MND Local: Independence Day in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit

It’s Independence Week in Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit, Mexico, and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate.

From civic ceremonies and charro parades to mariachi, fireworks and the inevitable late-night Grito, the next few days will be about as Mexican as it gets. Even if you’re not planning to attend every event, it’s hard not to get caught up in the atmosphere. Flags appear on balconies and shopfronts, restaurants bring out special menus and the whole region seems to shift into a more festive mood.

Here’s what’s happening around the region this week:

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta’s official Fiestas Patrias celebrations run Sept. 13-16, with the Plaza de Armas, Malecón and downtown area serving as the main stages.

Monday, Sept. 14, brought the traditional charro parade at 10 a.m. The parade began on Ignacio L. Vallarta Street, traveled along the Malecón and wrapped up near the Ley store in Cinco Diciembre.

A formal City Council session is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, followed by the evening’s celebrations in the Plaza de Armas. DJ Zuar, accompanied by batucada and pre-Hispanic dancers, takes the stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Ballet Folklórico Cuauhtémoc and Mariachi Internacional Real de América.

Grupo Caché performs at 9:30 p.m. Then, at 11 p.m., it’s time for the Grito de Independencia from the Municipal Presidency.

Fireworks will follow at 11:30 p.m. over the Malecón, with Banda Vallejo scheduled to close out the night at midnight. That sounds like a long evening, but this is one of those occasions when nobody seems in much of a hurry to go home.

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Wednesday, Sept. 16, begins with an 8 a.m. civic ceremony in the Plaza de Armas, followed by the Independence Day civic-military parade at 9 a.m. The parade will follow the same general route as the charro parade.

Bahía de Banderas

Across the river in Nayarit, Bahía de Banderas will have its own Independence celebrations, with the municipal festivities centered in Valle de Banderas.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the municipality will hold its Noche Mexicana in the town’s main plaza, including the traditional Grito led by Mayor Israel Santillán.

The evening’s entertainment will include Mariachi Internacional de México, Banda La Taberna “La Más Guapa” and Banda Arkangel R-15.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the traditional civic and military parade will take place. Municipal officials are advising residents to check official traffic notices for the parade route and any resulting road closures.

Nayarit

The state government is also preparing for two days of celebrations in Tepic.

The program begins Tuesday, Sept. 15, with the raising of the Mexican flag and Honores a la Bandera at 8 a.m., followed by the lowering of the flag at 6 p.m.

At 7 p.m., the artistic program, “México Vivo, Nayarit Eterno,” begins, featuring the Ballet Nuevo Nayarit, the Traditional Youth Mariachi of the State School of Fine Arts, the State Symphony Band and singer María Dolores, along with Mariachi Nayarit Contemporáneo and Son de Mi Pueblo.

The public celebration gets underway at 9 p.m., with 7,000 free portions of food and drinks planned.

At 11 p.m., Governor Miguel Ángel Navarro Quintero will lead the Grito de Independencia, followed by a musical fireworks display and performances by Banda Ráfaga and norteño group La Session.

The celebrations continue Wednesday with the traditional parade in the morning. At 5 p.m., Marimba Orquesta Águilas de Chiapas will perform in Plaza Benito Juárez, in front of Casa de Gobierno.

So, for the next few days, expect much of the region to be focused on flags, food, music, fireworks and the familiar cry that brings everyone together for at least one night: ¡Viva México!

Charlotte Smith is a writer and journalist based in Mexico. Her work focuses on travel, politics and community. You can follow along with her travel stories at www.salsaandserendipity.com.