Festival Sayulita - It's a Wrap

All the fun and excitement of Festival Sayulita was wrapped up on Sunday, January 18^th with the Master Tasting event at Don Pedro’s Palapa. Attendees gazed out over the spectacular view of the bay as they sampled tequila, wine, and spirits, and anticipated the viewing of the film, “Big in Japan.” The night also doubled as an award ceremony and many people reflected on the wonderful week of film, surf, music, tequila, pairing dinners, and other activities.

Festival highlights included:

An amazing opening ceremony, with Espumas and Terciopelo, Ballet Folklorico with an impressive Huichol wedding ceremony paired with 5-star Mariachi

• Thursday rockin' show by Havana Band in the plaza
• A fantastic kids day show by Patitio Feo, Entre Amigos and Costa Verde art projects
• Show and Tell in plaza and at Costa Verde by Mark Shapiro of Boxtrolls, followed by a beach viewing of this now Oscar Nominated Film, packed audience!
• Jungle ¡LIVE!  Mind-blowing concert at Quintas Trujillo with over 1000 people from all over Mexico
• La Hora de La Hora rocked the opening with their brand of young, Mexican Cumbia rock steady!
• KONGOS made thousands of new fans!! 
• Dirty Heads closed the show with their brand of Hip Hop Reggea
• Surprise show by Tennis Pro at Mezcalito after their movie on Sunday Night master tasting

Film Awards were as follows:

Best Documentary: Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians

Best Animation: The Boxtrolls

Best Feature: Lake Los Angeles

Best Short: Bolero for Surfing in Moravia

Best Sport: 100: Head/Heart/Feet

Festival Sayulita hosted the first ever traditional Longboarding Pro Event in Mexico, as well as Latin America, with winners as follows:

Mens final
1st - Nathan Strom, San Diego, CA
2nd - Ricky Cunningham, San Diego, CA
3rd -  Caio Teixeira, Brazil
4th - Angel Venegas, Sayulita, MX

Womens final
1st - Justine Mauvin, Reunion Island
2nd - Lindsey steinriede Engle , CA
3rd - Mele Saili, CA
4th - Hallie Rohr, CA

Tag team event, which consisted of three person teams -  a longboarder, a shortboarder and either stand up paddleboarder or a soft top:

First place went to a team consisting of two local kids Enzo Gomez-Jolley and  Osmar Guerrero, as well as Californian Tommy Witt, who also won best performance award in the pro event and received a beautiful wooden board made by Sayulita's Andy Lambrecht. 

Gabbi Villarrubia, one of the founders of Festival Sayulita, shared, "People are always asking if we feel the Festival was a success. Success can be measured in so many ways, financial, emotional, spiritual, etc. For us, the Festival was a success because it was another year and the town, its locals and visitors alike enjoyed it and found nothing damaged in it's wake. All we have heard was positive feedback, folks wanting to help next year, and big smiles. So yes, it was a huge success!"

Shawn Hagood from the band, Dirty Heads, agrees that it was a huge success, exclaiming to the festival organizers, "Man you guys crushed that festival. The world needs to know!"

If you missed Festival Sayulita 2015, you do not want to miss out on Festival Sayulita 2016!