Fiestas Patrias
AJIJIC
Friday, September 15: Grito ceremony and town dance, from 8 p.m. at the plaza, with live entertainment and fireworks.
Saturday, September 16: Traditional fishing tournament, 9 a.m., at waterfront beach. Independence Day parade, 10 a.m., runs east to west on Calle Constitución-Ocampo to Seis Esquinas, doubling back to the plaza via Hidalgo. Fiestas Queen and princesses lead traditional Combate de Flores (flower battle), 7 p.m., at the plaza, followed by town dance.
Sunday, September 17: Annual Uses and Customs of the Rebozo (Mexican shawl) fashion parade, 7 p.m., at the plaza.
CHAPALA
Friday, September 15: Grito street party celebration outside at City Hall, from 6:30 p.m., includes live entertainment, arrival of Fuego Patrio runners and coronation of Fiestas Patrias Queen preceding Grito ceremony, 10:45 p.m. Festivities continue into the wee hours at the Malecón with banda, mariachi and a musical fireworks show.
Saturday, September 16: Civic parade running full loop of Avenida Madero, starts at the intersection of Paseo Ramón Corona, 9 a.m.
JOCOTEPEC
Friday, September 15: Noche Mexicana, from sundown, features reception of the Fuego Patrio torch runners, Ballet Folklórico Jocotepec, live mariachi, coronation of Señorita Fiestas Patrias and Grito ceremony.
Saturday, September 16: Flag ceremony, 8 a.m. followed by Independence Parade along main streets, 8:30 a.m. Sinfónica Tonantzín performance, noon. Craft beer festival, noon, waterfront Malecón; traditional games for kids, 4 p.m., same location.
If you haven’t had your patriotic fill, San Antonio and Riberas del Pilar will be holding their grito celebrations next weekend.
Open Circle
Victor Youcha will present “Karma” at the next meeting of at Open Circle, held in the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) Sala, Sunday, September 17, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Last year Youcha spoke about spiritual law – the law of karma and parallel perceptions of spiritual law in various belief systems. Sunday, he will elaborate more fully on this topic.
Youcha has had an interesting year since the last talk. His wife Linda had a very serious stroke following surgery to correct an aneurism and is now in a nursing home. Youcha himself recently underwent heart catheterization, with stents inserted in two arteries. Thus, pondering the lessons of karma is foremost in his mind.
A life-long spiritual seeker, Youcha has studied with Lakota medicine men and has been a student of the spiritual teachings of Eckankar for the last 18 years. A licensed chiropractor, he still practices part time and has been giving seminars to students and faculty of the chiropractic colleges in Mexico. The couple arrived in Ajijic in 2010.
For more information, go to opencircleajjic.org.
LCS seminar
Lake Chapala Society (LCS) members are invited to attend a TED seminar on “No One Should Die Because They Live Too Far from a Doctor” by physician Dr. Raj Panjabi, Tuesday, September 19, noon to 1:15 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
Illness is universal but access to care is not. Dr. Panjabi has a bold vision to bring health care to everyone, everywhere. With the 2017 TED Prize, Panjabi is building the Community Health Academy, a global platform that aims to modernize how community health workers learn vital skills, creating jobs along the way.
Folk dancing
The new English Country Folk Dance group will meet Sunday afternoons, beginning Sunday, September 17, 2:45-5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Hidalgo 261 in Riberas del Pilar (the same building as The Naked Stage).
English Country Dance is like the dancing seen in movies from the 1700s and 1800s – such as in the Jane Austen or Masterpiece Theatre productions. Even people who think they have two left feet can do this. The dancing is done to a walking step and all dances are taught first, then they called (prompted) while you are doing the dance. No experience is necessary and partners are not needed. Come by yourself or, even better, bring a partner or friend. Contact Catherine or Eric Luria at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (376) 766-6119 for more information.
Lakeside Freethinkers
A discussion of Spiritual Naturalism by John Stokdijk is on the dock for the next meeting of the Lakeside Freethinkers, Wednesday, September 20. The group meets at La Nueva Posada restaurant on the third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. Dinner and additional discussion usually follow.
The Lakeside Freethinkers define a “freethinker” as a person who as an atheist, agnostic, secular humanist, or skeptic. They believe that individuals should not accept ideas proposed as truth without recourse to knowledge and reason. They reject belief in the supernatural and rely on science and reason to guide their lives. If you would like to attend, or just obtain additional information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LCS bus trip
The Lake Chapala Society hosts a trip to Galerias Mall/Costco in Guadalajara Thursday, September 21. The bus departs promptly at 9 a.m. from the sculpture in La Floresta.
Cost is 350 pesos for members and 450 pesos for non-members.
Holistic clinic
The third Sana-Clinica Pop-Up Clinic will be held Saturday, September 23, 2:30-6:30 p.m. at Mexico Refuge in San Antonio Tlayacapan. This event offers a spa-like atmosphere where community members are invited to come and sample the healing modalities of local holistic practitioners. Services are offered on a donation basis. For more information, or further instructions, see sana-clinica.com.
Roll Out the Barrel …
The Lake Chapala Society brings on the “Om Pa Pa” at its Oktoberfest celebration Saturday, September 23, 2-6 p.m..
This year’s LCS Oktoberfest has more of a Bavarian flair as the organization celebrates all cultures living lakeside with live polka by the Alpenquartett, bratwurst, red cabbage, potato salad, German pretzels and Corazon de Malta beer. Tickets are 120 pesos for LCS members, 150 pesos for non-members and 180 pesos at the gate. Available at LCS, Que Ganga and Diane Pearl.
Enrich yourself
The Lake Chapala Society begins its Personal Enrichment Courses for the fall with “Introduction to Creative Writing” by Rachel McMillen, Tuesdays, October 3-24, 10 a.m. to noon, at the South Campus board room. Cost is 400 pesos.
Marshall Krantz offers up “A Novel Approach to Films” Wednesdays, October 4 to November 1, 2-5 p.m., in the LCS Sala. Cost is 750 pesos.
Francisco Nava continues his popular “Practical Gardening at Lakeside” courses Wednesdays, October 11- November 29, 9 to 10 a.m., in the garden area of LCS. Cost is 600 pesos.
Judy King gives a course on “Mexico’s Winter Holidays and Traditions,” Mondays, October 30-December 4, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost is 600 pesos.
Sign up at the LCS office. For more information, see www.lakechapalasociety.com.
Canadian Thanksgiving
The Chapala branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and American Legion Post 7 Chapala are sponsoring a Canadian Thanksgiving celebration Monday, October 9, at the Casa del Musico restaurant in San Antonio Tlayacapan. Valet parking will be available. A social hour begins 2 p.m. and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is served at 3 p.m. Door prizes, a meat draw and a 50/50 draw will be on tap. Tickets, 250 pesos, are available via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 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..
LCS Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society begins its next round of Introduction to Spanish language classes for LCS members October 10 for three consecutive Tuesdays, noon to 1:30 p.m. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about the area Mexican culture. November classes begin October 31. The cost is 175 pesos. sign up at the LCS offices or via www.lakechapalasociety.com.
Shopping in Texas
The Lake Chapala Society is sponsoring a Texas Shopping Extravaganza departing November 5 and returning November 8. The trip includes two full days of shopping in McAllen and three nights at the Hampton Inn, including breakfast and internet. Cost to members is $US499, non-members $US549. Final sign-up day is October 22. A non-refundable deposit of $US125 is required.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Community monthly movie offering on Monday, September 18, 3 p.m. is “Behemoth,” a documentary exploring the costs of economic progress in Inner Mongolia.
The Buddhist Sangha offers meditation opportunities several times each week. The regular meditation and teaching session is on Wednesdays when the center is open from 3:30 p.m. with the formal schedule at 4 p.m. September 20, the meditation period will be followed by another presentation and discussion in the series “Evaluating Our Practice” with the focus on Obstacles.
The Heart of Awareness is grounded in the teachings of the Buddha. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. The center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101 in Ajijic. For more information, visit heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert, 331-043-4669.