Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay it can be difficult to keep up with it all. Here's a look at some of this week's Vallarta news headlines, a couple of community announcements, and a few of this weekend's local events that you won't want to miss.

3rd National Charro Championship Jan 29-Feb 2

From January 29 through February 2, 2014, Puerto Vallarta will welcome the Third National Charro Championship, with daily competitions and traditional events - a perfect way to enjoy the real Mexico and its traditions. There will be three days of rodeo action as 27 of Mexico's best Charro teams, including recent national champions, participating in seven skirmishes at Arena Vallarta. Cultural events start on Wednesday, Jan 29 at 7 pm, with the opening of Dr. Antonio Jimenez Pliego's Me Gusta el Deporte Charro photo exhibition at City Hall in downtown Puerto Vallarta, followed by a Verbena de Tradiciones Mexicanas at Los Arcos del Malecón with performances by the Xiutla Folkloric Ballet, Mariachi Real de America, guest singers and roping demonstrations, starting at 8:30 pm. On Friday, the charros invite everyone to enjoy the traditional music of banda, dance in the streets and enjoy the hospitality and joy of the people of Puerto Vallarta during the Maleconeada, a Charrería parade down Vallarta's Malecón. The parade starts at Hotel Rosita at 11 pm, and ends at Disco-Bar Roo. Don't miss your chance to enjoy a real Mexican tradition, right here in Puerto Vallarta! Click HERE to see the complete program (in Spanish)

City Launches "Back 2 Puerto Vallarta" Campaign

Local marketing, communication and brand strategy agency, Mijo! Brands, has again joined forces with the City of Puerto Vallarta, the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Port Administration (API) to support the development of the "Back 2 Puerto Vallarta" campaign. Back 2 Puerto Vallarta will focus on the 270,000 visitors that are expected to arrive in our port city via cruise ships in 2014. The aim of the campaign is to turn these tourists into repeat visitors by encouraging them to return to Puerto Vallarta through an attractive discount program offered by participating hotels and other tourist services. According to the Director of Municipal Tourism, Carlos Gerard, "this strategy of high impact promotion, created with the participation of the Association of Hotels and Motels in Puerto Vallarta, the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) and different tourism service providers, will offer various incentives to the average of 2,500 passengers that arrive on each cruise ship."

Expats in Vallarta Host Special Dinners in February

During the month of February, Expats in Vallarta will be hosting two special dinners at restaurants on PV's south side. Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 6th All-you-Can-Eat Pizza Night at Los Muertos Brewing, located at Lazaro Cardenas #302 in the Romantic Zone. Los Muertos is a micro-brewery and is rapidly gaining the reputation of serving the best homemade pizza in Puerto Vallarta. All-you-Can-Eat Pizza costs just $65 pesos per person (tax and tip included,) drinks and drink tips are extra, but Happy Hour pints are just $25 pesos until 6 pm. Then, join us at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 26th for Dinner at Gilmar. Located at Francisco I. Madero #418, Gilmar Restaurant has been serving traditional Mexican food since 1979. Choose from chicken, beef or shrimp Molcajete for $155 pesos; Filet Mignon stuffed with cheese and Portobello mushroom for $190; or Garlic Mahi Mahi for $129 pesos. Dinner Prices include tax and tip. Drinks and drink tips are not included. Tickets for both events must be purchased in advance. To make reservations and buy tickets, email sarawise45(at)gmail.com.

MX Kite Clinic in Puerto Vallarta March 14-24

Get a head start on the 2014 Summer season with this awesome MX kite clinic. Scheduled to take place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico March 14-24, the PV "Kite Like a Pro Clinic" will focus on kiteboarding progression during 10 fun-filled days with personalized instruction by pro kiters and IKO Instructors at a variety of awesome, vast kite beaches throughout the Banderas Bay area. During the clinic, participants will be kiting, training and hanging out with pro kiters Rich Sabo-Best, Sam Medesky-Best, Andres Tapia-Ozone and others to be announced. They will use the latest gear with boat and radio helmet assistance. IKO-certified coaching will be private and semi-private for all skill levels and disciplines, including freeride, freestyle-wakestyle and course racing. Adult kiters and non-kiters of all skill levels are welcome. For more information, visit kgbswag.com.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay
Click on titles for more information

• Yoel Diaz Galvez Art Exhibition at Galería Contempo

• Live Entertainment at the Paradise Community Center

• Puerto Vallarta's South Side Shuffle

• 5th Annual Jaltemba Bay Rotary Dinner Dance

From February 4th through December 31st, thousands of BanderasNews.com readers voted for the city’s greatest tastes in our 2013 Best of Banderas Bay Awards, the first edition of an annual poll that encourages our readers to vote for their favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants. To ensure that the results reflect the unbiased opinions of Vallarta residents and visitors, the votes are now being counted by a team of independent judges, and the winner of each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' at an awards ceremony scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Keep watching BanderasNews for details.