Let your holiday spirits get a large boost from the huge array of special events encompassed in the Festival Navideño organized by Chapala’s culture office and the monthly agenda of programs scheduled at the Jalisco Culture Ministry’s Auditorio de la Ribera.
Standing out in the listing of song, dance, music, theatrical and art happenings is the variety of pastorelas (shepherds’ plays) to be presented at different venues over the next two weeks.
These traditional holiday dramatizations retell the Biblical account of the shepherds’ star-guided trek to Bethlehem to adore the new born baby Jesus. Following humorous, often irreverent story lines, the pastores face trials and misadventures provoked by the Devil, invariably coming to a happy ending as the troubled travelers reach their intended destination. While you might miss some of the jokes, you don’t need a strong command of Spanish to catch the gist of the plot and enjoy the fun. Events listed below are open to the public free of charge unless otherwise specified. Venues are abbreviated after the first appearance.
Saturday, Dec. 5
Art show openings, “Animagnético” by Chenya and “El mundo secreto de Pepo” by Coyi Coyi, Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA), 7 p.m.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite staged by Academia de Ballet Clásico de Chapala y Escuela de Ballet de Guadalajara, Auditorio de la Ribera, 7 p.m. Repeat performances December 10 and 12, same time. Admission 100 pesos.
Sunday, Dec. 6
Gala Decembrina, featuring selected scenes from renowned ballets performed by students from the Auditorium Ballet Academy, Tlajomulco Municipal Ballet School and Centro Releve de Guadalajara, Auditorio, noon and 5 p.m. Admission 60 pesos.
Monday, Dec. 7
Pastorela (Shepherds Play) “La Caja Misteriosa,” directed by Aldo Raygoza, Chapala ITS Tech Institute, at Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia (CCAP), former Chapala town hall, Avenida Madero at Hidalgo. 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Season’s Greetings concert by Cantantes del Lago, Auditorio, 7 p.m. Repeat performance December 9, 4 p.m. Admission 250 pesos.
Wednesday, Dec. 9
ITS Festival de Arte y Cultura, CCAP, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 10
Ricercare Flute Ensamble, CCAP, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 11
“Pastorela Tapatía,” directed by Jesús Esquivel, Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, CCAP, 8 p.m.
Ballet Folclórico Ixtlacateotl, directed by Carlos Rayo, Auditorio, 6 p.m. Admission 60 pesos.
Saturday, Dec. 12
Ballet Folclórico Ixtlacateotl, Santuario de Guadalupe esplandade, Calle Zaragoza at Pescadores, Chapala, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13
Pastorela “La Caja Misteriosa,” town plaza San Antonio Tlayacapan, 8 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14
Pastorela “La Caja Misteriosa,” town plaza Santa Cruz de la Soledad, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Navidad en Jalisco, holiday performance by Ballet Folclórico Ixtlacateotl, CCAP, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Inauguration Nativity Scene display, CCA, 5 to 8 p.m.
Casanueces (Nutcracker), traditiocnal children’s theater stage spectacle presented by Instituto Loyola, Auditorio de la Ribera, performances at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Admission 60 pesos.
Pastorela “Y ¿Dónde quedó el Diablo?” directed by Carlos Rayo, CCAP, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 17
Pastorela “La Caja Misteriosa,” CCAP, 10 a.m.
Annual Christmas Concert by the Familia Hermosillo, Auditorio, 7 p.m., Admission 200 pesos, free entrance for music students.
Pastorela “A Belén Pastores,” Ayuntamiento de Chapala theater troupe, directed by Enrique Martínez Ibarra, CCAP, 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 18
Bel Canto song recital, soprano Cesia Mendoza González, soprano Vanessa Guadalupe Gutierrez Gutierrez, pianist Héctor Miguel Ocampo Guiza, CCAP, 8 p.m.
Beethoven Atacck (sic) concert by Sinfónica del Lago, Auditorio, 7 p.m. Admission 100 pesos.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Juguetón, ninth annual holiday toy collection for underprivileged children, organized by the San Francisco Church, with continuous live entertainment, Fuente de Pescadores (fisherman’s fountain), Avenida Madero at Ramón Corona, from 6 p.m. continuing through 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Art show opening by Chelo González, CCA, 5 p.m.
Pastorela presented by Preparatoria Regional de Chapala,San Francisco Church atrium, 7 p.m.
Walk like a Man, show by Canadian singing sensation Paul Fracassi, Auditorio, 7 p.m. Admission 200 pesos.
Pastorela ¨Las Tentaciones de los Pastores,¨ directed by Belén Mendoza, CCA, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20
Danzas Antiguas (ancient dances), performed by C.E.A. A.C., Open Air Forum, east leg Chapala Malecón, 6:30 p.m.; followed by Ballet Folclórico de Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos, 7 p.m., and Pastorela “A Belén Pastores,” 8 p.m.
Gala Concert by CREM music school orchestra and chorus, Auditorio, 7 p.m. Admission 150 pesos.
Christmas Concert, performed by the OFIRC Chorus, CCA, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 24
Exhibition of colored sawdust carpets with holiday motifs, Calle Parroquia and San Andrés Church in Ajijic, plus Nativity display in the atrium, 7 to 10 p.m.