Festival Sayulita 2018 has come and gone already. Always a great party for town with movies, activities and of course the big concert closing the Festival on the last evening of the event. We always go to the opening in the Plaza the first night and hit a movie or two on the beach for kid's night. This year it was "Paranorman" and the director was there during the showing. Always fun to see a drive-in sized screen sitting on the sand in beach chairs watching a flick with the surf breaking behind you.
Ostrowskis with Dirty Heads!! So stoked to meet these guys!
For a second time, Dirty Heads was headlining the concert line up. We have become Dirty Heads fans the past few years and when they played two years ago I did not take the kids since tickets were a bit pricey and they were a bit younger so I went by myself. VERY unpopular decision on my part not to take them so this time we made the concert a family event. Kids 12 and under were able to attend the concert free. Security at the entrance did not believe that Alex was only 12 years old and even brought out a supervisor to check her ID. Yep, Alex was carded at the show since she was believed to be too old to enter for free.
Nortec Collective. Yes, that is a tuba. So freaking good!
The kids have seen some larger concerts in Sayulita on the beach but not one that has a stage set up like a Festival Sayulita concert. There is more room for the show out on a nearby ranch and the music line up is a tier or two higher than those we have seen previously so the expectation for sound, stage and lights is higher as well.
Alex in front of the VIP section.
We walked in and the warm up bands were already playing and Ashley and I hit the beer tent. We walked around the venue and we could tell that Trace was already uncomfortable with the level of noise, light and size of things. He eventually got more comfortable and we heard over the sound system that our favorite band, Dirty Heads, would be holding a meet and greet in 5 minutes in a tent just behind us. One of our friends was in charge of the tent and we were first in line to meet the band.
Trace in the front row.
Trace digging the show.
We were told we had two minutes and we stumbled in to say hello. The lead singer, "Dirty Jay", looked so amused to see this mostly blonde gringo family in Mexico walk in and he just smiled appearing bewildered...or maybe just stoned. Such a funny look. They do this kind of thing everywhere so it was business as usual for them but for us it was pretty damn cool. Fortunately, our friend Michelle was nearby and was able to take a great photo of us with the band.
We left the band all pumped up from our introductions and the Nortec Collective took the stage complete with trumpet, tuba, video gear, accordion and mixing boards. They are a very popular Mexican techno band and they were absolutely amazing!! Even Trace and Alex were dancing the whole time. They really could have headlined considering the show was in Mexico and they had the crowd on their feet for their set. I never thought a tuba could be so cool!
Dirty Heads came on and the crowd thinned a bit as it got closer to midnight. Trace and I made our way up to the very front against the crowd control railing with Alex and Ashley just behind us. The great part of this show was that the kids got a front row seat and knew about 90% of the songs they played. The songs we did not know are now in our usual Dirty Heads music rotation.
Yes, Ozzy and Ashley had some fun too!
That about sums up Festival Sayulita 2018. We will look forward to what the organizers have planned for Festival Sayulita 2019.
Once again Festival Sayulitahas come and gone this year and it was bigger and better than it was last year. This year brought more variety to the event with lots of movies, a surf contest, food pairings, fun run, kids events, spirits, nightly entertainment in the Plaza and an outdoor concert.
Our family spent three nights on the beach watching movies. Two of the nights we watched surf movies as the waves crashed yards away in the darkness. Oney Anwar Chasing the Dreamand Tierra de Patagones. Both were pretty good but the high point of the movie watching was the movie Boxtrolls. The movie was recently nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Animated Feature". It resembles Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer TV Christmas specials of old but only 50 years more modern. Very cool visually. There were many venues for movie watching throughout town but movies on the beach were free for everyone. One of the creators of the movie, Mark Shapiro, was even in town and held a Q and A session after the movie.
The Festival added a day for kids which was a big hit for locals as the Plaza became packed with kids, music, performers and parents and it was like a big block party for the community.
Photo by Derrick Lundy
Even in a small town you don't see everyone all the time but it was great to meet up and meet new people and see friends.
The Festival had a World Class long board contest as well. Men and women competitors from all over the world came to town and the waves cooperated. The first day of competition was held on a Friday while the kids were in school so Ashley and I parked on the beach with friends to watch and cheer on local surf talent.
The biggest event of the Festival was the outdoor concert featuring Kongos and Dirty Heads. I've become a fan of Dirty Heads in the last year and to have them come to our little pueblo was really cool. I made my way up to the front of the stage. Close enough that they may have even wondered who the old guy singing along with them was. The Festival organizers knew I was pretty stoked that Dirty Heads was headlining the concert so the got me this awesome Festival poster signed by the band.
My autographed Festival poster
In only it's second year, Festival Sayulita has become an event we look forward to. Last year was good and this year was better. It is very well run, everything the organizers do is professional and it shows. It is very community friendly since it provides plenty of free events and activities for all ages along with quality paid events for those who want to attend a larger variety of events. I have to believe it has been received well by the community as a whole as far as how it is run and impacts town since it is bringing folks in during a time that may be a bit slower as far as visitors. We can't wait to see what the Festival brings next year.
This was an amazing event for it's first year in 2014. The 2015 Festival Sayulita will be bigger and better. Here is a great way to hear more about the Festival, consider supporting and getting choice ticket packages early. The energetic organizers are our friends and neighbors and are totally dedicated to the success of the Festival and what the event could support in our little Pueblo. Ashley was even a volunteer last year. Oh, by the way, Ashley and I make an appearance in the video at one point. Can you spot us? Take a look.
Festival Sayulita kicked off last night for a three day event of film, tequila and surf. Last night we had dinner down town, sampled good tequila in the Plaza and caught a film on the beach with the kids and friends. Though the organizers do not want this to be called a "Film Festival" but a "Celebration of Sayulita", I could not help make comparisons to The Sundance Film Festival back in Park City. Well, PC can keep the traffic, crowds, cell phones, snow, taxis, attitude and the "PIBs"(People in Black) as we called them. Great event here on day one with good organization, venues, weather and a full moon overhead to light up the town. Ashley kicked in some volunteer hours in the information/merchandise booth to contribute to the event as well.
Photo by Donna Day
To tell you the truth, I expected a whole lot less from this event since it was the first year in small town Mexico. If the next two days go as well as it did yesterday this will be a great event here in town for the future. Very cool, laid back, quality films, good tequila and you don't have to stand in line for tickets in the snow in your puffy coat. Looking forward to more Festival during the next two days.
