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

Vallarta Hosts National Open Water Swimming Competition

Some of the best open water swimmers in all of Mexico, including 50 local athletes, will gather together on Saturday, May 27 to participate in the "Copa Aguas Abiertas Puerto Vallarta 2017." This is a selective competition to form the Mexican team that will participate later this year in the Central American and Caribbean Championship (CCAN) in Trinidad and Tobago and at the FINA World Championships in Budapest. The event, which is part of the city's 99th anniversary celebrations, will be held in the waters off of the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta, and transmitted live by Claro Sports. Approximately 400 competitors from all over the country will participate in 2 categories: 5 km for swimmers ages 14-17 and a 10 km swim for ages 14 and up. Three men and three women in both distances will be selected to represent Mexico in the international events. The six winners in the 10 kilometers race will go on to compete in both the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championship and the FINA World Championships; those in the 14-17 category will only compete in the CCAN. The contest will be sanctioned by judges of the Mexican Swimming Federation and municipal authorities will lend logistics and safety support. For more information (in Spanish), visit puertovallarta.gob.mx.

2017 Hummingbird Festival at Vallarta Botanical Garden

Everyone is invited to come to the Vallarta Botanical Garden on June 1 at 1:00 pm for the kickoff of the Puerto Vallarta 2017 Hummingbird Festival, a family-oriented educational event celebrating one of nature's vibrant aerial acrobats. The Tuito Dancers Folkloric Dance Group has choreographed a special hummingbird dance especially for the occasion and will perform it for us on opening day. Afterwards, and every day throughout the festival which runs through July 31, nature lovers of all ages can see and learn about these amazing birds and the Gardens that host and support them. Guests will have plenty of opportunities to get an up-close-and-personal look at the wonderful world of the hummingbird while interacting with them and participating in a variety of activities focused on these amazing creatures. Admission to the festival is free, Garden admission is $150 pesos per person. Located just 30 minutes south of Old Town at Km. 24 on Highway 200, the Vallarta Botanical Garden is easily accessible by public transportation and taxi. For more information, call (322) 223-6182, or visit vbgardens.org.

Riviera Nayarit Hosts Mundo Golf Tour Grand Finale

The grand finale of the Mundo Golf Tour 2016/17 will be held in the Riviera Nayarit on Saturday, May 27, 2017. The starting shot will be fired at 9 am sharp across the newest golf course in Mexico: Vidanta Golf Nuevo Vallarta, designed by none other than Greg Norman. Once again, Grupo Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta will be one of the stops for this prestigious international tournament that plays 18 holes under the A-Go-Go format, with teams made up of four players with handicaps ranging from 0 to 28 (HCP). There will be a single category where both ladies and gentlemen can participate equally. As they do every year, Mundo Golf and a group of sponsors will offer grand prizes to the top three winners, those who make a Hole in One and those who make the Oh Yes's. And, to top it off, there will be raffles held during the competition. As of May 23rd, there were already 32 teams registered out of the 36 available spots for the competition. The registration fee is $1,900 pesos per player, which guarantees participation in the tournament and includes breakfast, golf cart rental during the game, access to the awards dinner and special rates for practice days on the two Vidanta golf courses. For registration please contact Hiram Castillo at Mundo Golf at mundo.golf.torneos(at)gmail.com. You can also reserve directly at Vidanta Golf by calling 01 (322) 226-4000 Ext. 4600.

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

• Fourth Annual 'Pulpito Drag Derby,' Part of Vallarta Pride 2017

• Vallarta Restaurant Week Continues Through May 31

• Puerto Vallarta Celebrates 99th Anniversary May 26-31