Mazatlan, Mexico has seen it’s share of bad news when cruise lines all but abandoned the port over concerns for passenger safety in the area earlier this year. But things are looking up with American Airlines now running daily flights from Dallas and this week’s announcement by Princess Cruises of a return to the popular port of call. Soon, Mazatlan will kick off the fall travel season in grand style with its 2011 Gran Fiesta Amigos celebration, taking place Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 and we will be there to report the most current information on the celebration, take part in events, food and area attractions.
“Mazatlán is proud to celebrate our diverse blend of local arts and rich heritage,” says Carlos Berdegué, vice president of the Mazatlán Hotel Association. “Amid the color and spectacle of this year’s Cultural Festival, visitors and residents are immersed in the vibrant spirit and renowned hospitality of our beautiful city. We are eager to welcome travelers during this three-month festival, which we expect will be better than ever.
This celebration of the arts features 44 days of performances showcasing more than 1,700 artists from around the world. A full schedule of activities ranges from opera, ballet, folkloric and contemporary dance to film, concerts, art exhibits, poetry, children’s theater and more. Staged in unique venues throughout the destination’s charming historic district, many highlights of this year’s festival program are free of cost to attendees.
The Cultural Festival opens on October 20, featuring a Taiwanese group of percussionists in the performance Sound of the Ocean, staged at the landmark Teatro Angela Peralta (Angela Peralta Theater). Located in the heart of Old Mazatlán, this 19th-century landmark has been restored to its original grandeur by the city and its residents.
Arts aficionados applaud highlights like these below. For a full 2011 Mazatlán Cultural Festival program, visit www.gomazatlan.com. Let’s take a look at some of the major events planned.
October 28 Tribute to Fernando Valadés Lejarza - Members of the prestigious Colegio de Sinaloa celebrate the famed Mazatlecan singer, songwriter and poet whose support of cultural arts and cinema left a powerful legacy. The tribute also commemorates the twentieth anniversary of the college’s academic founding as a visionary center for science, culture, arts and research.
November 1 Day of the Dead Callejoneada Street Stroll – Discover how this centuries-old tradition is celebrated in Mazatlán during visits to “Altars of the Dead” on display at heritage sites, museums and art galleries throughout the lively Historic District. The walking procession follows “La Muerte” amid costumed dancers, acrobats and musicians led by a donkey-pulled cart, ending at the park-lined Plaza Machado in the heart of Colonial town.
November 6 Ballet Folklorico – This performance from the Institute of Culture, Tourism and Art of Mazatlán recounts Mazatlán’s origins and history through vibrant costumes and artistic movement accompanied by live musical performers. Trace the path of the destination’s Colonial era and the grandeur of its golden age to the revitalization and rich culture of modern-day Mazatlán.
November 15 A Taste of Mexico´s Classic Music with Oscar Gómez – National opera star Oscar Gómez celebrates his return to the stage after an 11-year hiatus during this performance of Italian opera classics and traditional mariachi music. Joining Gómez are regional and local musicians from the Traditional Ensemble of the Sinaloa Symphony Orchestra of the Arts, the Ballet Folklórico directed by Javier Arcadia, and soloists from the Escuela Superior de Canto.
December 8 Paté de Fuá in Concert – This nationally renowned group of Mexican and Argentinian musicians host a live, open-air concert in Mazatlán’s picturesque Plaza Machado in the heart of the historic district. Fusing alternative rhythms with a repertoire that ranges from accordion, banjo and horns to guitars and double bass, this live performance is sure to keep music fans moving.
Mazatlán is located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains. As Mexico’s second largest coastal city, Mazatlán has nearly 440,000 inhabitants. The city is divided into two main areas: Old Mazatlán or Historic District and Zona Dorada or Golden Zone, with a seven-mile coastal road between the two.
Visit Mazatlán online at www.GoMazatlan.com.
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