Vallarta Cup Race Series
The 14th edition of the Vallarta Cup Race Series began on the first Saturday in January, organized by the Vallarta Yacht Club (VYC).
This series of races in Banderas Bay for some 25 sailboats includes much more than just competition: every Saturday after the races there’s a theme party held at the VYC for all the sailors to enjoytogether. The remaining dates are Saturday, January 19 and 26.
Patron Saint Festivities
Bucerías (which translates to the Place of the Divers) is hosting its Our Lady of Peace patron saint festivities from January 16 to 24.
This is one of the most popular traditions in the Riviera Nayarit coastal town.
Not only an important social and cultural event, the festival is also a tourist attraction. There’s a full schedule of activities during the week, including religious services and carnival rides, as well as sports, artistic and cultural events. The biggest day is Thursday, January 24, when the fishermen and their families hold a pilgrimage and bring in the Peace Torch in a boat caravan from the nearby town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.
Migratory Birds Festival
International Migratory Birds Festival takes place January 27 to February 3 in San Blas, a three-hour drive from Bucerias.
San Blas is one of the most important spots on the continent for watching migratory, resident and endemic birds.
There are artistic and cultural activities organized around the birds, not to mention the traditional bird-watching routes.
For more information: facebook.com/fiamsanblas.
Festival Sayulita
The sixth edition of the Festival Sayulita takes place from January 30 to February 3 in Riviera Nayarit’s only Pueblo Magico.
There will be five days of fun, with movies and short films on giant screens on the beach, beverages, food, physical activities and a “Jungle Live” concert headlined by Los Master Plus and Super Sonic Soul Pimps, making it one of the best festivals in Mexico, say the organizers.
For more information:: festivalsayulita.com.
Win some wine
The ”reverse raffle” Wine Survivor – a new, fun concept – is going to pop its cork at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22 at El Chivero restaurant on Avenida Pacifico in Bucerias.
The cost to be in the raffle is 100 pesos and an (approximately) 200-peso bottle of wine.
This is a true “survivor” raffle, where the winner is the last one standing.
Here’s the explanation:
The reverse draw means that when a number is called, that entry is out of the running for the prize.
For another 100 pesos, however, it can be placed back in contention.
On an unlucky second time the entry is drawn, a re-entry fee of 200 pesos will be required. The third time is not a charm and that number is out.
When the pool is down to the last ten numbers, there will be no more buy-back-ins.
The last three numbers left in the pool will be the winners.
The third-to-last pulled out wins 20 percent of the bottles of wine, the second-place pull wins 30 percent and the last number left wins half of the wine.
With a limited number of tickets being sold, the raffle will most likely sell out, say the organizers.
If any tickets survive, they can be purchased on the date of the raffle.
To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Linda Ward at (322) 101-2886.
All proceeds from the raffle benefit local free spay and neuter clinics.
Area dog shelter
What started out as plans to build an orphanage on a vacant piece of land has morphed intosomething quite different
“I was looking for something meaningful in my life other than working, eating, sleeping,” says property manager and dog lover Jessica Garibay Pineda.
Garibay had a chance meeting with Kimberly Maxfield when she came across an injured, abandoned dog in her Puerto Vallarta neighborhood and needed a crate to carry it.
Maxfield told her about a vacant house and land in her family about six kilometers from Bucerias that would be suitable for a dog ranch.
Garibay and Maxfield, along with several volunteers, are already striving to make a difference in the lives of several dogs who call A Dog’s New Life home and need a second chance at a decent life as someone’s pet.
They are asking for donations of building materials, medicine, kennels, towels, blankets, food, a truck for transportation, salary for caretakers, a water pump and solar panels.
For more information, contact Jessica Garibay Pineda at facebook.com/adogsnewlife.
Clean out closets
Diana (Pita) Huerta of Fundación Ahora es Tiempo de Dar (ATD) is seeking donations of household supplies and clothing to aid in their programs.
Fundacion ATD assists residents of three small villages east of Puerto Vallarta – Lomas del Valle, Aguacate and Rancho Nacar – which are situated between Desembocada and El Colorado. These towns are often home to people working in the tourism based businesses of Puerto Vallarta, but the communities themselves draw no tourist money.
“Everything that you might stop using in your house and is in good condition, can be delivered to those who need it most,” said Huerta.
“If the donations are not given directly to people in need, they are sold in the bazaars located in Mojoneras and Bucerías. The money from those sales supports our brothers in extreme need, in addition to supporting the Foundation work,” she explained.
“We appreciate the help that has been coming from individuals and institutions. Fundacion ATD also assists people in other small villages when a disaster happens, such as a hurricane or flood.”
Donations can be taken directly to the bazaar in Bucerias, Calle Matamoros 22. That location is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Donations can also be picked up from your home or business. Call Huerta at (322) 174-1202, or email the Fundacion 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..
Calling all bookworms
There will be a book sale benefiting Biblioteca Rey Nayar (Bucerias Children’s Library) on Tuesday, January 15, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The sale takes place at Bungalows Arroyo at the corner of Lazaro Cardenas and Agustin Melgar in Bucerias.
Many paperback books in English for adults and children will be found at this always popular sale. An assortment of genres and authors will be available.
There will also be some vintage jewelry for sale.
A few of the 2019 calendars are still available. They show all Mexican, U.S. and Canadian holidays and each month has a painting of Mexican scenes.
Donations of paperback books in good condition can be made at the beginning of the sale or ahead of time by calling Rita Kollock at 329-298-1263. Books can be in any language.
Funds raised help continue the programs of the library and will also go towards improvements of the outdoor spaces.