San Pancho: Puerto Vallarta's Artistic Spirit in a Small Town Setting By Justin Burch At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

For the last several decades, scores of expatriates have made their homes in Puerto Vallarta and the beautiful coastal areas near the city. Attracted by the remarkable scenery and welcoming Mexican atmosphere, such residents permanently relocated from places as diverse as the United States, Western Europe and South America. Over time, each of these cultural groups have made their mark on the region's uniquely cosmopolitan culture. One of the most unique examples of foreign culture blending with local tradition can be found about 50 miles north of Puerto Vallarta in the town of San Pancho (formerly known as San Francisco). Since 2001, an artistic group of locals – including individuals from the United States, Europe and all parts of Mexico – has presented the San Pancho Music Festival. Since the beginning, the San Pancho Music Festival has welcomed guests of all ages and provided several days' worth of entertainment free of charge. Typically held during the last week of February, visitors to Puerto Vallarta can experience the bigger-than-ever San Pancho Music Festival from February 26 to March 1, 2009.

Though the San Pancho Music Festival began just seven years ago as a loosely-organized gathering of local musicians, the festival now features four full days of music and more than 100 musicians performing diverse and exotic genres. The festival is organized by Craig Schumacher, a talented American blues musician known in San Pancho as “Shoe.” Since the beginning, Schumacher has treated the San Pancho Music Festival as both a way to show off the village and provide a diverse cultural experience to locals and visitors. As a result, the festival has become known throughout Mexico for its relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that allows visitors to witness great performances free of charge and even perform themselves during open stage times. This year, the San Pancho Music Festival will feature genres including blues, jazz, funk, bluegrass, a wide array of Mexican and Latin American styles and even spirited performances by local children.

Though the San Pancho Music Festival is the town's most popular event, this developing community has plenty to offer visitors throughout the year. In the 1970s, Mexican President Luis Echeverria treated the town of San Pancho as a model community and oversaw the construction of numerous warehouses and factories designed to bolster the town's economic presence. Though Echeverria's plan wasn't fully realized during his time in office, many of these buildings have found new life with San Pancho's culturally-savvy locals. Today, some of the factories are again in use producing speciality products that rely on San Pancho's unique environment. Additionally, organizations supporting everything from ecological preservation to the local art community have made their homes in the town's now-booming business district.

At the center of town, visitors will find a collection of galleries and boutiques along the narrow cobblestone streets. As San Pancho is home to an ethnically-diverse population and regularly welcomes visitors from throughout the world, a wide variety of restaurants and cafes can also be found near the center of town. For the last several years, many of these independent businesses have joined together to support the local art community. Each December, artists from San Pancho and the surrounding areas display their new work at special gallery shows and events. In addition to supporting the talented artists of San Pancho, the annual art festival also helps fund local education programs and non-profit groups. Throughout the year, visitors to San Pancho can also relax on the quiet, spacious beaches that rest just a short walk from the galleries and restaurants or explore the mountain trails that wind through the coastal jungles above the town.

San Pancho can be easily reached by bus, taxi or rental car from Puerto Vallarta, making the town a great day trip opportunity. Whether you visit San Pancho during the popular San Pancho Music Festival or any other time of year, you will have a chance to experience one of Mexico's most eclectic small towns.

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