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San Jose Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival
Categories: Local Flavor Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Local Flavor, Music Venues [Edit]
1700 Alum Rock AveSan Jose, CA 95116
(408) 928-5564
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Come enjoy our Creekstone Farms steaks, natural poultry, line caught seafood & organic produce. All of our desserts are house-made. We use only… read more »
2 reviews for San Jose Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival
2 reviews in English
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Review from Catherine H.
Oakland, CA
10/3/2007
1. mariachi bands rule, so that should have been reason alone to check out this event.
2. Ozomatli played this year. And (I say this as someone who's seen Ozo a lot), they played a great show.
3. It was $5. Total.
Y'all missed out. Straight up. Don't make that mistake again next year. -
Review from Wilhelm Y.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2007 5 photos
Curiosity drew me in to this annual festival held at San Jose's Arena Green adjacent to the HP Pavilion. The San Francisco 49ers sponsored the Football Fiesta children's playing area at the festival, and had it not been for all of the 49ers colors and logo throughout the festival grounds I might not have even noticed that this event was even taking place.
The annual San Jose International Mariachi Festival focuses on the many sounds of Latin America with its main focus being the mariachi bands. Two separate concert stages located about a block away from each other entertained a good sized crowd on a cool, brisk Saturday evening. The exhibitors represent a mix between local businesses and commercial sponsors, but a majority of the booths focused on the flavors of Latin America. I had a plate of the meatiest, spiciest, most flavorful nachos I've ever sampled. There was good variety among the the food booths; many of the menu items I've never even heard of. To keep all the festival goers on their toes, the huge Monster energy drink tractor-trailer sat on the festival grounds distributing the potent Monster energy drinks to all.
There is a small $5 admission fee that allows you to listen to as many or as few bands as you wish. I stuck around to watch Ozomatli on the El Mexicano Main Stage, and they were fabulous.
Not too crowded and easy to maneuver around within the festival grounds. Lots of yellow shirted security and a good presence by San Jose PD. Lots of happy little kids running around shows that this is a very family-friendly festival. Members of the 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders offered fun freebies to the kiddies and took photos with all the fans (even the Raiders fans).
Specialties
The San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival, now in its 19th year, is a week-long celebration of Mexican music, art, food, and lifestyle that takes place throughout downtown San José. The largest in the state of California and a standard-bearer for mariachi festivals throughout the nation, it annually draws around 40,000 visitors. Festival highlights include:
* The Noche de Sernata Gala Concert, a special theatrical concert event highlighting the annual theme of the Festival and showcasing our student performers alongside national and international music stars.
* The free outdoor Feria de Mariachi featuring the best in traditional and contemporary Latin music, great Mexican food, beautiful Latin arts and crafts, children's activities, and much more.
* Workshop in Mariachi music, ballet folklórico and more.
