Three-Day Celebration Features Free Admission Friday for Residents, New Family Attractions
The Taste of Jalisco Festival, produced by SoundSkilz, returns to Downtown Cathedral City January 31 – February 2, 2025, featuring two major headline events: Saturday’s performance by Banda Maguey with Nacho Bustillos and Sunday’s Masked Republic presents “Legends of Lucha Libre Live” wrestling showcase at the Community Amphitheater. Tickets for these marquee events are $29 and include free festival admission.
Cathedral City residents can enjoy free admission on opening day, Friday, January 31, by presenting a valid Cathedral City ID or utility bill with photo ID at the Solutions Desk. Additionally, the first 250 residents each day on Saturday and Sunday can receive free tickets to the headline shows by visiting the Solutions Tent inside the festival grounds with proper identification.
New family attractions this year include a petting zoo and an expanded carnival with rides and games. Festival organizers encourage early purchase of Unlimited Ride Wristbands for the best value on carnival attractions.
The festival debuts the Jalisco Culinary Experience, featuring acclaimed local restaurateurs Jesus and Bryant Almaraz of Los Arcos restaurants. This interactive series offers daily demonstrations limited to 50 participants:
- Friday, 6:00 PM: Traditional Salsa Making
- Saturday, 4:00 PM: Authentic Guacamole Preparation
- Sunday, 1:00 PM: Crafting Top-Shelf Margaritas
Entertainment spans two stages throughout the weekend, opening Friday evening with the ceremonial lighting of City Hall. The Cathedral City Stage features contemporary Latin music, including Outlaw Mariachi, Corazón De Maná, and a special Selena tribute show. The Jalisco Stage showcases traditional arts with performances by multiple folklórico groups, including Retoños De México, Viva Folklórico, and Ballet Folklórico Nueva Generación.
Additional festival attractions include:
- New petting zoo
- Carnival rides and games with Unlimited Ride Wristband options
- Authentic Mexican cuisine vendors
- Gold Medal tequila competitions
- Artisan crafts market
The festival opens at 5:00 PM on Friday and 12:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. General admission starts at $5.
“This year’s Taste of Jalisco Festival represents our most ambitious programming to date,” said Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager for the City of Cathedral City. “We’re especially excited to offer special benefits to Cathedral City residents while expanding our family-friendly attractions. By featuring both contemporary and traditional entertainment alongside interactive experiences, we’re creating a comprehensive celebration of Mexican culture that honors our sister city relationship with Jalisco.”
For complete schedule details and tickets, visit tasteofjalisco.com.
ABOUT A TASTE OF JALISCO FESTIVAL
Now in its ninth 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.
