Mayor Correa’s Goal: “Siempre Hermoso San Miguel”
By Camie Sands, May 18, 2007

Mayor C. Jesús Correa is pleased to announce, along with the founders of the Siempre Hermoso (“Always Beautiful”) San Miguel Project, a private/public partnership, that his administration has approved funds to continue and expand the effort. The work of this partnership, which began under the administration of Mayor Villarreal to remove graffiti, is now being expanded to include the restoration of fountains and the overall greening of San Miguel.

“This is a very worthwhile and forward-thinking project,” said Mayor Correa, “because it would not have existed without the private sector proposing the project and being committed to raising the funds from businesses and individuals to match 50 percent of the cost. We are happy to be able to support this kind of creative effort.”

Christopher Finkelstein, City Secretary, who has worked on the project since its inception said, “In the process of receiving the nomination for being named a World Heritage site, this program is very important. Having graffiti-free walls all over the city and its colonias, as well as clean, functioning fountains and more public green space, indicates how we respect and protect the historical value of our city and it monuments, not just for ourselves in San Miguel but for all society.”

Fabiola Garcia La Sienra Garcia, International Relations Coordinator for the administration, under whose office the Siempre Hermoso San Miguel project functions, said, “Municipal support began at the outset in 2003 and the program was finally institutionalized in February 2006 with the city provision of a truck, gasoline, materials and the supervision of the employees. Yet this has in fact been a public/private effort from the start.”

The Siempre Hermoso San Miguel project pays for two full-time employees (and a truck with paint ready to match to wall colors) who remove graffiti and repaint walls, as well as provides materials and necessary expertise to repair and maintain public fountains. With complete funding in the coming months, one more employee will be added to the program. 

When the cash donations from the private sector diminished in 2006, the municipality began to carry in excess of 50 percent of the total cost. It was understood that the private sector was making plans to expand the effort to include the fountain and greening programs to complement the graffiti removal project, as well as a fund-matching campaign.

Floyd Edwards, a founding member of the partnership reported that since the partnership’s inception, over 20,000 graffiti markings have been removed. He noted that over the last three years the city’s Centro has become almost graffiti-free and a constant effort is made to keep it that way. “Due to the tremendous success in the Centro area, graffiti removal was expanded to the close-in colonias in 2005, where results have also been successful in most areas. Not seeing defacing graffiti is simply something that those who live in San Miguel have come to enjoy and perhaps expect, and something visitors to the city positively remark upon,” said Edwards. “Of course the challenge now is to secure the funds to keep it that way.”

To carry out the additional projects and continue graffiti removal, 410,000 pesos (US$37,000) will be sought to match the 410,000 pesos already set aside for the program by the mayor and city council.

“Those who initiated this effort several years ago thought it wise to begin with graffiti removal,” said Robert Spencer, also a founding member. “We wanted to test how well this public/private cooperative effort could work before beginning work on fountains and the very broad program of the greening of San Miguel. The success to date has proven the private sector and the municipality can work well together.” 

Don Patterson, Head of Environment and Ecology of San Miguel, is working in tandem with the project toward the goal of repair and restoration of San Miguel’s 46 public fountains. “We are currently working with SAPASMA to see which fountains will have a constant supply of city water,” said Patterson. He also noted, “To meet the goal of Siempre Hermoso San Miguel to “green” San Miguel in the Centro and outlying neighborhoods and villages, we will plant low-maintenance plants in publicly owned places and encourage private property owners to do likewise.”

Tony Adlerbert, also a founding member of the project, said that just as the scope of the Siempre Hermoso San Miguel Project has been expanded under Mayor Correa’s administration, so will the scope of asking for private support if the program needs to be expanded. “As Mayor Correa noted,” said Adlerbert, “this program enhances property values, deters petty crime and certainly keeps San Miguel a flourishing tourism destination.”

Those working on the Siempre Hermoso San Miguel Project from the city administration include Christopher Finkelstein (City Secretary), Fabiola Garcia (International Relations Coordinator), Francisco Peyret (Economic Development, Tourism and International Relation’s Director) and Don Patterson (Head of Environment and Ecology). The private sector includes Tony Adlerbert, Floyd Edwards, Filip Lein, Bart Mullis, and Bob Spencer. Donations to fund the private sector portion of Siempre Hermoso San Miguel Project are deductible from both US and Mexican taxes. Please call 152-9639 to make a donation or with your questions.

Foundation changes name, community contributions expand
By Dennis Hart


In December 2006, the San Miguel Educational Foundation made several changes, among them renaming the organization the San Miguel Community Foundation (SMCF). The change came about because many people thought that education was the only focus of the charitable organization. However, we are a community foundation in its truest sense: whereas education of children within the extended San Miguel community is an important aspect of our grants, construction, music, the arts, theater and many other areas in need of financial assistance also receive funding.

In addition to the name change, the board of directors voted in a new slate of officers and new members were added to the board. Philip Maher, who became the foundation’s second president in 1978 and held that post for 19 years before turning the gavel over to Bett Yates Adams, passed away late last year. Two long-time board members, Adams and treasurer Howard Haynes, retired from the board. Adams was an excellent administrator for 10 years and during that period converted the organization into what it is now and allowed us to achieve impressive results. Haynes was the foundation’s treasurer for nine years, but he contributed a great deal more balancing the books. Pamela G. Knoles, our secretary for 10 years, stepped down from that post but remains an important member of the board. 

The new officers are Dennis M. Hart, president; Donna Foudray, secretary; and John M. Schnakenberg, treasurer, a new board member. As of this writing a vice president had not been chosen. Two other new members were added to the board: Lic. Mary Ann Ramirez, Mexican Counsel, and Roger Brosnahan, US Counsel. Claudia Escalante Kay continues her service on the board, and Araceli do los R. Cerritos was elected our full-time administrator.

In addition to these changes, we have moved our offices to a new location at Prolongación de Pila Seca 91-A. Our telephone number remains 152-7447 but our e-mail address has changed to smcf@smcfnd.com  . Our new website address is www.smcfnd.com. 

None of these changes will alter the work our foundation does and has done for the entire community since 1976. Over the past four years we have distributed grants worth US$352,450 to 40 different organizations. Our first grant of 2007, for US$36,000, went to the Mexiquito casa hogar to enable them to build a new dormitory. We also continue to assist those organizations that do not have US tax-free status by giving tax-free receipts to donors who give dollars to qualified Mexican organizations.

We consider requests for grants in June and November. Written requests should describe the organization and its activities, include a copy of its asociación civil (A.C.) status, and set forth the purpose of the request and amount required.

Language, a life changing gift
By Dennis Risinger

Clothes and shoes are quickly outgrown by the 31 young girls who live at Casa Hogar Santa Julia orphanage in San Miguel, and while dearly appreciated, toys wear out, sheets and towels fray, toothbrushes need replacing.

A group of American part-time sanmiguelenses has been bringing these useful items to the orphanage for several years now and though all are necessary to the daily lives of these girls, their future security and happiness will likely depend on a more enduring gift, one that has brought the most unlikely of co-sponsors .

The four nuns (Madres) at Casa Hogar give them a lot of love and security, but these girls can’t stay there forever. Certainly that love and the affection they receive from the many volunteers will always remain in their hearts and minds; it will help guide them as they enter the world on their own.

We wondered what else we could provide, what would help them make their own way and the answer must be that “gift that keeps on giving” - education. In this ever-shrinking world and in this town in particular, if the girls could become proficient in English, they would no doubt have an advantage when entering the workforce. This was the answer, a gift that will not only last a lifetime but will only improve with time. Studying English, no easy task, could only add to the healthy self-esteem that the four Madres are instilling in the girls. The next challenge, how to make this happen?

The next day, after praying for help and guidance, one of the American couples got lost while driving around in San Miguel and ended up on Orizaba street. While the husband tried to get his bearings, his wife shouted to stop the car.

Certain he was about to have a wreck, he slammed on the brakes and said “What?! You scared the wits out of me!” She had noticed a sign which read “English lessons” on the front of a beautiful colonial building. So they entered the school to ask about finding a way to teach English to the girls from Santa Julia. As it turned out, they had the very good fortune of getting lost in front of Centro Mexicano de Lengua y Cultura de San Miguel, a private language school which offers classes in both Spanish and English. It was fortunate because this particular school is owned and run by Josefina Hernandez, a native sanmiguelense who has been a teacher for over 30 years and who was also interested in the idea of teaching English to the young girls. She offered the lessons at such a reasonable price that we were thrilled to accept. Now, we just needed to find a sponsor to pay for each girl’s English lessons.

So this couple and other Americans began to tell their friends about the idea, and within a few months, each of the girls had a sponsor. Some live in the U.S., some live in San Miguel, some are individuals, others are businesses. As an interesting sidenote, one of the sponsors is the director of the Innerchange Faith Initiative at the Iowa state prison, which is part of the Chuck Colson Prison Ministry. The director is a friend of one of the sponsors, and was eager to help. He mentioned to the inmates, who were touched, and decided to raise donations for Casa Hogar Santa Julia. And these were donations from men who make their spending money working at odd jobs for a whopping 31 cents an hour. Yet, they collected and sent more than $500.

To add icing to the cake, two of the Madres, who always wanted to learn English, are also being sponsored. They feel this will help them encourage the girls in their studies. So now almost everyone at Casa Hogar - except the very youngest - is taking classes. The Mother Superior at Santa Julia, Madre Chuy, has been a nun for many years and has seen many girls grow up and leave the orphanage. She says those who went on to pursue a higher education and successful career could speak English. She can recall only three girls who were able to accomplish this. She believes this program will be a tremendous advantage for all of the girls in their future education and careers. Being able to speak and understand English will be of great help to them no matter what path they take after leaving the orphanage.

Recently, three of the girls who were taking English lessons were transferred to the older girls’ orphanage, Casa Hogar Sollano. When the Madres at Sollano were asked if these girls could continue their English classes, they not only agreed to let them continue, but asked if nine more of their adolescent girls could study English, along with one of the Madres. These girls will be leaving the orphanage in a few short years, and hope to learn some English in that time. Although these new students do not all have sponsors yet, Josefina said to let them come to class, and they will be taught with or without sponsors. We are actively searching for support for these classes.

Another benefit that has grown out of the English program is email communication between the girls and their sponsors. Computers have been donated to the orphanage and the Centro Mexicano also has computers for the girls to use. The exchange of email and pictures is a source of much joy to all, and has the added benefit of teaching the girls basic computer skills. These skills will be expanded in the near future and will undoubtedly give the girls another advantage in the future.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor a child for her English lessons can visit www.englishforninas.com for more information. It is the hope of everyone involved in this English program that all of the children in the three Casa Hogar orphanages (Santa Julia, Sollano and Mexiquito for boys) will be able to become bilingual before leaving the orphanage system. 

This quote pretty much says it all: 

“A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

Forest E. Witcraft,(1894-1967) American scholar and teacher

Remembering Bernie
By Cliff DuRand and other friends

Bernie Weisman died May 7, 2007 at the age of 90. Born in Detroit on September 25, 1916 into a Jewish butcher’s family, he lived the last 34 years of his life in San Miguel de Allende.

Bernie was the last surviving founder of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of SMA. Although a professed atheist, he delighted in playing with the Hebrew name for God, Adonai, which sounds like “I don’t know”—suggesting he was perhaps an agnostic instead.

A lover of music ranging from classical to Yiddish and Black spirituals, he especially loved to sing and his rich bass voice would often break into song in public places, to the delight of bystanders.

He was also an avid reader and enjoyed works by such iconoclastic authors as Shelley, Mark Twain, Felix Greene, B. Traven, and Charles Erskine Scott Wood. 

Bernie was well-known for his extreme frugality, yet he often gave generously to his favorite causes. He was one of the founding contributors to CASA, a long time supporter of Global Exchange and his favorite radio station, KPFA in Berkeley, California, to which he left a substantial amount. He also left contributions to many of his favorite magazines.

The remainder of his estate was left to the Bernard Weisman Foundation which he established in the last months of his life. This provides funding to help low-income Mexicans, especially women, with education, training, health, technical assistance and micro-credit lending.

His residence on calle Quebrada is to become a cultural center. Many expats now living in San Miguel remember this residence, having first stayed in the low-cost but comfortable casitas which Bernie rented.

While he generally hated to spend money on himself, he did indulge in travel. He went around the world twice, visiting such countries as Greece, India and Israel.

Bernie was always quick to express his political opinions. Calling himself a Marxist, he was a sharp critic of capitalism and US imperialism. In fact, the US war in Vietnam was one reason he left his native Detroit and came to Mexico.

Noted as a curmudgeon and a misanthrope, Bernie had a low opinion of humankind for its long history of war, greed and oppression. Yet in his final days he exhibited a faith in the future by leaving his fortune to the benefit of the Mexican people.

When asked what was the greatest accomplishment in his life, he pointed to two pictures hanging on his bedroom wall. One shows the rubble in an abandoned house, the other is a close-up photo of a workingman’s hands—dirty and calloused with broken nails. These represent the slum properties in Detroit that he had repaired and made livable again for low income people. Many in San Miguel viewed him as a slumlord. Yet he saw himself as having provided decent housing for the poor and took great pride in doing the repair and maintenance work with his own hands.

Before his death he took care to leave each of his workers a sum of money to thank them for their service and to help them adjust.

In his final days he took a philosophical view of his approaching death. He pointed out that, “for millions of years I did not exist. Then suddenly I appeared on this earth, but only as a visitor passing through.” Now he has passed on, having ended his visit. 

Tributes


Good Bye Bernie

Over the last four years I developed a wonderful friendship with Bernie. It was a love-hate relationship. Bernie was not always easy to get along with. I stayed the course because deep down I knew that inside of Bernie there was a good caring person. During the last year of his life, Bernie became very ill. It was then that I heard him say for the first time that he loved me. He had discovered in himself the human capacity to love another. The idea of leaving me his home came to his mind. “I don’t want it for myself,” I said. “Why don’t you create a civil association to benefit the people of San Miguel.” Bernie liked this idea so much that he invited his trusted friends to bring ideas of how this organization could be established. He carefully selected a few friends and formed a Board. The Bernard Weisman Foundation is now in place and will benefit the poorest people of San Miguel down through future years. I made a personal commitment to Bernie to care for him and be with him to the end. And I was with him w

hen he died peacefully. My commitment to him is now a new chapter in my life as keeper of his legacy.

Julie DuRand 





Bernie Weisman will be remembered fondly by all of us at Global Exchange. Following his participation in one of our many Reality Tours to Cuba in the late 1990s, Bernie became an important supporter of Global Exchange’s work educating the American people about the true costs of imperialism. Bernie was one of the early supporters of our Green Festivals which have now expanded to four cities and are educating tens of thousands of people about the need to make a transition to a nature-friendly economy. Bernie’s strong opposition to aggressive US foreign policies (especially the Vietnam War) led him to leave his homeland and settle in Mexico in the 1970s. But Bernie remained a strong supporter of many organizations that were fighting to change US policies in a more humane and just direction. Many of us in the progressive movement will remember Bernie fondly and will remain thankful for all the support he gave us over many years.

Kevin Danaher, co-founder of Global Exchange



A lion of Judah has moved on … 

With Bernie’s passing, a Russian Jewish immigrant to the United States whose first language was Yiddish now becomes part of the mystique of San Miguel de Allende’s past. Who that knew him will forget the contrary nature of the man? Who that loved him will forget the basso profundo—not always in perfect pitch? A man who questioned the existence of God now knows the answer as will we all in our time. Goodbye, Bernie. I will miss seeing the curly white hair under a slightly askew beret, the confident and welcoming smile, and the conversations that mixed socialist fervor with capitalist pride. San Miguel de Allende has lost an original.

Louis Hirsch


Given the many hardships of Bernie’s life and the toll they took, his final gesture of establishing the Bernard Weisman Foundation is an act of extraordinary transcendence and generosity. Thank you, Bernie, on behalf of all of those who will benefit from this beautiful gift.

Bob Stone and Betsy Bowman



If there is an afterlife, which Bernie never thought there was, he is now agitating for social change and singing while he does so. Thank you, Bernie, for spicing up our lives. As Bernie said, “I have had a long, fruitful visit on this planet, and a visitor is what we all are.”

Irene Diamant

It was 1981. I was single, carefree, unemployed and determined to learn Spanish. I was introduced to Bernie and Elsbeth by a friend who boarded her horse with them. On a weekly basis, Bernie and I would talk Marx while eating mandel brot and then I would go to visit with Bernadino and Macaria—teen newlyweds from large families who were living on the property and working as caretakers. The couple went on to have three children they care for deeply. They have one grandchild they adore.

My menopausal memory is not to be relied on these days but I believe it was only a few months after I met Bernie and Elsbeth that they offered money to buy the first CASA VW van; that van and many other CASA vans since have visited and continue to travel to the most remote rural villages not only throughout Guanajuato but throughout many other states of the Mexican republic. Bernie and Elsbeth gave generously to CASA over some 25 years. Bernie was very excited to set up surgical suites at the CASA Hospital and offer family planning programs out of the hospital; these programs are still offered today free of charge to the public. Hundreds of thousands of people have received information and services and been able to help themselves and others thanks to people like Bernie and Elsbeth, and others.

These days I “commute” between NYC and San Miguel as I accompany my children in their pursuit of higher education in the US and simultaneously continue to work with CASA. I visited with Bernie the last week in April for the last time. I told him that Jacinta, my eldest child is graduating from college in a couple of weeks and that her favorite class is her Marxist class. He smiled broadly. I told him that after graduation Jacinta will go to live in the third world—New Orleans—to work in housing and immigrant rights. He smiled again. I told him I recently visited with Bernadino and Macaria and their granddaughter. He smiled again. Then he told me he was dying and ready. He asked me to work with his friends and colleagues in San Miguel and I told him of course. He also told me that his nurse was in love with him. I smiled. 

Nadine Goodman, founder CASA 

1997–(N)2007: Ten years of conservation in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve
By Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda

May 19, 1997 saw the establishment of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve as part of the environmental protection policy of then, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo. A presidential decree established the Sierra Gorda as a protected area under the classification of Biosphere Reserve to protect the exceptional richness of species and ecosystems.

Since then, the Reserve has been managed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and is located in the northern part of the state of Querétaro. It covers 383,567 hectares of the state of Querétaro, which amounts to 32 percent of the state’s territory. The Reserve contains 11 core protected areas that cover 24,803 hectares and a buffer zone with 358,764 hectares. It contains all of the municipalities of Jalpan de Serra, Arroyo Seco, and Landa de Matamoros, as well as 88 percent of Pinal de Amoles and 70 percent of Peñamiller. The Reserve has approximately 100,000 citizens living in 638 localities.

The principal biological characteristic of the Sierra Gorda is its eco-diversity. It is unique for its large number of distinct ecosystems with high diversity of life forms. For biodiversity, it is one of the richest, best conserved areas in the State of Querétaro, and stands out for its level of conservation in comparison with neighboring regions and states.

Among all of the natural protected areas in Mexico, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve ranks in first place for its eco-diversity due to its location at the confluence of the Nearctic and Neotropical bioregions. The Reserve presents great physiographic complexity, with altitudes ranging from 300 meters above sea level in the canyon of the Santa María River in the Municipality of Jalpan de Serra to 3,100 meters above sea level at the summit of the Cerro de la Pingüica, in the Municipality of Pinal de Amoles.

This physiological complexity, combined with a heterogeneous precipitation pattern, from 350 to 2,000mm per year, generates numerous climate variations. The strong variation in rain patterns is a result of rain shadows created by the mountain ranges of the Sierra Gorda and favors a wide variety of vegetation types. It is also home to a number of fragile wildlife populations.

In 2003 the biological value of the Reserve resulted in it becoming part of the International Biosphere Reserve Network of the Man and the Biosphere Program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the 13th Mexican reserve belonging to this Network. There is undoubtedly great pride in protecting such an important part of Mexico's natural heritage. It is part of a system of natural protected areas at the national level administered by the federal government representing an investment in the future security of the country. 

Regarding the overall strategy for protected areas, it is important to highlight that many of these areas work closely with different organizations and sectors of civil society. The authorities are looking to cooperate with locally based civil society on conservation in a way that respects local needs while at the same time protecting the last natural sanctuaries for the sake of all Mexicans.

There have been a number of important advances following the first decade of the creation of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, including significant investments by three levels of government and a high level of inter-institutional coordination in a variety of conservation projects. Local land and forest owners are now receiving payments from a variety of different sources for preserving their forests and forest-related environmental services such as protection of watersheds and biodiversity refuges. A civil synergy exists that enables a variety of conservation and preservation activities to take place, such as the 73 communities that are involved with the collection and recycling of hundreds of tons of recyclable material and the network of community and voluntary forest fire fighters. These are just two examples of this civil synergy in action. 

An economy of conservation has been consolidated across different productive projects and ecotourism with the support of the local communities. A recently released study has shown that a significant forested area of the Sierra Gorda has been recovered, countering the national trend of deforesation. While this is partly due to international migration, it is also undoubtedly the result of the inter-institutional work, environmental conscience and the application of new standards of protection which includes the restoration and protection of springs and priority basins that will assure water supplies into the future. 

Nevertheless, the most important accomplishment over those ten years has been the generation of the good will, interest and participation of thousands of serranos (community members) who have joined in the protection of their home, the Sierra Gorda.

8th Multicultural Festival to Promote World Community in San Miguel de Allende May 18 to 27

Friday, May 18

2pm, Youth exchange
Youth exchange reception with students from national and international sister cities, sponsored by San Miguel Youth Committee

6pm, Opening ceremony 
Reception for Governor of Guanajuato and visiting dignitaries

6:15pm, Flag salute
Flag salute by the University of León’s band and presentation of flags of each guest nation, carried by students of local schools 

7:15pm, Exhibit opening
“The Four Seasons of Japan” by Taiji Harada, sponsored by the Japan-Mexico Cultural Foundation and doll exhibit from Thailand, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7:30pm, Parade of flags 
Official walk of distinguished guests with their national flags from Teatro Angela Peralta to Jardín

8pm, Mexican Dance 
Casa de Cultura’s ballet folklórico youth groups in the Jardín

8:30pm, Gala concert 
Symphony orchestra of San Luis Potosí and homage to journalist and altruist Lolita Ayala, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

Saturday, May 19

10am, Photographic exhibit
Photographic exhibit from the Algerian Embassy, University of León central patio 

11am, Cultural exhibits
Cultural exhibits from the embassies of Belgium, Israel, Argentina, Indonesia, Palestine and Cyprus, Museo Allende, cnr Cuna de Allende & Umarán

1pm, Artisanal exhibit
Inauguration of the 8th International Artisanal exhibit, Plaza Real del Conde

7pm, Chinese spectacular
Chinese Embassy presentation including the “lions” from the Circus of Peking, a ritual ceremony and a traditional Chinese dragon. There will also be a martial arts demonstration using traditional weapons. Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance 
The Salamanca Danza Folklórica, Jardín 



Sunday, May 20

7pm, Indonesian dance
Indonesian Embassy presents the Tari Bali traditional dance group, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance
Danza Artística Allende, Jardín 


Monday, May 21

7pm, Music & dance from Paraguay
The Embassy of Paraguay presents Harp and Dance from my Country, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance
Dance group Mazatl, Jardín


Tuesday, May 22

7pm, Russian ballet
The Russian Embassy presents classical ballet, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican music
State band of Guanajuato, Jardín


Wednesday, May 23

7pm, Music, song and tango from Argentina
The Embassy of Argentina presents an ensemble of tango music, song and dance, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8:30pm, Mexican music
Strings serenade by La Trova, Jardín


Thursday, May 24

7pm, Classical guitar recital
Argentinian Victor Pellegrini, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7:30pm, Mexican music
Trio Two Generations, Jardín

8:30pm, Martial arts demonstration
Tae Kwon Do, Haidong Guido (Korean sword) and Brazilian martial arts demonstration, Jardín


Friday, May 25

6pm, Conference
Algerian ambassador Merzak Belhimeur, University of León, Plaza Cívica

7pm, Mexican music
Latin American music by Mayahuel, Jardín

7:30pm, Russian music
Popular Russian music by mezzo-soprano Marina Litkova & Theater, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8:30pm, Mexican music
Dance group Folklórico Magisterial Quetzal, Jardín


Saturday, May 26

2pm, International gastronomy
International foods at Plaza Real del Conde

6pm, Japanese ballet
Embassy of Japan presents the modern ballet group Ginrei-Kai, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

7pm, Japanese drum extravaganza
Drum group Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko performs, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican dance

Ballet Folklórico from the Tecnológico de Celaya performs traditional and contemporary dances, Jardín

Sunday, May 27

12:30pm, Acknowledgment ceremony
Formal recognition of festival participants, Plaza Real del Conde

7pm, Israeli music
Israeli Embassy presents a recital by Abraham Rechthad and his Shtetl Klezmer, Teatro Angela Peralta, cnr Mesones & Hernández Macías

8pm, Mexican music
Mexican music performed by Las Voces de Corralejo, Jardín

10pm, Official closure
Closing ceremony, Jardín

Valle del Maíz Festival for Santa Cruz (May 18 to May 27)

All events take place on the esplanade of the Valle del Maíz church unless otherwise noted.



Friday, May 18
8pm: Music by Constelación de San Miguel de Allende



Saturday, May 19
9:30pm: Performance of the morality play El Tesoro Escondido (The Hidden Treasure)



Sunday, May 20
8pm: Music by Estación del Amor



Monday, May 21
7pm: Music by Punto Final and Hermanos Luna



Tuesday, May 22
7pm: Stilt performance with Frankis group
9pm: Music by Calypso



Wednesday, May 23
8pm: Reggae music by La Prodigiosa



Thursday, May 24
8pm: HonoringHoly Cross; Huapango music with Leones de la Sierra de Xichú
9:30pm: Ceremony of the wax



Friday, May 25
5pm: Athletic competition
6pm: Mañanitas (Tardecitas) to the Holy Cross and music.
8:30pm: Dancing, bands and locos throughout the neighborhood streets; offerings of flowers and wax 
11:30pm: Welcome to the Holy Cross
Midnight: Blessing of the Crucero (ornament made of cucharilla) and the powder



Saturday, May 26
5am: Alborada with rockets and fireworks
7am: Offering of atole 
8am: String music
11am: Procession and offerings to the Holy Crosses on Salida a Querétaro
3pm: Offerings of cucharilla to the Holy Cross
4pm: Welcoming yokes of oxen 
5pm: Traditional war between chichimecas and soldiers opposite Plaza Real del Conde, departs from Valle del Maíz
7pm: Palo ensebado (greased pole), traditional dances, food
9pm: Honors for the Holy Cross with residents and rural communities
10pm: Fireworks



Sunday, May 27
4am: Powder recollection
5am: Alborada
7am: Atole
Noon: Parade through the main streets of the city
1pm: Pre-Hispanic dances
2pm: Burning of cardboard dolls
3pm: Chasing of greased pigs
4pm: Parandes (cucharilla ornaments) parade
7pm: Religious play from 7pm to 7am in the morning
9:30pm: Fireworks