Chandler Mariachi and Folklórico Festival celebrates music, culture and Community

The 27th annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival is set for Sunday, Nov. 1 at the  Chandler Center for the Arts.

The day of events, according to a news release, brings together generations of Arizona artists for a celebration of Mexican music, dance, community and Día de los Muertos traditions.

Presented by the center, under the artistic direction of Maestra Vanessa Ramirez, this year’s festival turns its focus close to home, showcasing Arizona performers who are carrying mariachi and folklórico traditions forward while finding new ways to make them their own.

The celebration begins with a free event. "Entre Dos Mundos: A Día de los Muertos Celebration" is a family-friendly community event on the Chandler Center for the Arts'  west terrace that starts at 12:30 p.m.

The festivities then move indoors, into the Steena Murray Mainstage at 4 p.m. for the ticketed Mariachi and Folklórico Festival. Tickets for the festival are $49, $59 and $69 and are $79 and are on sale at chandlercenter.org.

Headlining the festival this year is Tucson-based Mariachi Pueblo Viejo, founded in 2021 by Manuel Ponce to preserve and celebrate the traditional mariachi music of Jalisco, Mexico.

Under the musical direction of Maestro Daniel Rosales, a former member of Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán, the ensemble has quickly established itself throughout the southwest U.S.

The group has shared the stage with Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán and Mariachi Los Camperos de Jesús “Chuy” Guzmán and has accompanied artists like Camila Fernández and Ximena Sariñana.

The festival will attempt to put a spotlight on the next generation of Arizona mariachi with Mariachi Nueva Fusión, a young Phoenix-area ensemble known for bringing a contemporary spirit to the tradition, the release states. Performing in both English and Spanish, the group moves easily between classic mariachi sounds and a wider range of musical influences, including rancheras, corridos, cumbias, boleros and ballads.

This year, Mariachi Nueva Fusión will be joined by Phoenix-born singer and multi-instrumentalist Evelyn Ozuna.

The performance also features Arizona's Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli - AZ and Viva Arizona dancers, filling the stage with the costumes, movement and regional dance traditions that have been a hallmark of the festival throughout its 27-year history.

Activities include a community altar, mask-making, calaca puppets, folklórico performances, cultural activities, local vendors and a food court. Storytellers Zarco Guerrero and Patricia Federico Ruiz will participate, with live music from Mariachi Hermanas Del Corazon, Rosie’s House Mariachi Ensembles and De Cajón.

The Chandler Center for the Arts is at 250 N. Arizona Ave., just north of downtown Chandler. 

Learn more about these events at ChandlerCenter.org

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