April 17-20, 2008
International Beach Soccer in PV
Mexico’s national beach soccer team will compete with four other national beach soccer teams from United States, El Salvador and Costa Rica here in Vallarta to participate in the World Beach Soccer Championship, to be held this coming July in Marseilles, France.

~~~ 2009 ~~~

April 20-24, 2009
11th International Symposium on Fireworks
Since it’s inception in Montreal in 92 when attendees from more than 20 nations met, there have been 10 very successful fireworks Symposia around the world…

Part of the fun of a holiday is to enjoy local festivities and events. Others select their travel date to participate in specific activities. Following are activities scheduled in Riviera Nayarit in 2008.

March 30
Bucerías Art Walk: This monthly art walk in downtown Bucerías includes not only the art galleries but other businesses as well with free horse and buggy transportation.

March TBD
PGA Tournament, Vista Vallarta: More than 30 professional and amateur players are expected at this international televised event that will take place at Vista Vallarta Golf Course with a purse of US$100,000.

April 14
Overnight Cruise to Punta de Mita: Join the sailors on this fun overnight cruise to Punta de Mita from Nuevo Vallarta’s yacht club.

April 23-24 TBD
Spring Distance Series II: 2nd Distance sailing event sponsored by Vallarta Yacht Club.

April 25th – May 3rd
Patron Saint Festivals in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

April – TBD
Third Annual Red Cross Golf Tournament: Hosted by Flamingos Golf Course in Flamingos, Nayarit, this annual event raises funds for the local Red Cross units.

April 27
Bucerías Art Walk: This monthly art walk in downtown Bucerías includes not only the art galleries but other businesses as well with free horse and buggy transportation.

May 1
Labor Day: International holiday honored in Mexico with parades for the union workers.

May 3
Fiesta Santa Cruz : This annual festival is the culmination of a week of cultural, culinary, artistic and other fun activities in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

May 5
Cinco de Mayo (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla): This first historic battle for independence from the French in Puebla on May 5, 1862 is celebrated as a national holiday.

May
Canadian Tour at El Tigre: This open invitational golf championship tournament is sponsored by El Tigre Golf Course and is part of the not for profit International Canadian Tour. The winner takes home a purse of USD$125,000.

May 10
Mothers’ Day: Traditional Mexican family day to honor mothers.

May 11-13
14th Annual Sports Classic: Fun for the whole family at this annual event including basketball, soccer, aerobics, tennis and a mini-marathon

May 12 TBD
3rd Nocturnal Golf Tournament: Takes place at the Mayan Palace Golf Course in Nuevo Vallarta.

May 12-13
Aquatic Journey in the Santa Maria del Oro Lagoon: Locals and tourists decorate boats and take boat trips across this enigmatic lagoon.

May 14-18
VI Copa Vallarta (Vallarta Cup Soccer Tournament): This tournament in its sixth year draws soccer teams involving up to 100 teams of youths regardless of country of origin as long as the teams are registered.

May 22-25
Women’s Regatta Las Marietas: Hosted by the local women’s prize-winning sailing team, this annual event expects teams from the US , Canada and other countries.

May TBD
Seniors Cup de GADO
Senior golfers are hosted at Flamingos Golf Course, the oldest golf course in Vallarta, established in 1978.

May
Music Festival of May: This annual festival features a country each year, this year that country is Mexico.

May 15-31
Restaurant Week: Banderas Bay restaurants offer special prix-fix menus during this two-week period. The best time to enjoy local cuisine from some of the region’s best restaurants. For more information please visit www.virtualvallarta.com

June 1-3
Fishing Tournament, San Blas: Fishing tournament for local, national and international contestants.

June 3-5
Meeting Planners Mexico : An opportunity for the public and business sectors of Vallarta to meet representatives of other Mexican tourist destinations.

June 16
Anniversary Tournament at El Tigre: A local annual tournament that takes place to celebrate the anniversary of the El Tigre Golf Course.

June 24
San Juan : Celebrated by a weeklong fiesta in San Juan de Abajo

June 27-29
Festival of St. Peter and St. Paul in Mexcaltitan: Locals place images of the saints in two boats and celebrate the festival on the lagoon.

June 29
Day of St. Peter the Apostle in El Tuito: The parish of Tuito enjoys its annual celebration.

June TBD
Couples Championship
Celebrated in the Nicklaus and Weiskopf golf courses at Vista Vallarta.

July 1-7 TBD
North American and European Optimist Championship: A sailing competition that attracts over 200 boats each year.

July 12-14
Second Riviera Nayarit Fishing Tournament
Sport fishing tournament that attracts local, regional, national and international participants. During the first year, participants caught Marlin, Dorado, and Sailfish (later released) that exceeded weight expectations and broke local records.

July 28th – August 15th
Corn Festival, Jala, Nayarit: During this traditional country fair, agricultural products are displayed, particularly the huge corncobs found only in this region.

August 1-15
Corn Festival, Xalisco, Nayarit: This traditional country fair features cultural events, local dishes based on corn, and displays of agricultural products.

August 31
UjENA Bikini Jam: In this international competition for bikini models and photographers, a series of events will take place in Banderas Bay with photo shoots, a 5K run and the final crowning of the bikini model 2007 at a local nightclub.

August 31st – September 2nd
Final Audi Cuattro Cup: National golf competition sponsored by Audi, previous tournament in Acapulco .

September 4-6
Audi Ladies Cup: National ladies tournament

September 14
The Day of the Charro: This special day honors the charro with parades on horseback throughout the towns that feature a lienzo (stadium for charreada)

September 15-16
El Grito de Independencia: Celebrating the shout for independence in 1810 when on the night of September 15th the bells rang at the church in Dolores Hidalgo. The evening of the 15th features parades, games, speeches, culminating in fireworks while the 16th is a national holiday with military parades. The two days are the core of Fiestas Patrias.

September 26th – October 4th
San Francisco de Asís ( Assisi ): The town of San Francisco (San Pancho) celebrates their saint’s day with a pilgrimage, charro parade, street fair and fireworks.

September – December
Turtle Release: During the hatching season of the marine turtles, many local hotels participate in the program to release the recently hatched baby turtles. Participating hotels include: Presdiente Intercontinental Puerto Vallarta Resort, Samba Vallarta All-Inclusive by Pueblo Bonito, and Casa De Mita. Make sure you contact the hotels to find out more about their turtle release programs.

October
Vallarta Yacht Club opens for season: The nonprofit Vallarta Yacht Club opens for a season packed with sailing and parties.

November – May
Polo Season: At the polo fields in nearby San Pancho ( San Francisco ), Nayarit and Costa Careyes in Costalegre, participate or enjoy polo matches with true professionals.

November
Copa Vallarta (Vallarta Cup) Golf Tournament: This annual pro-am golf event is held at El Tigre and Vista Vallarta with a purse of $200,000 pesos and other prizes including Swing Vallarta.

November
Sailfish & Marlin International Tournament: This extraordinary annual event in its 52nd year takes place in Banderas Bay with cash prizes for those catching the big ones.

November 1-2
Todos los Santos , Día de los Muertos (All Saints’ Day, Day of the Dead): Traditional, pre-Hispanic celebrations of a time when the spirits of the departed dead are welcomed back by altars decorated with favorites of the departed.

November 3-4
Antique Automobile Event : Rincon de Guayabitos

November 13 -23
Gourmet Festival: In its 14th year and better than ever, the Gourmet Festival involves the best restaurants in the bay area in a celebration of cuisine.

November 20
Mexican Revolution, also Sports Day: This national holiday celebrates the Mexican revolution of 1910 when Francisco I. Madero denounced Dictator General Porfirio Díaz calling for a national insurrection. Sports day is celebrated with parades featuring schools, activities, seniors and more.

December
Seventh Annual Cruisers Great Chili Cook-Off: Said to be more fun than any chili cook-off in the world, sponsored by the Vallarta Yacht Club. www.vallartayachtclub.com

December
Surf Classic in Sayulita: This annual event for surfers draws people from all over the world to this major surfing destination in Sayulita.

December 1-12
Pilgrimages for the Virgin of Guadalupe: Sayulita , Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta , Jalisco, celebrate the twelve days with pilgrimages (peregrinaciones) each day and evening with processions and floats, Aztec dancers, folklore groups and military bands.

December 15th – March 31st
Whale Watching Season: Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see the amazing Humpback Whales in their winter habitat

December 16
Desfile de Alegria, (Happiness Parade), Tepic : Colorful parade with attractive floats

December 16-24
Posadas : The Posadas commemorate the Biblical story (brought here by the Spanish) of Joseph and Mary searching for posada as the birth date of the child nears

December 24-25
Christmas: Midnight mass is held the evening of December 24th with presents exchanged in the evening or in the morning of the 25th replacing the exchange of gifts originally celebrated on Day of Kings, January 6th

December 31
New Year’s Eve: Many of the restaurants in Riviera Nayarit offer New Year party celebrations. Please check Riviera Nayarit’s website at www.RivieraNayarit.com for restaurant listings and contacts

About Riviera Nayarit
Riviera Nayarit is Mexico ’s newest travel destination stretching along 100 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by spectacular mountains to the north of renowned Puerto Vallarta . Mostly undeveloped, the destination extends from the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta to the historic, colonial town of San Blas, including exclusive Punta Mita and the spectacular Banderas Bay. The region features luxury resorts and eco-tourism boutique hotels, world-renowned surfing, four professional golf courses, rare native wildlife including sea turtles and tropical birds, mountain and island adventures, shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts, charming fishing towns and miles of serene beaches.