Tequila tasting
caps week of festivities, sets stage for gala
CALEXICO — After a week-long of festivities, Friday was a day to relax and enjoy the wide array of traditional Mexican folkloric dance and music and a wide choice of tequila.
The tequila tasting event, which serves as the preamble to today’s mariachi concert, has become one of the most popular events during the annual Mariachi Festival Sin Fronteras. Members of the community and event sponsors who support the festivities come together in a night full of celebration at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center.
“This event tonight serves as a recognition for all of our sponsors who helped us to put on the event for the Mariachi Festival,” said Gil Acuña, chair of the Mariachi Festival Committee “It’s been very successful for us.”
The highlights for Friday’s event included a traditional dance performance by Las Flores del Valle Ballet Folklorico from Brawley, who delighted the guests with their routine and colorful traditional dresses. Also, the winner of the first season of “La Voz Mexico” Oscar Cruz was present to delight the members of the public along with a few additional performers.
Karen Smith from Imperial along with her husband experienced the event for the first time and said they were really enjoying their night. On top of being event first-timers, Smith said she was looking forward to seeing one of her friends perform for the Las Flores del Valle Folklórico.
“It’s beautiful, we’ve enjoyed the dancing, socializing, the cultural experience and the arts and crafts,” she said.
“We’ll definitely come back next year.”
Acuña said the tequila tasting has become a good way to cap the week of festivities and raise the curtain for the marquee event of the 26th annual Mariachi Festival today.
One of the most notable changes for this year is a new group that will perform today, Mariachi Garibaldi from Los Angeles will headline the gala and concert to end the festival on a high note.
“We are excited to bring a new mariachi that has come over this year to perform for us,” Acuña said.
The festival officially got underway Monday with the crowning of Señorita Mariachi Andrea Soto of Calexico High School.
The competitive spirit within the festivities began Tuesday with the Mariachi Idol competition which concluded Wednesday, along with a fierce competition Thursday during the Salsa Contest.
“(The week of festivities) it’s great for us all, we really enjoy it, the community comes out and supports us and we also try to give back to the community with our events,” Acuña said.
Jose Marcial who has attended a few of the Mariachi Festival events throughout the week said the festivities coming to an end today was bittersweet because of how much he enjoyed it.
“I had a blast all week,” he said. “I really have high hopes for (today’s) concert.”
Acuña also pointed out that there is a group of fans of mariachi festivals who like to travel to events in Arizona and Southern California to experience the diverse celebrations of Mexican folklore culture.
He added the mariachi festival has put Calexico on the map and every year attracts a small group of enthusiasts who come down to the Valley for the event. “This is part of our culture, especially being a border city with Mexicali, to be able to have our roots, culture and take advantage of the mariachi performers that we have in this area,” Acuña said.