Festival de Paella
The Chapala Club de Yates will host the 5th annual Festival de Paella on Saturday, November 29, 1 to 10 p.m., benefiting Poco a Poco San Pedro Itzicán.
Wine tastings run from 1 to 3:30 p.m., followed by paella tastings from 3 to 7 p.m., with more than 20 varieties available. Tickets (850 pesos) include a glass of wine, gazpacho, bread, salad, four paellas, potato tortilla, live music, and Arabic and Flamenco dance performances.
Registration is available at masporevento.com/evento/ver/Festival_de_la_Paella_2025.
Open Circle
Claudia Miramontes Moranchell will present “Origins of Mexican Holidays and Celebrations” at the Open Circle meeting on Sunday, November 23, at 10:30 a.m., at the Lake Chapala Society.
How much do you know about the festivals happening soon at Lakeside and across Mexico? With a flurry of holidays about to unfold, explore the how, why and when of Mexico’s national and regional events, including modern twists on secular and religious traditions.
Miramontes, the current director of the Ajijic Cultural Center, was born in Guadalajara and holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy, with studies related to history, traditional culture and museum education.
Ajijic Cares
• The Ajijic Cares Foundation will hold a Zoominar with Dr. Brenda Crabtree Ramirez on Aging with HIV, Monday, November 24, 9-10:30 p.m. Preregistration is required: 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..
• A Red Party will be held on Monday, December 1, at the Lake Chapala Society as a World AIDS Day fundraiser. A lunch (by Casa Linda) and tea dance from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. costs 800 pesos. The tea dance alone (3:30 to 6:30 p.m.) is 300 pesos. Dress code is red. Tickets via WhatsApp: 331-774-9800 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Home Tours
The Behind the Walls home tours continue on December 11, January 22, February 26, and March 12. Tickets, 350 pesos for individual tours, or 1,550 pesos for four tours, are available at Fenix Realty, La Bella Vida and Panache. Each tour features four homes in the Ajijic area. Nearly 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the School for Special Children, which serves children with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Niños fundraiser
An elegant evening of dining, music, silent and live auctions, a wine pull—and a “magic key” that could unlock 5,000 pesos for one lucky guest—will be offered at the Fiesta de Navidad fundraiser for Niños Incapacitados Tuesday, December 2, 6 to 9 p.m. at La Nueva Posada, Donato Guerra 9 in Ajijic.
Tickets, 2,000 pesos, are selling fast, with just over 20 remaining. They can be purchased online at www.programaninos.com.
Jaltepec Christmas
Centro Educativo Jaltepec will hold its annual Christmas at Jaltepec event, Wednesday, December 3, 6 p.m. at the residence and chapel. A no-host bar and hors d’oeuvres prepared by the students will presage a 7 p.m. concert with Nova Lux Chamber Choir, directed by Ken Turner. Dinner is served at 7:30 p.m. and includes cream of mushroom soup, roast turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, finished with a molten chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream quenelle. Every detail is prepared and delivered by the students. This is an opportunity to celebrate with friends, enjoy exceptional food and music, and see firsthand the impact of investing in education. The donation is 1,200 pesos. Make your reservations with Chiemi Ma, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; WhatsApp: +1 253-335-8050. She will provide the invitation and all the details.
Toys needed
American Legion Post 7 Auxiliary is preparing its annual Christmas Toy Run. Gifts for the children of Poco a Poco ages 1 to 14 (educational, sports-themed or cash donations—200 pesos and under) can be dropped off at the Legion, Iron Horse Bar or Smokehouse, now through December 17.