Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around the Republic, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. Here's a look at some of this week's Vallarta news headlines, some breaking Mexico news stories, and a couple of weekend events that you won't want to miss.

2014 Mardi Gras Carnaval Grand Marshals Named

Students of the Alas Escuela de Canto have been selected as Grand Marshals of the 2014 Mardi Gras Carnaval Parade. These rising stars, under the direction of Kharla Barragan, have recently performed in Puerto Vallarta's The Voice at ACT II, PVMC's concert at Teatro Vallarta and are currently busy preparing for their Concierto de Amor. Puerto Vallarta's Carnaval is one of the largest and best-loved community celebrations. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the parade route along the Malecón and 'Old Town' on Tuesday evening, March 4th from 9 pm to midnight to enjoy an extravaganza of lavish floats, spectacular costumes, and show stopping moments. Businesses and community organizations are encouraged to participate in the parade by entering a vehicle or decorated float. Applications are available at carnavalvallarta.com.

Nayarit Builds New Civil Protection Base in Bahía de Banderas

Construction of the State of Nayarit's Sixth Regional Civil Protection Base, located in Cruz de Huanacaxtle, was recently finished in the Bahia de Banderas municipality, according to the head of the agency, Martin Tapia Miranda. The official said that when the base is completed it will have high-quality facilities and, above all, the necessary equipment to adequately provide the various emergency services required for the benefit of all the people in this important touristic area. "It will be properly equipped, we'll have a boat, a jet ski, a fire truck, an ambulance, a tanker truck, a pickup truck, the jaws of life, and an ATV, manned by trained personnel who will offer quality services to the citizenry." Tapia Miranda added that it is estimated that the missing details will be in place soon - just in time for the official inauguration by Governor Roberto Sandoval Castañeda.

American School of Puerto Vallarta Open House

On Thursday, February 13, 2014 from 8:30-11:30 am, the American School of Puerto Vallarta will open its doors to families in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas to discover why it is the best educational institution in the region. We want families to LIVE the American School experience, so instead of a typical presentation we've set up a self-guided tour for visitors. There will be 10 stations in all, each one representing an important facet of our school. Families can choose to visit some or all the stations. Visitors completing the route will receive a prize at the end of the tour. Visiting families will learn about and discover the following: • Preschool • Primary School • Secondary School • Sports & Athletics • Art & Music • Community Service • Technology • Libraries • College Prep & Guidance • Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) • Video Presentations • School Campus. For more information call (322) 226-7672 or visit aspv.edu.mx See you there!

Minors Need Notarized Letters for Mexico Travel

As of January 25, young persons aged 17 or under may not enter or leave Mexico on their own without a notarized letter/form signed by their parents or legal guardians. The measure was introduced in 2013 but put on hold for a year by the National Immigration Institute (INM). The INM says airlines in Mexico are able to download the official forms from the Internet, as well as provide a list of notaries able to provide the service. Letters elaborated abroad must be legalized, witnessed and translated into Spanish. The following information is required on the forms: name and nationality of the minor, date of birth, period of travel and the full names, signatures and IDs of the parents or guardians.

Weekend Events in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay
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• Local Artists Exhibit at the Peter Gray Art Museum

• Daiquiri Dick's 'The Lounge' Grand Opening Party

• Celebración Para Los Niños to Benefit RISE & Sendero

• San Blas Carnival Returns Feb 8th-March 4th

From February 4th through December 31, 2013 thousands of BanderasNews.com readers voted for the city’s greatest tastes in our Best of Banderas Bay Awards, the first edition of an annual poll that encourages our readers to vote for their favorite Puerto Vallarta restaurants. To ensure that the results reflect the unbiased opinions of Vallarta residents and visitors, the votes have been counted by a team of independent judges, and the winner of each category will be named 'The Best of Banderas Bay' next week. Keep watching BanderasNews for 2013's winners!