Harp concert
Javier Raygoza plays the harp, with Manuel Martinez on salerio, and Jesus Medeles Romeron on guitar, Friday, December 20, 8 p.m. at Casa Barragan Restaurant, Avenida Ramon Corona 13 in Chapala.
Dance performance
Four regional dance groups will perform at the Auditorio de la Ribera Friday, December 20, 5 p.m.
Arabic dance is by Ballet Raqs Sharqui from Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos; Tahitian dance by Ballet Ori Varua The Here from Chapala; classical ballet by Studio Dance from Atequizqa; and air dance by Ateles from Ajijic. Tickets, 150 pesos, are available at the Auditorio. Information: 331-310-9937 or 331-723-3440.
Christmas chorale concerts
Freedom Chorale performs two free “All-Christmas Christmas Concerts,” Friday, December 20 at Lakeside Presbyterian Church and Saturday, December 21 at the Ajijic Cultural Center, both 5 to 6 p.m.
A dinner/show matinee on Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24) will be held at Sunrise Restaurant, 2 p.m., with a special dinner featuring arrachera, shrimp, chicken or vegetarian options. Tickets, 300 pesos, are all-inclusive, and available only at the door from 1-2 p.m., on a first-come, first-seated basis. Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Strings at LLT
The Kin Quartett, four young musicians from Guadalajara, perform a concert of classical Christmas music, including Corelli’s Christmas Concerto and Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A minor,” Saturday December 21, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 22, 4 p.m. at the Lakeside Little Theatre (LLT). Playing first violin is Marianna Hermosillo; Brenda Galvan Gonzalez is second violin; the viola is played by Juan Carlos Munez; and Areli Medelez is on cello. All these musicians attended the Festival del Lago Academy last summer. Their teacher and coach, Christopher Wilshire, will perform the solo for the Bach concerto. There will also be traditional popular Mexican music and Christmas carols. Proceeds from these concerts will be shared with the Festival del Lago Academy.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at the LLT box office, 10 a.m. to noon, every Wednesday and Thursday and every day for the run of the December Mainstage show one hour before curtain, except Sunday. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 376-766-0954.
Spotlight Club
The Kinsy Sicks, America’s favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet, is back with a rollicking show, “Oy Vey in a Manger,” Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21, 7 p.m. at the Spotlight Club. Revel in their renditions of “God Bless Ye Femmy Lesbians,” “Anchor Baby” and “I’m Dreaming of a Vanna White Christmas,” plus hilarious Jewish satiric fare, including “Don’t Be Happy, Worry,” the Chanukah spa classic “I Had a Little Facial” and, of course, the requisite and new Christmas cuisine standard, “Soylent Night.” Tickets are 350 pesos.
Queen tribute band, Live Forever, plays two shows Friday, December 27, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are 350 pesos.
Mike and the Suspects, including local musicians Mike Fortier, Andrew McCechnie, Cris Cuevas, Rod Struss and Yohai Trejo, play January 4, 7 p.m. Tickets only 100 pesos.
Reservations: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 331-845-1523.
Holiday fiesta
Centro Laguna Mall is holding a fiesta navideña Saturday, December 21, including a letter to Santa drop beginning 2 p.m., a Santa’s elves treasure hunt at 5 p.m., a choral concert by the CREM music school choir at 5:30 p.m. and a jazz concert by Black Sapphire beginning 7 p.m.
Talent Shows
The Chapala Talent Show, a benefit for the School for Special children, will hold performances Sundays at 7 p.m. on December 22 and January 12 and 26 at the Spotlight Club in San Antonio Tlayacapan. First prize is 25,000 pesos. A finale will be held February 16.
For tickets or to enter contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Film Aficionados
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members can take advantage of Film Aficionados screenings. Thursday, December 26, 2 p.m. “Of Horses and Men” (2013, Iceland) will be shown.
A country romance about the human streak in the horse and the horse in the human. Love and death can be interlaced with immense consequences. From the director of “Woman at War,” a movie shown at LCS in October. “Of Horses and Men” was first shown here in 2013, the year it was nominated for an Academy award. (78 minutes.) LCS members only.
Good and evil
Bare Stage Theatre presents “Paradise Lost,” by Erin Shields, Friday to Sunday, December 27 to 29.
What is good, what is evil and what lies in between? “Paradise Lost” is inspired by John Milton’s epic tale of the battle between good and evil. This 21st century adaptation is an exploration of gender, patriarchy and notions of original sin.
This script is brilliant, cheeky, irreverent and fiercely engaging. The cast of characters includes God, his Son, the archangels, Adam and Eve, Satan and a host of devils. It is a profound and thought-provoking exploration of Adam and Eve’s decision to eat that apple.
Directed by Lynn Phelan, the cast is comprised of Ron Mikulicic, Graham Miller, Alison Palmer, Barbara Pruitt, Diana Rowland, Darlene Sherwood, James Viers, Claudine Weinfeld and Tony Wilshere.
Reserve your tickets, 150 pesos, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Box office and bar open at 3 p.m. Showtime is 4 p.m. Seats are held till 3:50 p.m.
The Bare Stage Theatre is located on the mountain side of the Carretera Chapala-Ajijic 261 in Riberas del Pilar, across from the Catholic Church. There is no parking inside the Baptist Church lot.
Painting Guild
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 331-845-1523." class="caption" width="409" height="271" style="float: right;" />
The first exhibition of 2020 for the Lake Chapala Painting Guild opens Saturday, January 4, 4 p.m. on the first floor of the Cultural Center Ajijic. Juried paintings by the regular members, and paintings by three new members, will be up through the month of January. Refreshments will be served.
Lip Sync
The 12th annual Lip Sync show returns to the Auditorio de la Ribera under the direction of Michael McLaughlin, with more than 50 volunteers and performers on stage to raise money for improvements to the Auditorio.
This year’s show features dances from “Riverdance,” “A Chorus Line” and many more.
The shows are Thursday, January 9, 4 p.m.; Friday, January 10, 6 p.m. and Sunday, January 12, 2 p.m. The bar opens one hour before each show.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique, the Auditorio box office, online at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and at the door prior to the show.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 331-845-1523." class="caption" width="409" height="348" style="float: right;" />
Oaxaca in Ajijic
A presentation of the famous Guelaguetza dance from the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca will be held Sunday, January 19, 5 p.m. on the Ajijic plaza.
The performance will be part of a cultural festival to be held January 10 to 22, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Crafts, gastronomy, music and dance from Oaxaca will be part of the program each day.
LCS benefit show
Steve Balfour and the Spotlight Club present Branden and James performing “Rock the Opera,” a benefit for The Lake Chapala Society, with three shows: Thursday and Friday, January 16 and 17, 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 18, 2 p.m. VIP tickets, 500 pesos; side seating, 400 pesos. Tickets available at the LCS front office, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday.
LCS mariachi fest
The Lake Chapala Society presents its fifth annual international mariachi concert, Saturday, January 18, 3 to 6 p.m.
The program features return performances from Mariachi Estrellas de Chula Vista and Grupo Bella, and the debut of Mariachi Torres. All are award-winning groups from the United States. Tickets, 250 pesos in advance and 300 pesos at the door, are available at the LCS ticket office or at TheLakeChapalaSociety.com.