Baja
Rosario Festival 2005
text
& photos by connie ellig
El Rosario is a tranquil town in a wide valley located approximately 150
miles south of Ensenada. Even as early as 1855 with only 25 reported inhabitants,
El Rosario had become a comfortable resting place with good food and water
for travelers who continuously traversed the peninsula from north to south.
Before the completion of the paved Transpeninsular Highway linking Tijuana
to Cabo San Lucas in 1973, El Rosario was considered the last outpost of
civilization on this part of the peninsula. It was here that intrepid wayfarers
would stop for gasoline, a report on road conditions, and a bite to eat
before they continued their journey further south through the central desert
on the grueling dirt road. With its well-deserved reputation for excellent
hospitality, El Rosario has played an important role in the history and
development of the Baja California peninsula.
 From
July 22-24, the town of El Rosario will continue its tradition of hospitality
by hosting Baja Rosario Festival 2005,
a celebration of the founding of the first Dominican mission, Nuestra Señora
del Rosario de Viñadaco, by Friar Vicente Mora in July of 1774.
The three-day festival, the first of its kind in El Rosario, will feature
an assortment of cultural, historical, culinary, sporting and family-style
activities designed to attract area residents and long-time Baja aficionados
as well as first time visitors. There will be expositions, food booths,
rodeos, horse races, carnival rides, guided tours, storytelling around
a bonfire, a beauty pageant and nightly dances with live entertainment.
Festivities begin on Friday afternoon and continue through Sunday night.
The driving force behind Baja Rosario Festival 2005 is Antonio Muñoz,
owner of Motel Baja Cactus (formerly Motel El Rosario), located at the
Pemex station at the northern entrance to town. Antonio and his organizing
committee have planned a superb program of activities, many of which are
free or have a minimal admission charge.
SCHEDULED EVENTS
Friday, July 22
2pm: Inauguration of Baja Rosario Festival 2005 by local dignitaries
at the upper Misión de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Viñadaco
site near the office of the Delegación Municipal.
4-7pm: Rodeo events (jaripeo) in lower El Rosario de Abajo.
8-10pm: Storytelling by town elders around a bonfire on the beach at
La Bocana.
8pm-2am: Fiesta and dance with live norteño music in the big
tent next to the baseball field across from the Delegación Municipal.
Minimal admission charge.
Saturday, July 23
4-7pm: Rodeo events (jaripeo) in lower El Rosario de Abajo.
8pm-2am: Fiesta, dance with live norteño music and “Señorita
Rosario 2005” beauty pageant with additional live entertainment in the
big tent next to the baseball field across from the Delegación Municipal.
Minimal admission charge.
Sunday, July 24
2-5pm: Horse races at a location to be determined.
5-7pm: Rodeo events (jaripeo) in lower El Rosario de Abajo.
8pm-2am: Closing fiesta and dance in the big tent next to the baseball
field across from the Delegación Municipal. Minimal admission charge.
 In
addition to the scheduled activities, there will be a fascinating Art and
History Expo with local fossil and mission displays as well as antiques,
photos and memorabilia contributed by founding families and townspeople.
El Rosario artists will display their wares and create fine art in front
of your eyes. The Art and History Expo will be open from 2-8pm on Friday
and from 9am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday in a building next to the office
of the Delegación Municipal. Admission is free.
The Industry Expo promises to be equally intriguing as local businesses
exhibit what, where and how they produce diverse products from local resources
like pebbles, trees, lobster, erizo (sea urchin) and agricultural
crops. The Industry Expo will be open from 2-8pm on Friday and from 9am-8pm
on Saturday and Sunday in a tent next to the baseball field across from
the Delegación Municipal. The minimal admission fee includes product
samples.
The area across from the Delegación Municipal also will be the
site of other activities including carnival rides and food booths operated
by local families and restaurants that will open from 10am-2am.
For the adventuresome who want to explore El Rosario’s natural and historical
sites, several guided tours will be available. One is to La Lobera sea
lion colony on the beach; the other includes the two Nuestra Señora
del Rosario de Viñadaco mission ruin sites, the community museum
and the old cemetery. Visitors can sign up for tours at the festival and
opt for van transportation or to caravan in their own vehicle (4x4 is not
needed).
 Maps
and activities programs will be available at the festival. For additional
general information, contact David Kier, e-mail
For reservations at any of El Rosario’s three motels, or RV or tent camping
reservations at Sinahi or La Bocana, contact Antonio Muñoz, El Rosario
tel. (616)165-8850; U.S. cell tel. 619-664-3585; e-mail
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