As snowbirds return in droves to winter in Puerto Vallarta, activities step up during the second half of November and the beginning of December.
Gourmet Festival
This is the 19th year for the International Gourmet Festival, a culinary extravaganza that has gained fame around the world. There are 13 restaurants and 14 hotel restaurants participating in this year’s event, running from November 14-23. Guest chefs from all over the world will be thrilling foodies with their best recipes. Each participating restaurant will feature one guest chef.
Restaurant Kaiser Maximilian, in Zona Romantica, plays host to guest chef Tony Aiazzi from New York City.
“I think it’s a really great event,” says Aiazzi. “This is an unusual event because it brings all types of chefs together and they are welcomed into kitchens and really become part of the local team.”
Aiazzi likes the fact that the festival goes on for over a week, which gives the chefs time to develop recipes, soak up the atmosphere and learn something new from their new friends.
Chefs will be coming from Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, France and, of course, Mexico. There are many activities, special dinners and nights of chefs’ tables. Check their website, www.FestivalGourmet.com, for the full schedule and more information.
Malecon sculptures
Learn all about the beautiful works of art on Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk by strolling with Gary Thompson, owner of Galeria Pacifico, on the free walking tour. The walks are held on Tuesdays, starting 9:30 a.m. from in the front of the Millennium sculpture next to the Hotel Rosita, at the north end of the Malecon in downtown Puerto Vallarta.
The tour covers about 15 sculptures and lasts about two hours and no reservations are necessary. The tours will continue through mid-April. More information may be obtained by calling Galería Pacifico at 222-1982 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Market-Tianguis
The regular Old Town Farmers Market-Tianguis Cultural kicked off on Saturday, November 9, when 2,000 people enjoyed a day of shopping, sampling tasty treats, checking out local crafts, visiting with old friends and hopefully making new ones.
There’s a little bit for everyone at the market from fresh produce and home baked goods, to greeting cards, tote bags, home made dog treats and you can even adopt a dog or cat from the SPCA-PV booth.
This year the market is located in Lazaro Cardenas Park in Zona Romantica and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until the last Saturday in May. You can park in the garage directly below for only 10 pesos per hour.
Southside Shuffle
Time to mosey on down Basilio Badillo starting on Friday, November 15 because that is the first night for Southside Shuffle, a bimonthly event, which lasts from 6 to 10 p.m. in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romantica.
This is the fourth year for this fun night on the town with a great combo of live music, cocktails, shopping and art. There are also restaurants where you can get a bit to eat.
Let your feet do the shuffling between the Basilio Badillo businesses on November 15 & 29, December 13 & 27, January 10 & 24, February 7 & 21, March 7 & 21 and April 4.
Tapestry exhibition
Admire spectacular woven fantasies at the Peter Gray Art Museum opening on Friday, November 22, 5 p.m. Over 30 weavers from around Latin American and the United States will be showing their originally hand-crafted designs.
The Museo de Arte Peter Gray is located on the Centro Universitario de la Costa (CUC) campus, just a few miles north of the airport. Follow Highway 200 north to the major intersection, just past Home Depot, turn right at the sign pointing to Ixtapa. Continue on this road for about one mile looking for the sign saying CUC, where you will make a right hand turn. Park in the lot on the right hand side and walk to the museum.