Pastorela will be presented every night at 8 pm from Tuesday, December 16 until Monday, December 22, at the Cultural Center Cuale.
Entry is free and is a work that can be enjoyed both by children and adults. This performance is in Spanish but words are not necessary for appreciation.
The Ultimate Puerto Vallarta Tour
Let’s face it, Puerto Vallarta is a tourist town. To most of the visitors here life is activities, beaches, nice hotels, booze and, generally, fun. There are canopy tours, drinking tours, boat tours, all types of rides and clubs, etc.
And there is one tour that most people won’t want to take: A tour of the the School of Champions, run by the Children of the Dump organization to improve the lives of the kids of Puerto Vallarta who live out by the city dump.
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 3 pm, tours are offered to visitors and expats (or anyone who is interested) to the programs run by the Children of the Dump organization. There is no cost except what you will take away with you in changed concepts and emotions.
MORE INFORMATION:
- WEBSITE: www.Childrenofthedump.org
- TEL: 293 4984 or 044 322 158 8815(cell)
