Celebrate
Ensenada’s 123rd Anniversary!
text
& photos by connie ellig & david hopps
Experience the Ensenada of yesterday and today as Baja California’s leading
seaport celebrates the 123rd Anniversary
of its founding as an urban settlement. From May 1-31, 2005, the City of
Ensenada has scheduled more than two dozen special events open to the public
including several festivals, a rodeo, cultural and historical presentations,
seminars, art and photography expositions, a concert, civic ceremonies,
a parade and sports competitions. Best of all, admission to most activities
is free!
 Part
of the beauty and charm of Ensenada is its unique multicultural heritage.
This will be celebrated at the 4th Annual “Ensenada
de Todos – Suma de Culturas” Festival held on Sunday, May 29
from 11am-6pm at Plaza Ventana al Mar on the waterfront. More than two
dozen local community groups will be on hand to share their heritage through
music, dance, arts, crafts and gastronomy. France, Spain, Italy, Germany,
Britain, Russia, Lebanon, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Panama, Cuba and the
United States as well as the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Tamaulipas, Mexico
City and Jalisco are among the various cultures that will be represented.
There will also be a nonstop program of artistic entertainment that includes
flamenco, Tahitian, Arabic and Japanese dances; Cuban, Russian and Mexican
music; Italian arias by tenor Alfonso Magaña; and a performance
by Ensenada Jazz. Additional festival participants include cultural associations,
historical societies and museums as well as descendants of more than a
dozen of Ensenada’s founding families who will be hosting booths with historical
exhibitions of family photos, documents, heirlooms and antique furniture.
Discover Ensenada’s past, experience its present, and take a glimpse
into its future at the 123rd Anniversary Celebrations!
Ensenada
123rd Anniversary Events Calendar
Unless an alternative phone number is listed, contact the Education
& Culture Department of the City of Ensenada at tel. (646)172-3427
for additional information about activities.
Art, Music &
Cultural Activities
 May
2-31
10am: Free guided tours (in Spanish) of the Museo Histórico
Regional that once served as an 1886 military barracks and local jail.
If your Spanish is minimal, stop by any day from 9am-5pm and take a free
self-guided tour. The museum is located on Av. Gastelum near Paseo Calle
Primera (Av. Lopez Mateos). Info: Museo Histórico Regional, tel.
(646)178-3692.
May 4-25
“Ensenada de Ayer y Hoy (Ensenada of Yesterday and Today)” exhibit
featuring photos from various private collections in the gallery of the
Casa de la Cultura in the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero. Hours:
9am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-1pm Sat. Free admission. Info: Casa de la Cultura,
tel. (646)176-3786.
May 9-21
Pictorial exposition by Rafael Contreas Bernal at City Hall on Av.
Reforma. Hours: 8am-3pm Mon.-Fri., 8am-1pm Sat. Free admission.
May 11-16
6pm: XXIV Ensenada Regional History Symposium (in Spanish) in Francisco
Zarco Hall at Teatro Benito Juárez, Av. Guadalupe between Calles
2 & 4.
May 13
7pm: “Las Misiones de Baja California (The Missions of Baja California)”
conference (in Spanish) by José Estrada at the Casa de la Cultura
in the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero. Free admission. Info:
Casa de la Cultura, tel. (646)176-3786.
May 16, 23 & 30
7pm: 9th Composers Festival at Teatro de la Ciudad (City Theater) on
Av. Diamante.
May 20
7pm: “Pinturas Rupestres (Cave Paintings)” conference (in Spanish)
by Victor Lazcano at the Casa de la Cultura in the Riviera Cultural Center
on Blvd. Costero. Free admission. Info: Casa de la Cultura, tel. (646)176-3786.
May 21
11am: “Encuentro de Culturas Indígenas (An Encounter with Indigenous
Cultures)” seminar (in Spanish) and a dictionary of the Kiliwua language
at the Museo Histórico Regional on Av. Gastelum near Paseo Calle
Primera (Av. Lopez Mateos). Free admission. Info: Museo Histórico
Regional, tel. (646)178-3692.
May 27
7pm: “Los Inicios de Ensenada (The Beginnings of Ensenada)” conference
(in Spanish) including a large collection of historical photos presented
by Dr. Fernando Araujo Cota at the Casa de la Cultura in the Riviera Cultural
Center on Blvd. Costero. Free admission. Info: Casa de la Cultura, tel.
(646)176-3786.
May 27-June 30
“De Arcilla Eres (Of Clay You Are),” a ceramics exhibition of human
figures by Ensenada artist Patricia López at the Galería
de la Ciudad in the Riviera Cultural Center on Blvd. Costero. Hours: 8am-7pm
Mon.-Fri. Free admission. Info: Instituto de Cultura de Baja California,
tel. (646)177-3130; e-mail
 May
28
7pm: The Orchestra of Baja California performs selections from Beethoven
and Haydn in the Salón Catedral of the Riviera Cultural Center on
Blvd. Costero. Donation ($10dlls.) benefits the restoration of this historic
site that served as a hotel and gambling casino during the 1930s. Information:
Riviera Cultural Center, tel. (646)176-4310; e-mail
May 29
1pm: Literature contest at Plaza Ventana al Mar (near the gigantic
flag pole) on Blvd. Costero.
Civic Activities
May 2
10am: Ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the death of General
Rodolfo Sánchez Taboada on Calle 7 & Obregon.
May 5
10am: Ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla
at Plaza Ventana al Mar on Blvd. Costero.
May 8
10am: Ceremony commemorating the birth of Miguel Hidalgo at Plaza Cívica
on Blvd. Costero. Miguel Hidalgo, known as the “Father of Mexico,” was
a hero in Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain that began in 1810.
May 15
10am: Ceremony commemorating the 123rd anniversary of the founding
of Ensenada as an urban settlement at Plaza Ventana al Mar on Blvd. Costero.
On this date in 1882, Ensenada attained national prominence when it replaced
Real del Castillo as the capital of the Northern District of Baja California.
Ensenada served as the seat of government until 1914 when it was replaced
by the present day capital of Mexicali.
May 19
10am: “Children’s Mayor for a Day” (first stage) at City Hall on Av.
Reforma.
May 20
8am: “Children’s Mayor for a Day” (second stage) at City Hall on Av.
Reforma.
May 21
10am: Ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the death of Venustiano
Carranza at Plaza Cívica on Blvd. Costero. Venustiano Carranza was
one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution and the first president of
Mexico under the Constitution of 1917.
May 24
10am: Schoolchildren’s parade on Blvd. Costero.
Festivals, Rodeos
& Dances
May 13-15
5pm-2am: The City of Ensenada presents nightly festivals with regional
foods, beverages, live music and entertainment at Manzana Ocho Fairgrounds
on Blvd. Costero. Free admission.
 May
15
1-8pm: The Tuna Festival, a colorful street fair and restaurant culinary
competition of tuna-based dishes with live entertainment, raffles and exhibitions
on Paseo Calle Primera (Av. Lopez Mateos) between Av. Blancarte & Castillo.
Free general admission. Ticket ($11dlls.) includes 5 food samples and 5
drinks. Info: CANIRAC Chamber of Restaurants, tel. (646)174-0448; e-mail
May 22
Noon: Charreada Rodeo at Lienzo Charro Raymundo Preciado at the end
of Av. Ruiz. Proceeds benefit DIF. Info: DIF Municipal, tel. (646)177-1188.
May 27
8pm: Dinner Dance in the Salón Catedral of the Riviera Cultural
Center, Blvd. Costero. Info: DIF Municipal, tel. (646)177-1188.
 May
29
11am-6pm: 4th Annual “Ensenada de Todos, Suma de Culturas” Festival
with music, dance, arts, foods and cultural exhibits by local community
groups of various national heritages at Plaza Ventana al Mar (near the
gigantic flag pole) on Blvd. Costero. This is an exceptional opportunity
to sample Ensenada’s largest assortment of ethnic foods and beverages all
in one place, all on one day, and all at very reasonable prices (see
2004 festival review and photos). General admission is free. (For information
in Spanish, visit the “Ensenada
de Todos” web site.) Info: Yukio Nishikawa, tel. (646)176-2763 or Margit
Gantt (German Club), tel. (646)174-7969; e-mail
Sports Activities
May 1
8am: Family bike ride starting at City Hall on Av. Reforma. No entry
fee.
May 15
8am: 4th Annual International Half Marathon, a 21 km. foot race that
starts and finishes at Sullivan Sports Field on Av. Diamante. Open to ages
16 up. No entry fee. Info: Municipal Sports Institute/Emeterio Nava, tel.
(646)176-4445 or 177-0744.
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