COSTA ALEGRE - The laid-back seaside towns of San Patricio Melaque, Barra de Navidad and nearby Obregon are promoting a week-long combination Saint Patrick’s celebration and art festival – the Barra Art Bounce (BABo), set for March 11-18, with sun and beer in the daytime and a Saint Patrick Festival of fireworks, food, and carnival rides at night.
Every night, San Patricio Melaque – a five-minute ride across the bay from Barra de Navidad – hosts a carnival and celebration of St. Patrick, the town’s namesake. Everything in the town church is swathed in Kelly green, there’s a nightly fireworks show including castillos, two- and three-story reed figures, pin wheels, stars and saints are ignited around 10 p.m.
Kids run around underneath with cardboard over their heads, while waiting in the wings is the fireworks-laden wooden bull which is run through the crowds creating an enjoyable havoc. The brightly colored antique carnival rides and a party atmosphere with a large colorful festival and plenty of street food are all organized around the small town square.
This is a family friendly town with a few surfers, some retirees, and a population in the few thousands for each of the linked beach towns. It is not necessary to speak Spanish, everyone seems to get along with Spanglish.
From Puerto Vallarta, first class buses can be taken from the Central Nueva and 2nd class buses leave daily at noon to Barra de Navidad from V. Carranza street, near the the tile store. Trip time is about four to five hours.
From the Manzanillo airport you can grab a cab and be in Melaque in about a half hour.
Buses from Guadalajara’s Central Nueva take about five hours to reach Barra de Navidad. Check out BABo's blog at http://barraartbounce.blogspot.com.
For more information see a previous story in our archives: http://guadalajarareporter.com/content/view/399/107/.
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