2025 Santa Claus Parade, Penticton BC

 Music, lights, laughter, and candy!

Isla Mujeres Mysteries

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

Christmas Parades, Parties and Processions, Isla Mujeres Mexico

It’s that wonderful time of the year! The island is buzzing with seasonal activities, music, and colour. 

Early in the month, the Christmas celebrations begin with the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; many church processions and masses are held in her honor. Then, on December 16th, the Posadas started and continued until December 24th. The word posada means inn or shelter, and in Mexico, the posadas are re-enactments of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem. 

The procession makes its way to a different home on each night of the posada, and the participants sing a traditional song asking for admittance. The family inside the house responds with another song telling the group that there is no room at the inn. 

Eventually, the song changes, and the group is admitted to the home and supplied with food and drinks, plus a candy-filled piñata for the children. It is an important Christmas celebration in Mexico, where an estimated eighty-five percent of the population observes the Catholic faith.

Colegio de Bachilleres students

By mid-month, most schools were preparing to close for their Christmas holidays, and students performed songs, plays, and skits for their parents and school friends. 

The basketball court across the street from our house was the venue for the high school skits. Each group of students had choreographed their dance routine to a well-known Christmas carol. 

Colegio de Bachilleres students

It was great fun to sit on our upper patio watching the enthusiastic performances of Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Baby, and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree. 

I’m thinking someone should rewrite those songs for the tropics: maybe Rocking Around the Palm Tree? Or Riding on a Dolphin Surfboard? Any volunteers? Many years ago, I was booted out of a community choir for my lack of musical talent, so it won’t be me. 

Lupe, Yadira, and Freddy (Elmo) 

On Saturday, December 19th, we participated in the 3rd Annual Christmas Golf Cart Christmas, the brain-child of our friends Freddy Medina and Yadira Velázquez. 

It was hilariously good fun as we ricocheted through the tightly packed neighbourhoods, following Manolo Figueroa’s very changeable route. 

Sandra Buckholts and her sweetie

Many of us pondered the effectiveness of the brakes on a dilapidated party bus at the head of the parade. We faithfully followed the route up the only steep hill on the island, zig-zagging through the narrow streets, and back down the only steep hill. 

We didn’t hear of any mishaps, so we assume that everyone successfully negotiated the route. 

This year, there were at least thirty golf carts festooned with lights and Christmas decorations. About 120 excited participants dressed in costumes and a variety of Santa hats.

Valerie and John Pasnau

A surprise arrival of a golf cart driven by Santa and Mrs. Claus (John and Valerie Pasnau) was a great addition to the parade. 

Our police motorcycle escort was terrific at keeping the group together - like herding cats - as the line of golf carts and motorcycles wound its way through various areas of the island. 

Great job, guys, for keeping us all together! 

Freddy Medina and Lawrie

Everyone had candy to throw, but as usually happens, we got overly enthusiastic at the beginning of the parade, and ran out of treats before the parade ended in Centro. 

Note to self: ration the candy, don’t toss huge handfuls at every child. Love this time of year in paradise.

It may not be politically correct to wish you Merry Christmas instead of Season’s Greetings or Happy Holidays, but on this island, Christmas is an important family and religious celebration.

Merry Christmas to all.

Lawrie, Lynda, Thomas, Sparky, & Perla



On a personal note: We have a young female lab-retriever who has been living at our house for over two weeks. We have been calling her Perla, but we don't know her real name. She would like to be returned to her family. If you recognize this young lady, please send us a message. She is sweet, gentle, house-trained, and leash-trained. Someone has put a lot of love into her upbringing. I am sure there is a family anxiously waiting for her return. 

(Update: the local vet, Delfino, recognized her. Her name is Güerita, and a year ago, her owners put her and eleven pups out on the street. Delfino spayed Güerita, then found homes for her and the eleven pups. Her second owners also put her on the street. They couldn't afford to feed her. Uff! She lived with us until March of 2016, when Isla Animals found her a permanent home in Oregon. They had two large, gentle dogs, and acreage for all the dogs to enjoy.)

Female, about 2 years old, good health, spayed.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

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Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. A beach mutt decides to move in!

My favourite photo of the garbage truck

“Basura, basura, basura!”  A deep voice disrupts the early morning quiet - shouting garbage, garbage, garbage - reminding us that Christmas is coming.  It’s time for the traditional propina for the garbage collection crews.  

We slip a few pesos into envelopes and hand them out to the individual guys.  Our first year on Isla, we printed our own Christmas thank-you cards, but our attempts at creativity were quickly tossed into the trash as nimble fingers emptied the envelopes and folded the currency into secure pockets. Now we just use plain white envelopes to hold the money. The end result is the same.  They smile. We smile. We get great service for another year. Everyone is happy.

2012 Santa Claus parade.

The week before Christmas is also when the municipality of Isla Mujeres hosts its annual Santa Claus parade.  Perched on top of a decorated truck, Santa and his entourage of elves are escorted by a flotilla of cars, golf carts and motos. The cheerful beeping and honking of horns can be heard over the loud, thumping Christmas music as the group stutter-steps its way around the island.  

Stop. Go. Stop. Go.  

Evan and Ethan, candy from Santa parade.

Eventually, all of the vehicles pass by our house. Most years, we stand on our upper street-side balcony, waving and snapping photographs while the participants toss candy towards us.  

Last year, our two grandsons, Ethan and Evan, were at street level and gathered up an armload of treats.

Yep, just what they needed to rekindle their overactive energy for a few more hours. 

Restaurants and music on chaotic Hidalgo Avenue

Walking through Centro in the evening, we notice the increase in visitors to the island. They are wisely escaping the chilly northern weather.  Hidalgo Avenue is active and chaotic with music - from singers, performers, and instrumentalists - spilling from several restaurants.  

Hucksters call out, attracting your attention for a minute or two: “Check our menu. Here’s a coupon for a free Margarita.  Come in.  You’ll like our food.”  

Students heading home from class

As the schools prepare for the holiday break, there is the inevitable flurry of concerts, dances and parties.  Students and teachers are free until after the Night of the Kings in early January.  In the school yards, public address systems, turned up to full volume, allow passers-by to eavesdrop on the pre-holiday ceremonies. Our home is situated between a kindergarten and the High School. We listen to the laughter and giggles as the students disband for the holidays. Judging by the number of high-pitched squeals and shrieks, I am fairly certain Shrieking #101 is a mandatory school subject for female students. Inevitably, the shrieking girl is being followed or teased by a giggling boy.

Algeria Y Pasion Carnavalesca 

This year, we have been asked to participate in another boisterous event. Weather permitting, a parade on Saturday, December 21^st, will feature several of the Halloween costumes that we’ve purchased in the last four years.  Elmo (Freddy Medina) is the star, with supporting cast members to include Mickey (Lawrie) and Minnie Mouse (Lynda), Spiderman (Darren) and Sponge Bob (Jimmy P).  The Carnival troupe Algeria y Pasion Carnavalesca that Yadira Velázquez (Freddy’s wife) dances with is organizing the parade as a fundraiser for the group, and to entertain the island kids.

The Christmas Season on Isla is always a noisy, chaotic time, and we enjoy every minute.  But for us, the very best sounds of Christmas are made by friends and family, sharing a meal, or snacks and drinks. It’s a time to reconnect, to remember why we love living here on Isla.

The day after we returned to our home on Isla, this little dude decided to move in with us. The cats decided to let him stay. His name is Sparky. We adore him!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings,

Best Wishes to everyone for a safe and Happy Holiday Season

Lynda, Lawrie, Thomas the Cat, Princess Chica, and Sparky

Murder. Mayhem. Revenge. Romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery Series

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

The Adventures of Thomas and Sparky