Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - A last-minute change in schedules and an opening at the Paradise Stage has resulted in a rare opportunity to celebrate the closing days of 2012 with a unique Mexican-Caribbean twist.

Todd Ringness, manager of the Paradise Stage, says when he finally connected with EMI Music recording-artist Kassiano, he expected to schedule a date for sometime in 2013 - but the musician's touring schedule was going to make it difficult. Instead, Kassiano offered Saturday, December 29th as an option to secure a date as a headliner for a Paradise Community Center event.

"It's very unusual to schedule a big event at the Paradise Community Center with less than two weeks for promotion and publicity," Ringness said, "but given Kassiano's talent and high profile, the team at the center felt it was worth a go-ahead. We're hoping the community will help us spread the word and make it a very successful event for CompassioNet Impact, and a memorable evening of good food and a good time."

PCC's Cooking Instructor and Chef Abue-Linda reports that her team is ready to prepare a very special Mexican dinner for the "Caribbean Fiesta Grande" this weekend.

The event's main entree will be a traditional Caribbean shredded beef dish called "Ropa Vieja" (Old Clothes.) One popular theory on the naming of this dish is that a very poor man was hosting his family for dinner, but couldn't afford to buy enough food to feed them. So he gathered and then cooked some old clothing. His love for his family mysteriously turned the clothes into a wonderful beef stew. The chef insists her Ropa Vieja will be made with love, but won't contain any clothing.

The Jamaican-born Kassiano has generously agreed to discount his normal booking deposit and fee as a donation to CompassioNet Impact Mexico, the charity that receives 100 percent of the profits from all PCC events and operations.

Kassiano says he is delighted to help such a good cause, and adds that the steel drums are warming up and he is ready to party - Caribbean-style! In case you've not yet heard about Kassiano, you can check out his website.

Advance tickets for the Ropa Vieja dinner and Kassiano's Caribbean Fiesta Grande at Paradise Community Center on Saturday, December 29th, are only $400 pesos and must be purchased by 4:00 pm on December 27th. You can also come for just the concert, with advance tickets just $250 pesos, or $300 pesos at the door.

The Paradise Social Hour offers drinks starting at 6:30 pm, and the concert gets underway at 8:00 pm. Tickets available through the PCC online box office or at the ticket kiosk, open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at 127 Pulpito in the Zona Romantica.

Note: PCC is closed on Christmas Day.

Click here to purchase tickets through WePay.