Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Puerto Vallarta restaurants are busy preparing to serve the 1000 residents and visitors expected to attend the Fifth Edition of the Festival del Ceviche y Aguachile at Lazaro Cardenas Park on Sunday, January 28, 2018.

From 12:00-7:00 pm, everyone is invited to try different styles of two of the city's most traditional dishes, Ceviche and Aguachile, at very reasonable prices. Live music and dance performances by Ballet Folclórico Tradiciones and Lani Ale Kau Iluna Polynesian Dance School will add to the festivities.

A traditional Mexican dish, Ceviche is a concoction of fresh fish or shrimp "cooked" (marinated) in lime juice with tomatoes, onions and green chilies. But the Puerto Vallarta recipe is a little different than what you'll typically find in other regions. In the Banderas Bay area, carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and other ingredients are often added to the mix.

Aguachile is the second traditional dish that participating restaurants will be offering. Similar to ceviche, the most classic version is made with fresh raw shrimp, cucumber, red onion, lime juice, and chiles (typically serranos or jalapeños) that have been pulverized with some water - hence the name. It's usually served with avocado and tostadas, and is a popular snack with beer and tequila.

According to the organizer of the event, Edgar Cisneros, 10 local restaurants will be serving up their best ceviches and aguachiles and the Molusco de Vallarta and Nebulosa de San Sebastian del Oeste breweries will be offering craft beers. For those who'd like to complement their meal with a little something sweet, Mr. Boli's aguas frescas (flavored waters) and nieves (ice creams) will be available for purchase, as well as artisan ice cream from Bargelatto.

To make the event even sweeter, the children cared for by the Santa Esperanza Children's Shelter have been invited as special guests. Thanks to the participating restaurants' generosity, the kids will enjoy a free meal of ceviche and aguachile, along with all of the entertainment and activities that this delightful family-friendly event provides to the general public.

Puerto Vallarta is renowned for its international cuisine, and this festival is sponsored by the Municipal Tourism Department and the Vallarta Institute of Culture in an effort to promote the local food culture and the different flavors that our chefs offer visitors.

Make plans now to come out to Lazaro Cardenas Park on Sunday, January 28, 2018 for the Fifth Edition of the Festival del Ceviche y Aguachile. Admission is free.

For the latest updates, visit Festival del Ceviche y Aguachile PV on Facebook.