The sixth annual International Mariachi Festival and Competition hosted by the National City Chamber of Commerce and The Unified Port of San Diego gets under way this weekend.
The musical event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at National City’s Pepper Park, 3299 Tidelands Ave., celebrates San Diego’s Mexican heritage through Mariachi music, traditional ballet, folkloric dancing, and a celebration of arts, culture and culinary delights.
“It has really become a signature event,” said Jacqueline Reynoso, president and CEO of the National City Chamber of Commerce. “It is the only mariachi festival of its kind with a competition in the entire San Diego region.”
The festival and competition will feature mariachi groups from all over the United States and Mexico.
“We’re really excited because we will have a really healthy turnout for the high school competition,” she said. “There’s eight (mariachi) groups that have registered to compete,” Reynoso said.
Student groups compete for the opportunity to win prize money. First place wins $1,000, second place $500 and third place $250 in both the high school and middle school divisions. Reynoso said the San Diego Padres have offered to invite the winning mariachi group to perform and present at one of their Latino themed nights.
In addition to offering live entertainment the festival will have a family area with attractions from face painting, extreme water sports, bungee, a wrestling exhibition and virtual reality games and arts and crafts.
New this year is the integration of San Diego Continuing Education students who are putting together a mariachi inspired fashion show as part of a final school project.
Reynoso said the annual event which drew about 15,000 attendees last year is always a financial boon for the city of National City.
“For us it is an economic driver,” she said. “It’s a tourism boost because it does attract families from outside of the state with folks coming in from Arizona, Las Vegas, Orange County and Mexico. And they are staying in National City hotels and patronizing our local eateries and restaurants.”
The day is also aimed at supporting the youth in their artistic, individual and educational development. Leading up to the big festival and competition, mariachi practitioners will host a two-day music conference at the University of San Diego. The conference consists of mariachi music instruction and training for 300 students.
