Festival Del Mar
The five-day Festival del Mar Melaque Costalegre from December 10-14 was described by municipal tourism director and organizer Francisco Carrillo Torres as “the foundation of much bigger things to come.”
The first federally sponsored cultural and art event in the area featured outstanding professional acts each day, starting on day one with Macehual from Colima, an exotic band playing different drumming instruments and creating amazing “pre-Hispanic” sounds with large seashells.
Another band of note on the first day was Los Hijos de La Matraca from Oaxaca. The eight-piece band featured the sensual voice of lead singer Cristina Cruz Medina performing traditional songs from her home state. Other notable performers in the festival included circus arts troupe Circo Dragon and the Ballet Folklorico del Estado de Jalisco, both from Guadalajara. The local Chido Rivera Band ended the festival on a high note.
Plenty of quality talent was on show at the festival, so keep a look out for this one in the future.
Fiestas Navidenas
Barra de Navidad Christmas celebrations begin Sunday, December 21 with a parade starting 6 p.m. in Barrio Nuevo on Avenida Nueva Espana. The parade continues down Av. Veracruz before finishing in the main plaza.
Adriana Ibarra Torres and her husband Raul Gonzalez began the Fiestas Navidenas Barra de Navidad four years ago to share their holiday joy with the community and recapture older Mexican traditions that are slowly being eroded.
Torres is looking forward to seeing this annual fiesta grow further but she also wants to keep it about community and the true spirit of the holiday. A Gran Kermesse (Grand Fiesta) will start at 7 p.m. with Mexican food on sale, and the entertainment starts at 8 p.m. The performances include dancing by the Grupo de Baile de la Maestra Carmen, Duendes, a holiday puppet show by Dr. Escalante, and a traditional pastorela (nativity play).
News please
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