In addition to national holidays, all sorts of local festivities and special events will perk up day-to-day life in the Lake Chapala region. All lakeshore towns, and even some neighborhoods, pay tribute to their respective spiritual patrons during prolonged celebrations called Fiestas Patronales that commonly involve religious processions, street  fairs, music and dancing, feasting, bull-riding contests and fireworks. This abbreviated calendar highlights the dates of major happenings, with specific locations noted where applicable.

Judy Ball was excited to see in the early morning hours of December 26 what she believes to be a cluster of UFOs.

If Lake Chapala could speak, it would probably qualify 2011 as a less than stellar year, at least weather-wise. It might express a more ambivalent opinion concerning what has transpired on the political social fronts.

Chapala interim mayor Moises Anaya breezed through the December 15 delivery of the 2011 state-of-the municipality Informe de Gobierno, ably pinch-hitting for Jesus Cabrera on just a week’s notice since he gave up the mayor’s seat on a leave of absence to seek a nomination to run for state legislator.

Ajijic parish priest Father Alfredo Arreola was honored with a Mass of thanksgiving on the 45th anniversary of his ordination on December 16 at San Andres Church in Ajijic.

Two of the three individuals captured on December 13 following the armed robbery of a Guadalajara beauty salon are now under investigation for their involvement in the murder of Ajijic resident Chris Kahr.