Guadalajara’s International Mariachi Festival returns to lakeside this year for a gala matinee concert booked for Sunday, September 1, 3 p.m., at Ajijic’s Huerta de Serna Events Salon.

Six local youngsters were in the spotlight Saturday, August 17, as winners of the second annual Feria Maestros del Arte children’s art contest.

The announcement of the upcoming formal unveiling of a work by acclaimed Mexican sculptor Miguel Miramontes highlighted the progress report given by Centro Cultural de Ajijic (CCA) director Efren Gonzalez during a public meeting held Tuesday, August 13.

The birth of lakeside’s first regional dance company is on the horizon following an open audition for prospective artists held on Friday, August 2 at the Auditorio de la Ribera. The new group is expected to be ready for a public debut by mid-November in the performance of a novel dance program.

For more than a decade Barbara Hess was known as “the cat lady” because of her selfless service to the Lakeside Animal Shelter and its feline brood.

With the aim of raising public awareness on Lake Chapala’s plight, local artist Conrado Contreras has designed a sculptural installation piece with an environmental message to be put on display during next weekend’s three-day Tequila Festival (see story below).