The Mazatlán Cultural Festival begins once again in mid-October this year, but a number of the events are of minor importance and slated for performance in the outlying colonias or towns elsewhere in the Municipality of Mazatlán. These early performances are part of a worthwhile program intended to cultivate a taste for the arts and build audiences for the major performing arts presentations in the Angela Peralta Theater. Mainly, the performers at these far-flung venues are students at the Municipal Center for the Arts, including the Jazz Band and the various schools of the dance. The Ballet Folclorico Sinaloense, a semiprofessional group also connected to the MCA, also will take part in one of these free events at 7pm Oct. 23 in La Noria. Admission to these is free. (See article on page 9) Things pick up for ticket-buying show-goers  on Oct. 24 with the performance, at the theater, of the African singer Angelique Kidjo whose vocal offerings mix the traditions of West Africa with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz with a smattering that’s  European and Latin American. A traditional entertainment that’s free is the Nov. 1 Day of the Dead walkabout that starts in the Plazuela Machado at 7pm and wends its way through Old Mazatlán to admire traditional Mexican altars dedicated to the dear departed. You can be sure that one of them will be dedicated to the late, great Mexican film star (and Mazatlán native) Pedro Infante in this, the 50th anniversary of his demise. Some events in October/November overlap the statewide Sinaloa Arts Fair, which often brings exotic entertainment from faraway places. Be sure to check out what the Sinfest has to offer before you make your decisions on what shows you want to see. Here is the calendar for the Mazatlan Cultural Festival. Remember to look at: www.culturamazatlan.com.mx for complete descriptions and last-

minute details. Click the flag in the upper right hand corner of the website for the English translations. The Mazatlán Cultural Festival runs through to the Christmas holidays, and season tickets are available for several combinations of shows. OCTOBER Oct. 24: Angelique Kidjo 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater. Ticket prices: 200, 300 and 350 pesos (or season ticket) NOVEMBER Nov. 1: Callejoneada (promenade) for Day of the Dead 7pm at the Plazuela Machado Nov. 9 & 10:  La Boheme, the lyric opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini, Sinaloa Symphony Orchestra directed by Enrique Patron de Rueda, 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater Ticket prices: 180, 200, 250 & 350 pesos Nov. 13: Delfos Danza Con-temporanea, 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater Ticket prices: 80, 100, 120 & 150 pesos Nov. 16, 17 & 18: Sleeping Beauty, National Dance Company 8pm, 16 & 17; 12:00 noon on the 18th, Angela Peralta Theater Ticket prices: 120, 250 & 300 pesos Nov. 21: Pasarela Pacífico, Leading Mexican fashion designers preview their spring ’08 collections, 8PM, Angela Peralta Theater, Benefit event Nov. 23: Jazzerata, 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater, Ticket prices: 120, 180 and 250 pesos Nov. 27: Mozart’s Requiem with the Da Corneto Opera of Chicago, 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater, Ticket prices: 120, 180 & 200 pesos Nov. 29: Tribute to Queen, Sinaloa Symphony Orchestra of the Arts & the Aleph Liverpool Group, 8pm at  the Antigua fábrica de hilados de Villa Union, Ticket prices: To be announced Nov. 30: Don Pasquale, the comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti, 8pm, Angela Peralta Theater, Ticket prices: 120, 250 & 300 pesos And a reminder: First Fridays Artwalk in the Historic Center starts Nov. 2 and runs through May. Artist studios and galleries will be open the first Friday of every month, from 4– 8pm, for a free self-guided tour. This event replaces the once-a-year Open Studio Tours of the past. Maps will be available in area stores, restaurants and hotels.