What is the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival?

Now in its 19th year, the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival presents a weeklong schedule of music and educational events. To celebrate Mexico's Bicentennial in 2010, the Festival has expanded to include great cultural programming throughout the year.

Festival FAQ

Workshops

How much does it cost to attend the Workshops?
$75.00 if you register before July 31st
$85.00 if you register between August 1st and September 15th
$150.00 after September 15th.
What if I can’t afford that? We do grants scholarships to any students who are designated to receive free or reduced lunches at their school. Just fill out the Scholarship Form and send it to us along with the proof of your free or reduced lunch designation.
How much experience do I need to attend the educational workshops? We ask that all students attending the workshops with Mariachi Cobre and José Tena have at least one year of experience dancing or playing their instrument.
Does my experience have to be in mariachi? No! If you play an instrument already and are interesting in learning how to play it in a mariachi context, please feel free to register for our workshops.
What will I need to bring to the workshops? We ask that students bring their own instruments, as well as concert attire – white shirt or blouse and dark pants or skirt for instrumentalists, Jalisco for dancers.
What performance opportunities are there associated with the Workshops? Workshop students will perform at the Gala Concert. There will also be an optional Student Showcase Concert, for students wishing to perform for each other and the public.
Who can I contact for more information? Please call our Mariachi Youth Programs Coordinator, Monica Ramos, at (408) 920-6070 or email her at mramos@mhcviva.org. She'll be happy to answer all of your questions.

Outdoor Festival

Can my group perform at the outdoor feria? If you'd like to be considered to perform at the San José Mariachi and Mexican Heritage Festival, we are now accepting online submissions through Sonicbids.
How much are tickets to the outdoor festival? $15 general admission | $75 VIP seating | Kids 12 and under free. It's a great day full of music, food, culture, and fun, so please bring the whole family!
Who will be performing? Everyone from local mariachis to nationally renowned artists! We’ll be posting artist details as they become available.
What other activities will there be at the festival? Family craft activities, vendors selling authentic Mexican art, delicious Mexican food, and much more!
I'm a vendor and I'd like to have a booth at the festival. Who do I contact about that? Thanks for your interest in the festival. Please call Terry Alderete at 510-436-6672 or 510-648-2337.

Concerts

How much are tickets? It depends on the concert. Please see our concert listing for full concert details.
How do I buy tickets? Tickets for most concerts go on sale July 8th. Pre-sale on July 5th (promo code: HERITAGE) through Ticketmaster online. See our ticket information page for complete information on purchasing tickets.
Do I have to buy my tickets in advance? We'd certainly recommend it. We don’t usually have many tickets left by showtime!

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