I Madonnari Festival, This Weekend

The 11th edition of the I Madonnari Festival is taking place in Puerto Vallarta this weekend, November 11-13, at the city’s Main Plaza. The colorful pavement art event brings together a variety of local and visiting artists to express themselves using chalk or pastels. Artists wishing to participate can sign up in four different categories according to their age, and winners in each category receive cash prizes. The overall winner receives the opportunity to represent Puerto Vallarta in a similar event that takes place in Santa Barbara, California—a sister city—with all expenses paid.

I Madonnari is a perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to spend some time around Puerto Vallarta’s Malecón, and taking in the talent required to create artistic paintings directly on the pavement. Last year’s event brought together 93 participants, and organizers expect to increase the number this weekend. The first recorded street-painting competition and ‘festival’ was held in London in 1906. Since then, important I Madonnari festivals have been taking place on a regular basis in may important tourist destinations, worldwide.