By Tara A. Spears
Jaltemba Bay, Nayarit
Event information and graphics were supplied with this article. Confirm current dates, times and ticket availability with organizers before making plans. Click any graphic to view it at full size.
At first glance, our small coastal town might seem like there aren’t a lot of things to do besides the beach. Visitors and those new to the three sister towns might not be aware of the delightful opportunities for fun. Even if you read Facebook, it’s easy to miss a post telling about an event. While this list is not all-inclusive—some groups have not finalized their dates— at least you’ll be aware of the major events. Even more impressive than the menus, entertainment and super auctions is that these are all non-profit events. That means that the good time benefits a target group in the community. Win, win, win! No matter what your preference, you can help homeless animals, provide university education to students that could not otherwise afford to go, or support women struggling with cancer, to name a few of the objectives. A real strength of the community of Jaltemba Bay is the strong bond between foreigners and locals to work together to address a need. All of the group graphics can be saved if you click on them. Please contact the group directly (most are on Facebook) to purchase tickets, volunteer, or donate.
The oldest group in JB is the Women to Women Scholarships. Other long-time organizations are the El Famoso Horseshoe Tournament on the beach and JBAR (Jaltemba Bay Animal Resources). The Cancer de Mama Clinic has been hugely effective for more than 15 years. Although what is now known as Rock the Block—Our Community Cares is a fairly new event, it’s a spin-off of the previous Cancer Walk street party—same venue, same volunteers, different objective.
For those of you that like the thrill of gambling, check out the Friday meat raffle or Tuesday bingo with Tina—their purpose is to generate money for civic activities. For casual relaxing, the burgers and margaritas are for you! The RV Park sends local young men to university.
It’s important to remember that all of these events are organized and implemented by volunteers, most of whom are only part-time residents. A tremendous amount of time and effort goes into putting together the entertainment and decorations, so please be kind in your comments. The outsourcing of the caterers and renting the setup is a big boost to the local economy. Do things lag? Sometimes. Do they run out of items, yep. I can honestly say that I was impressed with every event that I have attended in the last 19 years—and I had a good time! These are good-hearted people that give of their time to make a difference. Just relaxing and meeting new people adds memories to any vacation. Knowing that this party is helping other people or homeless animals, just adds the cherry on top. It’s too much fun!
Of course, there are lots of quality restaurants in JB and many will provide live music weekly. Another happening that is really worth the time is the free Saturday night concerts in February at the Guayabitos Plaza—excellent performances. You’ll soon find a favorite entertainer and get to know their performance schedule.
Don’t miss out on the unique entertainment options that are available when visiting Jaltemba Bay. Enjoy the culture and the scenic beach. Everyone needs to eat so why not have it support a cause? “Giving is not just about making a donation. It is about making a difference.”
I highly recommend all of these activities! You’ll never get bored because there is always something to do in Jaltemba Bay. Besides, at the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up… It’s about what you’ve given back.
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