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 and community announcements, plus a couple of this weekend's events that you won't want to miss.

Southwest Airlines Adds New Nonstops to Vallarta

Members of Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards loyalty program who live in and around the San Francisco Bay Area will soon have access to new international vacation destinations in Mexico. The carrier said this week it has applied for government approvals to start operating the first non-stop flights from Oakland International Airport to Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico, targeting a February 2017 launch for both routes. (No fare information available yet.) Since its merger with AirTran, Southwest has been slowly adding international destinations to its route map, all of them in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. But from California, the transborder route growth so far has all been from Los Angeles and Orange County. There's already service to Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta from the San Francisco International and Mineta San Jose airports offered by United, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, but Bay Area flights there from Southwest are a first for the airline's Rapid Rewards members.

Puerto Vallarta Delegation Visiting Sister City Highland Park

Puerto Vallarta city officials left Thursday for a visit to sister city Highland Park, Illinois, where they will continue to strengthen friendly relations and make plans to advance the cultural exchanges between the two cities through July 20. As sister cities, citizens and organizations in Highland Park and Puerto Vallarta have been participating in cultural and social exchanges since the relationship was forged in 2001, and this year is no exception. On this trip, which includes activities that enrich and foster ties of friendship between these cities, the Children's Orchestra of Puerto Vallarta will attend the Ravinia Art Festival in Highland Park, where they will participate in a music workshop. While there, members of the Puerto Vallarta Fire Department will receive "Jaws of Life" equipment donated by the Deerfield-Bannockburn, Illinois Fire Department, and Puerto Vallarta city councilwoman Elisa Ramirez Ruelas will make a formal request to Highland Park authorities and the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation for the donation of an ambulance. Over the past 14 years, several organizations from Highland Park have traveled to Puerto Vallarta, including the 'Highland Park Strings' and Highland Park High School student groups. According to Susana Rodríguez Mejía, who is also a member of Puerto Vallarta's City Council, these visits help cement relationships, raise money for local charities and promote tourism to our city.

Fifth Riviera Nayarit Twitter Party, July 29

The Riviera Nayarit Conventions and Visitors Bureau and its Marketing department invite you to participate in its 5th official Twitter Party, programmed for Friday, July 29th from noon until 2:00 pm. This happening party is all about promoting the Riviera Nayarit during the summertime, when its hotels are at full capacity. The idea is for visitors already in the Riviera Nayarit to share their photos and videos with the hashtag #AsiMiDiaEnRivieraNayarit on their Twitter accounts. At the end of the exchange the top five Tweeters in the Twitter Party will receive a "swag bag" prepared by The Riviera Nayarit CVB and local hotels. Establishments from the hotel associations of Bahía de Banderas, Compostela and San Blas will participate from their locations through their own social media feeds. The party will be on the Riviera Nayarit's Spanish Twitter feed @RivieraNayarit and in English @Riv_Nayarit to encourage participation of both locals and foreigners.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
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• Cuban Rhythms and Family Fun at Galerías Vallarta Mall

• 10th Banderas Bay Marlin & Tuna Fishing Tournament

• Broken English - Starring Eli - Opens Saturday at Act II