On one Friday evening every month, the handicrafts suburb Tonalá (situated halfway between Lake Chapala and Guadalajara’s historic center) is taking its cue from cities such as Guanajuato and offering traditional musical events featuring roving musicians.

The next such callejoneada is set for Friday, May 9, 7 p.m., starting from the town’s traffic-free main plaza at Pedro Moreno and Madero/Hidalgo (three blocks east of the well known, shop-lined thoroughfare Tonaltecas and its prominent KFC). The plaza features trees and benches, city hall, a farmer’s market and a tourist information kiosk.

The quiet main square of Tonalá will be the starting point for a romantic musical serenade May 9, 7 p.m.

The singers will proceed ten blocks, ending in a pedestrian area at the street Cruz Blanca.

Also, starting in September, Tonala’s tourism office plans to offer free bus or van transportation for visitors from Chapala. Information in English: 044-331-093-0156 or Spanish: 1137-2232.

Other interesting stops in Tonalá near the main plaza are the crafts gallery Casa de Artesanos (Constitucion 104 at Morelos), Museo Nacional de Ceramica (Constitucion between Hidalgo and Javier Mina), Museo Regional de Tonalá (Cuitlahuac near Cuahtemoc) and El Rincon del Sol restaurant (Madero at the corner of 16 de Septiembre) which features Chiles En Nogada.

One driving route from Chapala: take Hwy. 23 to Guadalajara. After the airport, go 7.5 mi/12 km to the large interchange with Lazaro Cardenas. At the interchange, at a sign “Mexico, Tonala,” follow it to the right/east (on Lazaro Cardenas). Go 1.7 mi/3 km to a smaller interchange. Here, continue straight/east (on “Autopista a Zapotlanejo”) for 2.2 mi/3.6 km. Exit on right at a sign/arrow saying “Tonala.” At the exit, go straight/east on Avenida Tonala, where there are furniture and other stores. After .9 mi/1.5 km, turn left at the light at Tonaltecos to go into  Tonalá’s center. A less busy, alternate route is on Hwy. 80 through the El Salto area.

By bus from Chapala: Take a bus from Chapala to Guadalajara’s Central Vieja/old bus station (about 45 minutes). Change to bus 55 to Tonala (about 40 minutes). Get off downtown near the KFC at Tonaltecas and Constitucion.