eventos

Parish of San Andrés Apóstol, where the patron saint of Ajijic is located. The festivities in honor of San Andrés Apóstol take place from November 22 to 30. Photo: Sofía Medeles

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)– A few days before the start of the festivities in honor of the patron saint of Ajijic (November  22-30),  the Chapala government  has finally given the festivities a green light with conditions that guarantee they will be held as our ancestors used to do. That is to say, the old-fashioned way. 

The municipal authorities  conditioned its permission on a midnight shutdown time,  a restricted capacity, sanitary filters  run by the guilds, signage identifying entrances and exits, use of masks throughout the nine days of parties, and monitoring by the municipal government. 

Maximiliano «Max» Macías, currently in charge of the Delegation office, commented that the delegation is  working together with merchants, guilds and organizing groups to  create a very healthy and old-fashioned celebration in the kiosk of the Plaza with small, local music groups. In the afternoon there will be cultural performances.

«The experience at the festivities will be different this time; people can come with the family, spend some time and have dinner. We are starting little by little and reactivating the economy. For example, merchants who have not been able to make a living, will be allowed to work, as long as they respect the requirements of the Ministry of Health,” said Max.

The calendar of activities for the  novenario (nine days of parties) was published the delegation’s web page (Delegación Ajijic 2021-2024),   which lists the guilds who have duty each day: on November 22nd, the musicians’ guild; on the 23rd, the merchants’ guild; on the 24th, terrace owners who reached an agreement; and on the 25th , the new youth guild. These have all agreed to bring musical groups (who will perform at the kiosk). From November 26th to 30th the activities to be carried out will depend on the budget of the remaining guilds.

Residents see this as good news and have expressed their enthusiastic approval in social networks and interviews conducted by Semanario Laguna.

  «It is good because on the one hand we see how little by little we are getting out of this pandemic, and on the other hand because they give the population a space to have fun,»  said Sara from Ajijic to Laguna.

Maximiliano «Max» Macías called  upon those attending the celebrations in honor of Saint Andrew the Apostle, and the merchants at the festivities, to respect the conditions and the Covid measures, noting that violators may be penalized.

Translated by Dee Lynn

The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. Photo: Semanario Laguna. 

Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic.  Roy Gomez Cruz will return to the Concerts in the Park at LCS once again in the person of Freddie Mercury in two December 1 concerts that include a full Queen Live Band performance and a live and visual presentation of the “I Want It All :The Freddie Mercury Story”.

The Queen Live Band will perform onstage at LCS at 3:30. The band that dazzles audiences in the Palm Cabaret Club in Puerto Vallarta will bring its excitement to the LCS Park stage with favorites like We Will Rock You, We are Champions, Radio Ga Ga and Another One Bites the Dust.

At 6 pm Gomez returns in Mercury persona with   “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story”, a high energy, visual and emotional journey through the songs and life events of the legendary Freddie Mercury. Gomez, who has a Master’s Degree  and is currently a PhD Candidate in Performance Studies at Northwestern University, immerses himself in the role of Freddie Mercury and amazes audiences with his detailed, authentic portrayal of the rocker. Palm Cabaret Entertainment Director Mark Rome, formally of the Spotlight in Ajijic, says, “I have never seen audiences embrace and enjoy a performance like this before,” of Gomez’s “I Want It All: The Freddie Mercury Story.

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 and died in 1991) was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen who is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range, Mercury defined  and redefined the conventions of a rock front man.

Advanced ticket purchase recommended. Tickets can be purchased at LCS office or online at https://lakechapalasociety.com. General Admission tickets (seats arranged in rows): $350 MXN.

VIP table tickets: $500 MXN

Templo de San Andrés Apóstol. Foto: Archivo.

D. Arturo Ortega. – Luego de la falta de respuesta por parte de la Mesa de Salud Jalisco para conceder la realización de reuniones para realización de celebraciones, el Ayuntamiento de Chapala anunció que sí se llevarán a cabo las fiestas patronales a realizarse en próximas fechas, pero con ciertas restricciones.

“El límite de horario será las 12:00 de la noche, aforo restringido a un máximo de personas (no especificado) y la instalación de filtros sanitarios, con responsabilidad para los gremios y grupos que organizan las festividades”, serán parte de las restricciones y responsabilidades.

Lo anterior se realizó por parte de las Autoridades Municipales, en atención a las diversas peticiones de los habitantes, grupos organizados y gremios, ha determinado que se conceden permisos para llevar a cabo eventos.

Entre las fiestas más esperadas en el municipio se encuentran las fiestas de San Andrés Apóstol, Santo Patrono del Pueblo Mágico de Ajijic que se celebrarán a través de un novenario que concluye el 30 de noviembre.

Ranzio, a fantastic zombie show. 

D. Arturo Ortega (Chapala, Jal).- A “clown theater” and four musical presentations is what Estación Cardinal Chapala, Un Cargamento de Cultura will present in the month of November in coordination with the Centro Cultural González Gallo (CCGG), Secretaría de Cultura Jalisco and the Dirección de Cultura de Chapala. All presentations are free and suitable for all audiences.

This month’s program opens with a presentation of «Ranzio, a fantastic zombie», a circus clown theater show that shows the difficulties of being and thinking differently in our society through a character that combines music, magic, circus and comedy. The presentation tookes place this Friday November 12 at 7:00 p.m. on Chapala’s malecon at the open-air forum «Salate de Felisa.» 

World music comes to Chapala with Phi and Tala Friks, two groups that will perform this Saturday, November 13, starting at 5:00 p.m. in San Antonio Tlayacapán’s plaza.

The sound of the guitar and transverse flute will be heard this Sunday, November 14, at the CCGG at 12:30 p.m., with the interpretation of David Mosqueda on strings and Nury Ulate on the wind instrument.

The whole family is invited to enjoy a beautiful sunset concert on the Ajijic boardwalk with Gil Rios Quartet and Marea Fandanguera on Saturday, November 20, starting at 6:00 p.m. 

A Concert with a Cumbia Flavor will be brought by the musical groups Los Afrodisíacos and La Pura Piña, who will conclude the program with a presentation at the open-air forum located on the Chapala boardwalk on November 27 at 7:00 pm.  

Translated by Kerry Watson

Miss Grand México 2021, Mariana Macias.

Redaction. – With the crown of Miss Grand México 2021, Mariana Macias of San Antonio Tlayacapan, will face a new challenge in the beauty pageant catwalks representing Chapala and México in the ninth edition of the Miss Grand International 2021 pageant, to be held from November 16 to December 5.

Mariana, who in a local media  interview  said that  hers would be México’s first participation in the Miss Grand International pageant, has begun the research about the host country and is ramping up her public speaking and catwalk schedule as well as her physical exercise, among other disciplines on her way to Thailand.

If she qualifies and  wins in the distinguished beauty pageant finals on December 4, the former Miss Jalisco 2019,  said that she will expand  her agenda of activities to include trips to different countries.  But for now, she feels like a winner in the vast increase in her self-confidence.

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

Fragment of the walk from the Malecón of San Juan Cosalá to the Main Plaza. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – With a participation of around two thousand people, the third edition of the «Paseo de las Ánimas» walk was held in San Juan Cosalá on the Day of the Dead. According to Luis Guzmán, artistic coordinator of the event, the attendance exceeded his expectations, since so many Expats  and tourists from Guadalajara and even from different towns of the riverside attended.

«I got to see many people I know from Guadalajara, from the United States, even from Ajijic», said the ex-director of Culture of Jocotepec, who also commented that the citizen participation was very helpful, including  contributions of money, by covering the Kiosk of Cempasúchil,  and decorating the Plaza.

Paseo de las Ánimas. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

The idea arose three years ago as a result of his desire to take advantage of  the many legends that are part of the essence of one of the oldest towns of the riverside, explained Luis Guzmán. 

«We thought it would be very cool to recreate a story, which is very much our own, that of Michicihualli, deity of the Lake or La Mujer pescado», as she is also known.

In the event, La Michicihualli is represented by a young woman of the town, in which «we look for a profile with not so modern features, not so Spanish features», which in this third edition, was Citlalli, 18 years old, who walked from the Lagoon to inaugurate the festival in the center of the town. 

Her walk to the town center represents the goddess who comes to illuminate the town square,  which, according to the tradition of the festival, remains dark until the caravan of monarch butterflies and the endemic fauna of the Lagoon safely transport the «fish woman» to illuminate the journey of the dead towards ours world, according to Guzmán.

The walk begins with a ritual at the foot of the lake, where seeds and fruits are offered, and then the deity, which ascends from the water, is transported to the main square by the residents.

Translated by Sydney Metrick

Catrinas guarding the entrance to the Kiosk. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Musician and singer-songwriter, Paco Padilla gave a thrilling performance in the Main Square of Jocotepec for the event organized by the City Hall for the Day of the Dead.

Paco, who was part of Jocotepec’s cultural program, packed the plaza in a performance surrounded by local exhibits and displays.

Both the third rendition of the Walk of the Souls in San Juan Cosalá, as well as the first version of the festival and exhibition of altars, «Al fin, para morir nacimos» (In the end, we were born to die) in the municipal capital were well attended by both local and foreign visitors. 

Jocotepec’s Main Square overflowed with costumes of different styles and colors common to the Day of the Dead, the smell of cempasúchil flowers that permeated the atmosphere.  An altar commemorating all the victims of COVID-19 delight locals and tourists  alike. 

Translated by Sydney Metrick

La Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, en Ajijic, está a poco de iniciar el proyecto de restauración -evento del kilómetro del peso-.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic, Jal.)- El proyecto de la restauración de la Capilla de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, ubicada en Ajijic, está muy cerca de iniciar, y es que, después de cuatro eventos para recaudar fondos, el grupo Sumando Voluntades ya se encuentra listo para dar el siguiente paso.

Su último evento, del pasado 31 de octubre -día de la Virgen del Rosario-, fue la carrera del Rosario en su séptima edición donde corrieron 180 corredores, además de la kermesse ese mismo día, que, en total reunieron 40 mil pesos, sumando un total aproximado de 350 mil pesos que el grupo tiene como fondo para empezar a trabajar.

El último evento fue la carrera del Rosario, en la cual, simultáneamente se realizó una kermesse.

El arquitecto que lleva el proyecto, Josué Ramos, comentó que ya se presentó el proyecto de restauración ante el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), el cual necesita algunas modificaciones para echarse a andar, no obstante, el capital reunido ya es el suficiente para iniciar.

“Nos pidieron que se volviera a hacer el proyecto estructural ya con las especificaciones brindadas por el arquitecto del INAH; a lo que el arquitecto dijo que quizás y no se tiene que gastar todo el capital en la primera etapa, ya que aseguró que eran cosas bastantes simples de inicio”, aseveró Josué.

La kermesse junto con la carrera logró reunir un aproximado de 40 mil pesos.

Además, agregó que por el momento, tienen algunos eventos en mente, aunque les falta planearlos bien o precisar la fecha de estos, pero a corto plazo, piensan parar un poco para enfocarse en el levantamiento arquitectónico y en la reestructuración necesaria.

“Seguiremos reuniendo fondos, pero más a futuro. Por el momento, estamos pensando en la venta de un póster en blanco y negro con la Virgen del Rosario y la Capillita de fondo, el cual, empezaríamos a vender en las fiestas patronales y cuando se tenga oportunidad”, finalizó el arquitecto Josué.

The preschool, elementary and high school students prepared a catwalk in which they wore their Catrinas, Catrines and skeleton costumes.

Instituto Terranova Writing Workshop. – The Terranova Institute celebrated the Day of the Dead like never before with the creation of an altar of the dead, a costume parade, folkloric dance numbers, and an aerial dance, among other activities.  Nine art and sports workshops allowed all students to participate and watch the events.

The preschool, elementary and high school students prepared a catwalk in which they wore their Catrinas, Catrines and skeleton costumes. Chess students performed a game with living pieces.

Students of the music workshop enlivened the festival with  songs,  while the students of the Acrobatics workshop performed a surprising display of their rope skills.  No less surprising was the aerial dance workshop.

Teachers and students made a six-level altar featuring a colorful sawdust mat, floral offerings, pan de muerto, sugar skulls, different dishes, and the typical papel picado, as well as photographs of loved ones.   

Translated by Elisabeth Shields.

For the second year in a row, the large altar on top of the Quiosco de San Juan Cosalá was set on fire. Photo: Courtesy.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía: For the second consecutive year,  the Day of the Dead monumental altar on the Kiosk of San Juan Cosalá was set on fire, although this year, unlike last year, the blaze was caused intentionally, according to Luis Guzmán coordinator of the November 1 «Paseo de las Ánimas» event.

Although the identity of the culprits is known, their names have not yet been officially released, said one of the participants of the «Paseo de las Ánimas» who preferred to remain anonymous. Furthermore, according to Luis Guzmán, the organizers were unaware of the fire that broke out in the early hours of November 2nd until the following morning. 

«This is not only an offense to me and  my team, but to the entire community, since it was the residents  themselves who helped to decorate and make the festival a reality,» Guzmán explained, dismayed by the situation.

According to Guzmán ‘s version, all possible precautions were taken and he and his team checked everything before leaving because of  their experience of the accidental fire at the last festival caused by a candle that set fire to the altar.

«I personally extinguished all the candles, I made sure that nothing was left burning and regarding the wires, we did not leave a single one, precisely wanting to avoid any kind of short circuit, we checked everything; this, sadly, was intentional,» said Luis, via telephone to Semanario Laguna.

Thus the work of the residents of San Juan Cosalá, which took approximately two weeks to cover the entire Quisco de flores de Cempasuchil, was reduced to ashes in a single night. 

According to an  anonymous source, the people who caused the fire are already known by the people of San Juan Cosalá themselves.  Since the complaint was made unofficially, the suspects  are presumed to be public servants whose motive for setting fire to the offering is also unknown.

A meeting will be held at the offices of the delegation between the organizers of the festivity, who are seeking to reveal the culprits so that the events do not happen again. The meeting is scheduled for on Friday, November 5, around 7:00 p.m.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan.