The National City Chamber of Commerce will celebrate San Diego’s Mexican heritage on March 12 with its fifth annual International Mariachi Festival and Competition from 11 a.m. to 7.p.m. at 3299 Tidelands Ave.
The free public festival is the chamber’s signature event and organizers expect to exceed the 15,000 attendees from last year.
“It’s a huge (event) for us because it’s not only promoting Mexican arts and culture which is a reflection and a connection to our Mexican heritage in National City and even throughout San Diego and the region but it is also a way to stimulate tourism and community building,” said National City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jacqueline Reynoso.
The event will feature mariachi groups throughout the United States like Javier Rodriguez and Mariachi Reyes from Los Angeles, Mariachi Aztlan from Texas and Guadalajara, Mexico’s Mariachi Sol de America. Mariachi will not be the only showcase as many ballet folklorico dancers will hit the stage in a celebration of arts and culture.
Danza Mexi’Cayotl Indio Cultural Center will host the opening ceremony. Followed by a high school mariachi competition starting at 1 p.m.
Reynoso said the arts and culture pavilion will display the artwork of 30 local artists. Off-site parking for $10 and free shuttle service will be provided.
Prior to the event on March 10 and March 11,mariachi practioners will participate in a two-day music conference at the University of San Diego. The conference will consist of mariachi instruction and training for about 300 students from throughout the United States by renowned mariachi educators and practitioners. Conference participants will be invited to the festival.
“The reason we do this (educational workshop) is to support youth development in the arts and to offer a program that connects children from all over and especially here in San Diego to s their Mexican roots through the study of mariachi music,” she said.
