Here's how to attend Festival de Mariachi en las Isla
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is hosting four days of mariachi performances and appreciation events starting Thursday during the third annual Festival de Mariachi en la Isla.
San Antonio-based Mariachi Azteca de America and all-female San Antonio group Mariachi Las Alteñas will play. The event, held at the university's Performing Arts Center, will also feature performances middle and high school mariachi bands from across South Texas.
The festival starts 7 p.m. Thursday with a free screening of Canciones de mi Padre, a 1989 Linda Ronstadt concert.
On Friday, Mariachi las Alteñas will lead a workshop for students before a 7:30 p.m. concert. Tickets for the Friday concert at the Performing Arts Center cost $10.
From 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, middle and high school bands will perform. On this day, the event will also feature food trucks, local artisans and crafters and youth and adult grito competitions.
School bands scheduled to attend and perform include the Corpus Christi ISD all-city middle school mariachi band, Carroll High School Mariachi, Del Rio High School Mariachi, La Joya Palmview High School mariachi, Edinburg North High School Mariachi, Mariachi Celestial, Del Mar College Mariachi, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Mariachi and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mariachi.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, there will be a talk about the 2023 documentary “Going Varsity in Mariachi” which follows the story of the Edinburg North High School mariachi team. A talk at 3 p.m. will focus on "Mujeres de Mariachi."
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Mariachi Azteca de América will perform at the Performing Arts Center.
Tickets for the Saturday day-time concerts cost $5, while tickets for all events Saturday, including the evening concert by Mariachi Azteca de América, cost $10.
Tickets are available online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tamucc/2089.
The event will conclude Sunday with an 11 a.m. mariachi mass at Corpus Christi Cathedral located at 505 N. Upper Broadway.
Performing Arts Center director James Moore said that last year the festival was well-attended, showing that there is a high community interest in mariachi.
“I realized there was a little bit of a void in the performances like these... a void in having the community here to enjoy mariachi,” Moore said.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi professor and Hispanic Heritage Month coordinator Andrea Montalvo-Hamid said that it is important for students to see Hispanic culture highlighted and to know that the community appreciates this style of music.
“It gives a sense of pride and validation for them,” Montalvo-Hamid said.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here's how to attend Festival de Mariachi en las Isla
