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APRIL

3-7 APR: International Guitar Festival of Morelia (Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Morelia)--Morelia, Michoacan. Michoacan, with its rich musical traditions and home to one of the oldest conservatories in Latin America, is the perfect host for this popular guitar festival. The program features recitals, contests, conferences, seminars and expositions, with local as well as international artists participating from Venezuela, Chile, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Cuba and the Czech Republic. For more information, please visit: www.figmorelia.com

7-23 APR: Mexico City's Fair (Festival de la Ciudad de Mexico) -- Mexico City. One of the main events in Mexico City taking place at the Sports Palace (Palacio de los Deportes) with great surprises and entertainment for the entire family. This fair, organized by OCESA, includes many attractions that kids and grown-ups will love, like the circus, go karts, amusement park rides, and an incredible Musical Forum that will include many artists like Merengazo 21, Banda Old Days, Sonora Santanera de Carlos Colorado, Conjunto Costa Azul de Rigo Tovar, and much more. The cost of admission is $35 pesos p/p. For more information, please visit: http://www.ocesa.com.mx/

9-16 APR: Sardine Fishing Ritual (Pesca de la Sardina)--Tacotalpa, Tabasco. In the picturesque village of Tapijulapa, an enchanting cavern known as the Cave of the Sardines (Cueva de la Sardina) is the site of an annual religious ritual with prehispanic roots. The ritual involves fishing for sardines for the purpose of imploring Mother Nature to bring sufficient rain for the crops. The more sardines caught during the ceremony, the better the harvest will be. Cultural festivities are celebrated prior to the ritual, starting on March 13 to the 19.

9-16 APR: Holy Week (Semana Santa)--Nationwide. Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, the week's religious celebrations include reenactments of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion. The most renowned celebrations are held in Mexico City, Patzcuaro, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, San Cristobal de las Casas and Taxco.

15 APR-13 MAY: San Marcos Fair (Feria de San Marcos)--Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes State. A colorful three-week festival featuring handicrafts, bullfights, folk dancing, games, cockfights, fireworks, cultural events and local cuisine. The National Poetry Prize and a traditional competition of typical dress also take place during this international celebration.

7-16 APR: Cultural Festival of Zacatecas (Festival Cultural de Zacatecas)--Zacatecas, Zacatecas State. This festival features displays of literature, dance, theater, music and art in several venues throughout Zacatecas State. http:// www.zacatecas.gob.mx/agendacultural05.htm

8+15 APR: Polo Tournament "Gran Copa Agua Alta" Costa Careyes, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Costa Careyes is located 2 and a half hours south of Puerto Vallarta and a little more than an hour north of Manzanillo International Airport on the Mexican Pacific Coast, on the famous Costalegre. For more information about this event, please visit: http://www.mexicopolo.com/

20-30 APR: Newport Beach Film Festival, Rosarito Baja California Norte. Each Spring, Newport Beach rolls out the red carpet during its annual Film Festival showcasing hundreds of features, short films, documentaries and animation movies from around the world. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes several galas and yacht parties, as well as offers the rare opportunity to interact with directors and screenwriters during question and answer sessions that provide an inside look into the film industry. www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com

28-30 APR: 59th Annual Newport Beach to Ensenada International Yacht Race--Ensenada, Baja California. Yachting competition originating in Newport Beach, California to Ensenada with more than 50 participating yachts, featuring a festival and ceremony upon their arrival in Ensenada.

28 APR-14 MAY: Tabasco Fair 2006 (Feria de Tabasco 2006) --Parque Villahermosa, Tabasco. Famous for its Olmec artifacts, Villahermosa Park hosts this colorful state fair where 17 counties share their best in cuisine, arts and crafts. Visitors can also enjoy the colorful boat parade over the Grijalva River and the outdoor theater in the evenings where plays are presented by each county. From April 28 to May 14, some prior festivities take place such as beauty contestants, street band performances and car and boats parades. www.tabasco.gob.mx

22 APR: Rosarito-Ensenada Fun Ride, Rosarito Beach, Baja California. Head south of the border with 10,000 of your closest amigos for this fun ride along the Pacific Coast and inland through rural countryside from Rosarito Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. The event course is 50 miles of paved highway on the old Free Road from Rosarito Beach south to the city of Ensenada. Avid cyclists should finish in two hours, with the average time to complete being 4 1/2 hours. www.rosaritoensenada.com

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MAY

8 MAY: Vineyards Flowering Festival--Ensenada, Baja California. Noon-5pm: Family fair with games, regional foods, wine and live entertainment at Mogor Badan Winery, Carr. Tecate-Ensenada Km. 83.5 in Valle de Guadalupe. Admission: US$2/children, US$10/adults (includes wine tastings from different wineries). Proceeds benefit Albergue San Vicente Shelter. Info & tickets: Viajes Damiana, tel. (646)178-3136 or Baja California Winemakers Association, tel. (646)178-3038; email: brac@telnor.net

21 MAY-6 JUN: International Wine and Cheese Festival (Feria Internacional de Queso y Vino)--Tequisquiapan, Queretaro. The enchanting town of Tequisquiapan hosts this annual wine and cheese festival, bringing together wine and cheese producers from all over the country. Apart from wine and cheese tasting, visitors will also enjoy regional cuisine, concerts, handicrafts and other cultural events. www.tequisquiapan.com.mx/index.php

17-21 MAY: International Cup Vallarta Soccer - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. If you like soccer and the beach, this is a great opportunity to visit Puerto Vallarta. The Committee responsible for this event is formed by the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta, the tourism board and is also supported by the Football Soccer Association. For the third consecutive year, this event will take place in one of the most beautiful and visited places internationally. For more information, visit: www.vallartadeportes.com

27 MAY: 22nd Annual Triathlon Banamex -Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Guerrero. Hundreds of athletes will run, swim and bike along the scenic coasts of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Winners take home trophies and cash prizes. www.asdeporte.com

To be Determined

Xalapa Fair (Feria de Xalapa)--Xalapa, Veracruz. Referred to as the Athens of Veracruz, the capital city of Xalapa is bursting with culture. The Xalapa fair dates back to the 18th century and offers a variety of artworks, handicrafts and unique products from the region at excellent prices. The fair features activities for all ages.

Canadian Tour-Mazatlan Corona Classic, Mazatlan, Sinaloa. Considered one of the most important golf events in the world, the Canadian Tour will make its first stop in Mexico in Mazatlan and receive 156 players from 15 different countries. The purse this year is US$125,000. www.cmcgolf.com

Acapulco Boat Show--Acapulco, Guerrero. Aimed at fostering an interest in sea and water sports, as well as promote Mexico's nautical market, this exposition features everything from mega yachts to aquatic motorcycles. National and international exhibitors include manufacturers, distributors and marina service providers. Boat owners, prospective buyers and sea lovers in general are welcome to attend. www.acapulcoboatshow.com

Canadian Tour-Michelin Morelia Classic in Morelia, Michoacan. Considered one of the most important golf events in the world, the Canadian Tour will make its final stop in Morelia. The purse this year is US$125,000. www.cmcgolf.com

18th Alarconian Theatrical Festival (XVIII Jornadas Alarconianas)--Taxco, Guerrero. The picturesque silver mining town of Taxco will host 10 days of artistic and cultural events including literature, music, theater, dance, opera and artworks presented by local artists. www.guerrero.gob.mx/dominios/turismo/taxco.htm

ROLEX/IGFA Offshore Championship--Los Cabos, Baja California Sur. This annual competition attracts more than 60 qualifying teams from 33 countries representing 250 international anglers and their guests to Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos area for four days of intense fishing on 44 local charter boats. Each team is allowed to weigh two fish of each species on each day of fishing, and top prizes include engraved gold and stainless Rolex watches. http://www.igfa.org/tour_os_2006ud.asp

Morelia Organ Festival--Morelia, Michoacan. The capital city of Morelia will celebrate once again the XXX International Organ Festival, gathering together organists from around the globe. Held in the majestic pink stone cathedral of Morelia, this event is renowned for its spectacular performances, complemented by art exhibits throughout the city. Contact: imcultura@michoacan.gob.mx

XXI Huatulco Sail Fishing Tournament (XXI Torneo Internacional de la Pesca de Pez Vela)--Huatulco, Oaxaca. Huatulco, an excellent site for sport-fishing and surfing, hosts this popular annual tournament, now in its twenty-first year.

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APRIL

Thru-3 APR: Exhibition Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico - Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Forty works of ceramics will be on display from the three major west Mexican regions -Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit -and represent the primary style groups of Comala, Ameca-Ezatlan and Ixtlan del Rio. Heroes, houses and ancestor pairs are rendered in three dimensions to give visual substance to prominent members of society and their significant activities on behalf of community and family, as well as to honor their forebears. Placed in major tombs, the sculptures commemorate the high social position, personal power and wealth of the deceased. The sculptures date between 300 B.C. and 400 A.D. and include depictions of birds and animals. www.metmuseum.org.

To be Determined

Expo Arte Sectur Millennium Park - Chicago. Details to come.

Mexico Travel Marketplace Provides Tavel Professionals A One-Stop Shop

Coordinated by Mexico marketing experts Destination Vacations, Ltd., the 12th annual Mexico Travel Marketplace is currently underway and running through May 12. The event's U.S. tour is designed to empower retail and home-based agents with Mexico sales knowledge, key supplier contacts, and face-to-face interactions with Mexico's leading hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, and destination tourism boards.

The 2006 program has been revised to facilitate the increased interaction needed to ensure success in today's evolving tourism industry.

"As retail agents incorporate new sales models, the need to foster new relationships is evident. The Mexico Travel Marketplace provides agency owners and managers with the quality interaction with suppliers they need," says Destination Vacations, Ltd. president Jane Custer.

Participants in this year's program will benefit from a networking reception with more than two dozen suppliers, a varied tradeshow and a sit-down dinner. The event's professional, long-format, classroom-style seminar will empower travel agents with the specialized knowledge needed to get an edge over the competition.

Mexico Travel Marketplace, the only industry event series that exclusively focuses on Mexico tourism, boasts a who's who in tourism sponsorship list. In addition to the Mexico Tourism Board, event sponsors include various Mexico airlines and the tourism boards of Mazatlan, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Campeche State and Vallarta Nayarit. Mexico Travel Marketplace will also feature the interactive Cancun Tourism Institute training program.

Mexico Travel Marketplace events are celebrated in key markets such as Chicago, Dallas, San Diego and Seattle. For a complete listing of dates and locations for the Mexico Travel Marketplace 2006 U.S. tour, visit www.mexicotravelmarket.com. Online registration is also available at the Web site.