September 2 — LCS Spanish Course

The introduction to Spanish course will continue on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lake Chapala Society Gazebo. Level 5 of the Warren Hardy Spanish Course begins September 6 and will run for seven weeks. Conversation classes begin September 9 and will continue for a total of six weeks. Register or get additional information in the LCS office or on the blue umbrella patio on September 2 and 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

September 3 — US Consulate Representatives

The representatives from the US Consulate will NOT be making their usual first Wednesday of the month visits to the Lake Chapala Society or the American Legion this month. They will be back on the first Wednesday in September. The Consulate is on Calle Progresso #175 in Guadalajara. Telephone: 01 (33) 3268-2100

September 3 — Ajijic Writers Group

The regular meetings of the Writers Group are held at La Nueva Posada on the first and third Friday mornings. Plan to arrive at 9:30 to get coffee and chat before meeting starts.

September 4 — British Society Meeting

The regular monthly meeting is at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic. Members and guests choose from two full meals or a light meal of salad and dessert. Call Alicia McNiff at (376) 765-4786 or President Ceri Dando at cpdando200@yahoo.com if you wish to attend

September 7 — The Greening of Chapala

The Lake Chapala Green Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. in the LCS Back Patio

September 8 — High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah begins and continues through September 10 with services led by Elinor Knepler, a senior rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. For tickets and information email contactus@lakechapalajews.com or call Elliott at (376) 765-5674.

September 10 — Memorial Service for Ektor Carranza

Friends of Ektor are invited to attend the memorial celebration at the Lakeside Little Theater from 4 to 6 p.m. Those who wish are invited to bring a snack to share. RSVP to Pat Carroll at mexicopat@gmail.com or (376) 766-3144.

September 11 — Regatta de Globos

Here's a purely Ajijic tradition an exhibit of dozens of handmade hot air balloons sailing off into the sky. Can you imagine — making a hot air balloon from tissue paper? Wait 'til you see these. The event is held in the soccer field across from Bugambilia Plaza beginning at 3 p.m.

September 12 — Parade of Rebozos (Shawls)

Ajijic's girls and women gather in the plaza for this Sunday evening stroll around the bandstand. Each wears a traditional rebozo (shawl. It's like a fashion show of shawls and the many ways in which they can be worn. Don't miss this ambiance-filled event which is accompanied by a full regiment of mariachis and local singer Lupita Jimenez.

September 12 — Bicentennial Fiesta Mexicana

El Centro Regional de Estudios Musicales is hosting a Fiesta Mexicana at 5 p.m. at Huerta de Serna event hall at the west end of Ajijic. The Mariachi Juvenil de Guadalajara, Ballet Folklorico de Chapala and the CREM violin ensemble will be part of the program. An artwork action will be featured. Tickets are $250 pesos for a typical Mexican dinner and agua fresca. Drinks are available from a cash bar. Contact Tim Welch at timgrwelch@hotmail.com for tickets which are also being sold at the Auditorium box office.

September 14 — Day of the Charros

During the feast day of Mexico's charros, the local horsemen attend a special mass for a blessing, stroll around the plaza and ride horseback to the charros ring for an afternoon of traditional rodeo-style events and an evening of music and dancing.

September 14 — VIVA Summer Concert Series

This concert in Viva's Summer series is bound to be a crowd pleaser with the Jalisco Philharmonic Ensemble Orchestra taking the stage with soprano Dolores Moreno at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago. Tickets are available at the Lake Chapala Society ticket booth or at the door. For more information call Rosemary Keeling (376) 766-1801.

September 15 — El Grito

For some pure fun, try to get to the Ajijic plaza late in the afternoon for the greased pole climbing contest, the race after the greased pig and other traditional games. By 7 or 8 p.m., the action has moved to the stage where you'll watch mariachis, local singers, a series of fun contests, folk dancers, and then the presentation of the flag, the singing of the national anthem and the 200th anniversary reenactment of Father Miguel Hidalgo's cry to arms which began the war of independence. After the shouting and fireworks, there's a band and dancing into the wee hours.

September 16 — Independence Day

Find your piece of sidewalk on the morning of September 16 so you can watch the independence day parade. There'll be bands, mariachis, children in costumes, schoolkids walking with their new uniforms, floats and the charros. What else could there be! It's a wonderful celebration.

September 17 — Ajijic Writers Group

The regular meetings of the Writers Group are held at La Nueva Posada on the first and third Friday mornings. Plan to arrive at 9:30 to get coffee and chat before meeting starts

September 17— Yom Kippur Kol Nidre

Yom Kippur begins and continues through September 18 with services led by Elinor Knepler, a senior rabbinical student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. For tickets and information email contactus@lakechapalajews.com or call Elliott at (376) 765-5674.

September 28 - 30 — The Virgin of the Rosary

The patron of the small chapel on the north side of the Ajijic plaza is the Virgin of the Rosary who is celebrated all during the month of October. The final days of September include a series of pilgrimages which are the prelude to the main event as the figure is moved from the small chapel and carried to the Church of San Antonio where she will spend the night, then she is moved in a large procession from the village of San Antonio to the Santuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe at Six Corners where she will remain overnight, visited by the faithful for prayer and thanksgiving. On September 30, she will move in a procession down Hidalgo to the Church of San Andrés in Ajijic in time for the 7 p.m. Mass. The virgin will reside in the town's parish church all month.