November is a terrific time to be in Puerto Escondido. The rains are done, the weather cools off and the landscape is lush and vibrant. It's also the month that we gear up for the winter tourist season with the Fiestas of November, a line-up of music and folklore, food and fun, sports and cultural events that showcase our town's special attractions.
The Fiestas include the big three events: The Coast Festival of Dance, the International Sailfish Tournament and the International Surfing Tournament. But, there's also the excitement of Motorcross, the colorful decorated dugout contest at Manialtepec Lagoon, concerts, dances, arts and crafts exhibits and ample showcasing of the unique cultural traditions of the Oaxacan coast.
The Fiestas de Noviembre demonstrate that Puerto is ready to greet its
visitors with a warm Bienvenida.
Warren Sharpe, Editor
Sunday 2 - Sunday 9
Art Exhibit "The Living Colors of the Dead"
Day of the Dead paintings by
Vidal Ambrosio Barrita and Miguel Ange Hernández
6 p.m. Town Hall cloisters
Friday 7
Oaxaca Crafts Expo
6 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Saturday 8
Championship Motocross
The most important Motocross meet of the year, The Sur Sureste and
Azteca Championships features the best riders from Yucatán, Quintana
Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala,
Morelos, Hidalgo, México and the Federal District, as well as invited
competitors from Central America.
12 p.m. Race track at Camino a Puerto Angelito
Meeting of the "Chileneros"
Performances by Trío los Diamantes, Trío Tlacamama and Pedro Torres
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Sunday 9
Motocross
Camino a Puerto Angelito
Children's Group of the Puerto Escondido Cultural Center
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Puerto Escondido Folkloric Group
8:30 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Monday 10 - Thursday 13
Exhibition of Surf Photography
Opening Reception: 6 p.m. Monday 10
Villa Belmar Beach Club, Playa Zicatela
Thursday 13
Children's Dance
students from Ricardo Flores Magon Primary School
4 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Martial Arts
Demonstration of Wu-Shu
6 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Grupo Globo
Theater piece
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Friday 14
International Surf Tournament
The longest running contest in México
7:00 - 9:30 a.m. Competition in Open category
8:00 a.m. Official Opening Ceremony
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Bodyboard Competition
5:30 p.m. Half Marathon of Surf
Saturday 15 - Monday 17
Art Exhibition
Works by Dolores Carrillo and students of the San Carlos Academy
Opening: 6 p.m. Saturday Town Hall Cloisters
Saturday 15
International Surf Tournament
7:00 - 9:30 a.m. Open
9:30 a.m. Bodyboard
5:30 p.m. Half Marathon of Surf
Playa Zicatela
Music and Dance of the Chatinos
featuring groups from Yaitepec, Panixtlahuaca and San Juan Lachao
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Sunday 16
International Surf Tournament
7:00 a.m. Finals & Semifinals both categories
11:30 a.m. Miss Bikini Contest
12:00 p.m. Awards and closing ceremony of the tournament.
Playa Zicatela
Seminar
on the origins of Puerto Escondido and performance of "trova" music.
10 a.m. Salón Monte Albán, Hotel Villasol
COBAO de Bajos de Chila
6 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Monday 17
Body Building and Fitness Demonstration
6 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Songs for the Coast
concert by Alberto Marroquín
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Tuesday 18
Children's Dance Group
from Juan Rulfo School
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Wednesday 19
Silvia María y Reynaldo Ruiz
in concert
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Thursday 20
Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
November 20 marks the beginning of the Mexican Revolution and the end of
the Porfiriato, the long autocratic rule of Porfirio Díaz, the Oaxacan
native son and loyal lieutenant to Benito Juárez who assumed the
presidency in 1876 and just didn't know when to give it up.
Opposition leader Francisco Madero called for an uprising on November 20, 1910 to oust Díaz, who stole that year's election to take a seventh consecutive term as president.
Many heeded the call, Díaz was forced into exile and Madero become president. But the well-meaning, idealistic reformer was doomed to failure. His government was challenged by revolutionaries such as Emiliano Zapata who were impatient for real land reform and undermined by wealthy landowners and army officers loyal to the old regime.
U.S. Ambassador Lane Wilson played an ignominious role in these intrigues and plotted the coup that resulted in the murder of Madero and his vice-president Pino Suárez and the seizing of power by the odious Gen. Victoriano Huerta.
Opposition soon developed against the usurper. Venustiano Carranza, governor of the state of Coahuila immediately rejected the legitimacy of the Huerta regime and took up the mantle of the Constitutionalist resistance.
Years of chaos and bloody warfare ensued until the success of the Constitutionalists brought a measure of political stability to the country in 1917.
A Parade to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Mexican Revolution will leave the Benito Juárez Sports Stadium at 8 a.m, and make its way to the Town Hall Esplanade.
Jueves 20
Manialtepec Dugout Parade & Contest
Local fishermen adorn their launches and dugout canoes as animals, birds
or tropical and topical tableaux in a fun and colorful day on the
lagoon.
2 p.m. La Isla del Gallo, Manialtepec Lagoon
Paco Renteria
A virtuoso guitarist who feels at home with classical, Flamenco and jazz
streams.
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Friday 21
15th International Sail Fish Tournament
Inaugural of the three-day event. See Page 14 for more.
7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Playa Principal
Children's Dance Troupe
from Santa Catarina Juquila
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Saturday 22 - Sunday 23
Fiesta of Christ the King
Annual Fair in Puerto's Sector Reforma, section C
Saturday 22
Sail Fish Tournament
7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Playa Principal
Sand Sculpture Contest
Sponsored by International Friends of Puerto Escondido, fun and lots of
prizes for all the kids.
8 a.m. Playa Principal
Crafts Expo
10 a.m. Town Hall Cloisters
Culinary Expo
Sample the delicious regional cuisine.
2 p.m. Town Hall Parking Lot
Coast Dance Festival
10th annual showcase for the enduring cultural legacy of the Oaxacan coast.
Official Opening: 7:30 p.m
Town Hall Esplanade
Sunday 23
Sail Fish Tournament
7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Final Day of Competition
4 p.m. Prize Ceremony
Playa Principal
Coast Dance Festival
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Monday 24
Grupo Son Clave in concert
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Tuesday 25
Cirano de Bergerac
Children's puppet theater
5 p.m. Primer Luces School
Salvador "Negro Ojeda"
This legendary Mexican troubadour has a 50-year career interpreting the
country's popular music.
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Wednesday 26
Grupo Moro
in concert
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Thursday 27
Thanksgiving Day
Check our pages if you have a hankering for a traditional Thanksgiving Turkey feast.
Grupo Santa Sabina
A nationally famous rock-ska band
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Friday 28
Alejandra Robles
"A star is born . . ." raved the newspaper Noticias about this sweet-voiced Oaxacan
songstress.
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Saturday 29
Half Marathon
4 p.m through the central streets of town
Music and Dance from Sola de Vega
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Sunday 30
Mountain Bike Race
4 p.m through the central streets of town
Calenda
festive parade featuring the folkloric troupe from San Antonio Castillo de Velasco
6 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade
Cultural Presentation and Ceremony to close the Fiestas of November
8 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade