By Kristy Kneiding
Festivities Include a Carnival, Car Show, Tequila Tastings, Live Entertainment, Food & More
Celebrate the sights, sounds, and tastes of the state of Jalisco, Mexico at the 7th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival, February 3 -5, 2023 in downtown Cathedral City. This annual celebration honors the 26-year sister city relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila, Jalisco (Mexico) through culture, cuisine, music, and fashion.
The weekend includes a family-friendly carnival, artisan craft vendor market, tequila tastings, authentic Mexican cuisine, a car show, and daily entertainment. Festivities kick off Friday, February 3 beginning at 4 p.m. and features the raising of the flags, a proclamation reading from Cathedral City Mayor Rita Lamb, followed by live entertainment and the opening of the carnival and tequila tasting garden.
In addition to a giant Ferris wheel offering views of the entire city and surrounding area, the three-day carnival also will feature rides, amusements, and games for all ages on the festival lawn in front of City Hall. Along Ave Lalo Guerrero, more than 25 boutique vendors selling authentic Mexican arts & crafts and fun, unique products will add to the festive atmosphere. Admission to the vendor market and access to the carnival is free. Tickets are required and sold onsite for carnival rides and games, with discounted pre-sale tickets available through February 2 via the festival website.
New this year, the Fiesta Zone inside the Community Amphitheater will feature access to additional kids’ activities, lawn games, food trucks, beer garden, tequila bar, and daily live entertainment. Those 21 and older can enjoy the beer garden and a high-end cocktail experience including premium tequila tastings. On Sunday, auto enthusiasts will enjoy a car show with an amazing line up of high end and unique, custom created vehicles on the third level of the adjacent parking structure. Admission to the Fiesta Zone (including the Sunday car show) is $10 each day, and the first 500 Cathedral City residents with a valid ID will receive free entry.
A highlight of the weekend will be entertainment from the Jalisco Community Stage featuring local and regional musical groups and live acts celebrating Mexican art and culture. The lineup includes multiple folklorico dance troupes, Las Tias, Dreaming of You (Selena tribute), Outlaw Mariachi, Corazon de Mana (Mana tribute) and a Saturday night headline performance by Grupo Control. Advanced tickets for the Grupo concert are $25 ($30 day of) and can be reserved at tasteofjalisco.com.
Specializing in norteño music, Control (aka Grupo Control) are a regional Mexican group based in Houston, TX, who bill themselves as Los Reyes de la Cumbia (The Kings of Cumbia). Founded by Sergio Alberto Degollado (vocals, bass) and José Guadalupe Degollado (vocals, bajo sexto) from Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, the group made its full-length album debut in 1999 with Cumbias Sin Control. Since then, they have released eight other albums, with a series of regional Mexican chart hits including “Ella Es una Diosa,” “Llueve Sobre Mojado,” “Viva el Amor,” and “Vuela Paloma.”
Event hours are Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 pm. Festivities take place in downtown Cathedral City, at 68600 East Palm Canyon Drive. Parking is free. For more information about the Taste of
Jalisco Festival visit tasteofjalisco.com.
ABOUT A TASTE OF JALISCO FESTIVAL
Now in its seventh year, Taste of Jalisco Festival celebrates Cathedral City’s Sister City relationship with the City of Tequila in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The festival honors this relationship through music, fashion, culture, spirits, and cuisine. The Sister City relationship was first established in 1996 when the two cities entered into a formal Sister Cities agreement. Since then, exchanges between the Cities included art, culture, governmental best-practices, youth focused educational opportunities, donation of firefighting equipment, and firefighter training, among others.
GRUPO CONTROL TO HEADLINE TASTE OF JALISCO FESTIVAL, FEBRUARY 4
By Kristy Kneiding
The Weekend-Long Festival of Culture Features Live Music and Fun for the Entire Family
The 7th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival is proud to present a special headlining performance of live music by Grupo Control on Saturday, February 4. Doors open at 7 p.m. with official host ShoBoy and a surprise guest deejay.
Specializing in norteño music, Control (aka Grupo Control) are a regional Mexican group based in Houston, TX, who bill themselves as Los Reyes de la Cumbia (The Kings of Cumbia). Founded by Sergio Alberto Degollado (vocals, bass) and José Guadalupe Degollado (vocals, bajo sexto) from Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, the group made its full-length album debut in 1999 with Cumbias Sin Control. Since then, they have released eight other albums, with a series of regional Mexican chart hits including “Ella Es una Diosa,” “Llueve Sobre Mojado,” “Viva el Amor,” and “Vuela Paloma.”
Performing on the festival stage Friday is Outlaw Mariachi, Dreaming of You Selena on Saturday, and Corazon de Mana on Sunday. Friday night, at neighboring Agua Caliente Cathedral City, local favorite Nacho Bustillos will kick off the opening night celebration with a performance and dancing under the stars, for those 21 and older.
The concerts, part of a weekend-long festival being held February 3 – 5, 2023 in downtown Cathedral City, honors the 26-year sister city relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila, Jalisco (Mexico) through culture, cuisine, music, and
fashion. Activities include a carnival with Ferris wheel and games for all ages, artisan market, Mexican cuisine, tequila tastings, car show and a variety of entertainment.
New this year, the Fiesta Zone inside the Community Amphitheater will feature access to additional kids’ activities, lawn games, food trucks, beer garden, tequila bar, and daily live entertainment. Those 21 and older can enjoy the beer garden
and a high-end cocktail experience including premium tequila tastings. On Sunday, auto enthusiasts will enjoy a car show with an amazing line up of high end and unique, custom created vehicles on the third level of the adjacent parking structure. Admission to the Fiesta Zone (including the Sunday car show) is $10 each day, and the first 500 Cathedral City residents with a valid ID will receive free entry.
Taste of Jalisco Festival hours are Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission to the festival is free and open to the public. Advanced tickets for the Grupo concert are $25 ($30 day of) and can be reserved at tasteofjalisco.com. Concert ticket purchases include a Fiesta Zone Day Pass valid all-day Saturday.
Festivities take place in downtown Cathedral City, at 68600 East Palm Canyon Drive. Parking is free. For tickets and more information about the Taste of Jalisco Festival visit tasteofjalisco.com.
