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 Puerto Vallarta news, community announcements and weekend events that you won't want to miss.

The 2016 Vallarta Wine Fest is Underway

Are you taking enough time to stop and enjoy the finer things in life? If not, you should know that some of the finest restaurants and hotels in Puerto Vallarta are hosting the Tenth Annual Vallarta Wine Fest from February 24 - February 28, 2016. Throughout the 2016 Vallarta Wine Fest, attendees will not only enjoy wine tastings and food pairing events at a variety of restaurants and hotels in the Banderas Bay area, but also a host of free cultural events that are open to the public, including a Wine Expo in the Hotel Velas Vallarta Convention Hall from 4-6 pm on February 27 and a Verbena Popular at Lazaro Cardenas Park from 6-10 pm on February 28th. The Verbena Popular, a.k.a. The Great Wine Fest, is a fun-filled evening of live entertainment, gourmet food tastings and wines by the glass at truly promotion prices. The mission of Vallarta Wine Fest is to provide attendees the opportunity to experience the artistic and cultural aspects of the wine culture. It also gives tourists another reason to visit Puerto Vallarta. For more information, check out WineFestVallarta on Facebook.

More Mexican Beaches Apply for Blue Flag Certification

Seven beaches in five of the Mexican states have applied for Blue Flag consideration for the 2016 year. In order to become Blue Flag certified, each beach must pass specific tests that include water quality tests, safety, public services, education and environmental management. The beaches that have applied for the globally-recognized status will be evaluated by a jury headed by the Ministries of Tourism as well as officials from Environment and Natural Resources, Communications and Transport and the National Water Commission, among other government departments. The sites applying for Blue Flag certification recognition include Kantenah Bay in Playa del Carmen, Coral Beach in Cancun, Coromuel in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Playa de Oro in Puerto Vallarta, two beaches in Acapulco and one beach in Nayarit. Results of the seven applicants will be known in July 2016. Blue Flag recognition is an international beach and marina certification of excellent promoting the sustainable management of global coastal destinations. Source: Riviera Maya News

La Cruz-Punta de Mita Highway Almost Ready

The new highway from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Punta de Mita will be completed within the next few weeks, and most likely before Spring Break, according to Alfredo Bonin, a representative of Grupo Dine, the company behind many developments in this prestigious area of Riviera Nayarit. Not only will the new stretch provide for faster times between the two locations; it will also be a safer road to travel for residents and tourists alike. A visit to Google Maps confirmed the news, as the new construction is clearly visible from above, also showing the points in which the new highway meets the current one. The proposed future use for the current highway (Carr. 200) is yet to be announced. Source: Virtual Vallarta

Restart Bank Trust Debate, Urge Realtors

The real estate industry plans to lobby for a renewed discussion in Congress over the elimination of the bank trust foreigners must use to purchase property. The president of the Real Estate Confederation of Latin America, Antonio Hánna, said removing the requirement for foreigners to buy real estate with a trust, called a Fideicomiso, would detonate sales and have an impact on the entire sector. He estimated it would drive up demand by 30% in the five years following the change. Only Mexicans by birth or naturalization, or Mexican companies, can directly own real estate within 50 kilometers of the ocean or 100 kilometers of international borders. Foreigners who wish to hold land within those areas, known as the restricted zone, must do so with a bank trust. The buyer, who must pay an annual fee to the bank, has the right to use the property but the bank holds the title. The change would require an amendment to the constitution, which is what the Mexican Association of Real Estate Agents (AMPI) lobbied for a few years ago. The proposal got as far as Congress, but became bogged down in the Senate, said AMPI president Gustavo Solares. He, too, predicted that removing the Fideicomiso requirement would detonate activity in the market. Sales of vacation homes and apartments totaled 1,725 last year. Remove the bank trust requirement and the number would soar to 2,423 after five years, said the confederation. Source: Mexico News Daily

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• 11th Annual WesMex International Small Boat Regatta

• See 'Sordid Lives... a Black Comedy About White Trash' at Act II

• 4th Annual Charity Chili Cook-Off at El Rio BBQ