During the months of October and November, members staying at Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta and Villa del Palmar Flamingos have many exciting events to look forward to in the destination of Puerto Vallarta. We hope you are able to visit soon and partake in all of the fun! Please read on for an overview of all upcoming events.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead or ¨Día de Muertos¨ in Spanish is an annual celebration of life and death in Mexico, Latin America, and parts of the U.S. This wonderful tradition takes place on November 1 and 2 and is dedicated to honoring deceased family and friends. It is not a time of sadness, but a time to remember and reunite with departed souls.
Originally a pre-Hispanic custom, after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire and widespread influence of Catholicism, Día de Muertos fused with the traditions of the Catholic Church and now the days of the holiday coincide with the dates of “All Saints’” and “All Souls’” day. All Saints’ Day is on November 1st and this day honors all children who have died. All Souls’ Day honors all adults who have died.
During this holiday, it is thought that the souls of the dead come back to the land of the living to visit with friends and relatives. Families create altars for the dead in their homes, which are thought to guide the spirits back. They place items such as incense, marigold flowers, candles, and food on the altar.
On both November 1st and 2nd, families gather together in the cemetery for a celebration, a sort of family reunion with the deceased. Family members leave flowers and gifts on the tombstones and share happy memories of their loved ones. Some families prepare a meal at the site of the grave and enjoy a big feast together. Later in the evening, bands come to perform in the cemetery and friends and relatives dance and party with the visiting souls.
If you are planning to vacation at Villa del Palmar Flamingos or Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta at the beginning of November, the resorts will be doing something special to honor this important holy holiday. On November 1 and 2, there will be festive Mexican buffets in the restaurants and live performances plus a display of altars created by the staff.
In town, visit Plaza de Armas, located in the main square next to the Malecon where you can view an exhibition of altars. Afterwards, stroll along the Malecon to take souvenir photos with all the giant Catrins and Catrinas, skeletons wearing fancy clothes, both iconic Day of the Dead figures representing the face of death.
While you are in the center of town, you may also want to plan a stop at the Panteón 5 de Diciembre cemetery located on Brasilia 715 in the 5 de Diciembre district, approximately a 20-minute drive from the Malecon. The best time to visit is in the evening on November 2nd, and you will be able to witness families gathering in remembrance and colorful displays of flowers, especially bright orange marigolds, and other gifts and offerings placed on the tombstones. Watch as the spirit of the dead come to rejoice with their loved ones in a celebration of music, food, drinks, and remembrance.
Traditionally, the city of Puerto Vallarta also puts on a Death is Alive ¨La Muerte Está Viva¨ parade that travels from the Panteón 5 de Diciembre cemetery to the Malecon and features colorful floats, mariachi bands, stilt walkers, and people dressed in full catrin or catrina costumes or their faces painted as a skeleton.
Come and experience Mexico’s wonderful tradition that is a colorful and vibrant celebration of life and death.
Vallarta International Fishing Tournament
The 66th annual Puerto Vallarta International Fishing Tournament will take place from November 9 -12, 2022. This event brings together the best fishermen as they compete to catch marlin and sailfish and win the top prize.
The event will be held over three days. The cost to participate in the tournament is $2,100 USD for teams who register before October 31st and increases to $2,250 USD for teams who register after October 31st. Up to four fishermen are permitted per boat. Additional guests are welcome to go on the boat with the fishermen.
Click here for more details.
Wednesday, November 9th will be a registration day for this event. There will be a flag ceremony to open the tournament at 7:00 am on Thursday, November 10th in front of Hotel Rosita located on Paseo Díaz Ordaz 901. After the ceremony, the fishing boats will depart. On November 11th and 12th, the fishing boats can depart any time after midnight.
Fishermen can present their catch daily between 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm at a stand next to Marina del Rey Condominiums, where event officials will receive and weigh the fish to be judged for the tournament. All fishing boats must return to Marina Vallarta before 6:00 pm each day of the tournament in order for their catch to be entered in the competition.
Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony taking place on Saturday, November 12th, at 7:00 pm on the Marina Vallarta boardwalk. Teams with the largest and heaviest catch in the categories of Tuna, Marlin, Sailfish, and Mahi-Mahi will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes. The biggest cash prize in the tournament is $25,000 USD for catching marlin over 220 lbs and the smallest prize is fishing gear. For the full list of prizes, click here.
So get your crew together and combine your vacation with a little competitive fun.
If you prefer to relax on vacation rather than compete in sportfishing, you can still catch a glimpse of the action at Marina Vallarta daily between 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm on November 10, 11, & 12. Cheer on the fishermen as they present their prize fish to be weighed.
Festival Gourmet International 2022
Calling all Foodies! The Festival Gourmet International is back for its 27th edition and will be bigger and better than ever before with 30 of the region’s top restaurants participating. Throughout this 10-day festival designed for foodies and food lovers, renowned chefs will showcase their talents as they create a sampling of dishes fit for kings.
The event organizers, a culinary trio of prominent chefs, held the first edition of the Festival Gourmet International in 1995 and since then it has grown year on year. The first event included only 6 restaurants and this year’s festival has confirmed 30 participating restaurants. The local chef from each restaurant will select a guest master chef from anywhere in the world and they will fuse their creative ideas to invent a one-of-a-kind tasting menu of spectacular proportions.
The festival runs from November 10th to 20th and in addition to sampling exquisite menus at the top restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, there will also be chef’s tables, a wine festival, a gourmet safari, theme nights, and much more.
On November 10th starting at 7:00 pm, the festival’s opening event called “The Grand Gourmet Village” will take place at a venue still to be confirmed. On the opening night, there will be gourmet islands with dishes to sample from all 30 participating restaurants and their respective chefs and guest master chefs along with wine, champagne, beer, and tequila tastings courtesy of event sponsors. Tickets cost $1,900 pesos (approx. $95 USD) and can be purchased here.
Emilianos Ranch in Tepic will host the closing event called Picnic under the “Parotas” on Sunday, November 20th featuring a fine selection of smoked cuisine and wines.
To attend the opening and closing ceremonies or other special events, reserve your tickets online at festivalgourmet.com or by calling +52 322-201-2388.
For the dine around options from November 11th thru November 20th, diners can choose from the tasting menu or the à la carte menu at all participating restaurants. To see the full list, click here. Reservations should be made in advance directly with each restaurant. We are pleased to announce that Blanca Blue, Bocados Steak House, and Karuma Gourmet Grill from Garza Blanca Puerto Vallarta are participating in this event.
Reserve your tickets now and don’t let your palate miss out on this gourmet culinary extravaganza!
Vallarta Fireride Festival
The Vallarta Fireride Festival, an international mountain biking event, has grown exponentially since it began and this year’s bike festival promises to be better than ever. On November 25 & 26, you’ll have the opportunity to watch some of the best mountain bike (MTB) athletes in the world and there will also be non-biking entertainment including live DJs and fireworks.
The festival opens at 10:00 pm on November 24 with a warm-up party at Bar YamBak on Calle Abasolo 169 in Puerto Vallarta and anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to attend the party. You will have the chance to mix and mingle with the MTB athletes.
On November 25 and 26, the action will take place in Ixtapa on A Ixtapa street. (approx. a 26-minute drive from Villa del Palmar Flamingos and a 20-minute drive from Villa del Palmar Puerto Vallarta). This event is free and you can reserve your tickets here.
The festival’s first dual slalom racing event (think alpine skiing but on bikes and dirt trails instead of skis and snow-covered slopes) starts in the evening on November 25 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The trails are open to the public and spectators can arrive before 5:00 pm to watch the athletes practice. Click here to get a preview. There will be food and beverages available to purchase during the event followed by live DJ music.
On November 26th, expect an action-packed day from 12:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Watch the riders compete and show off their daredevil tricks. They will be competing in high air tricks, best tricks, slopestyle, and finally, there will be a whip-off battle. The festival will close with live DJ music and fireworks. Tacos and beverages, including beer and tequila, will be available for purchase.
For more information, follow @fireridefestival on Instagram.
Come to enjoy a spectacular show and enjoy bikes, tacos and good times.
From exciting sporting events to cultural and gastronomic events, Puerto Vallarta has everything you need for a vacation full of fun, entertainment, and relaxation. Hurry up to book your stay and check out the events we recommend in the coming months. We can’t wait to see you here!
