Cathedral City’s 10th Annual Celebration of Culture, Food and Music
Clear your calendar for May 1–3, because Cathedral City is about to host its most electric weekend of the year. The Taste of Jalisco Festival is returning to downtown, and this year is a full-on milestone moment. This marks the 10th anniversary of one of Southern California’s most fun, culturally rich and flat-out delicious weekend events. Expect live music, carnival rides, artisan vendors, tequila tastings you’ll be talking about for weeks and a lucha libre wrestling showcase that closes out Sunday in the most dramatic way possible.
This festival has always had a way of pulling people in and making them feel like they’re part of something bigger, and this year, that feeling is dialed all the way up. Get your tickets early and clear your weekend.
Ten Years of Celebrating a 30-Year Bond
What makes Taste of Jalisco special and not just a party for the sake of it is that it exists to honor a real relationship. Cathedral City and the city of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico, have been sister cities since 1996 in a relationship built on real exchange, not just a plaque on a wall. Exchanges have included art, culture, youth programs and firefighter training, with participants traveling between both cities to share skills and traditions.
So when you’re standing there watching a folklórico dance performance in the warm desert evening, or you’re mid-bite into carne asada fresh off the grill, you’re not just attending an event. You’re participating in a living, breathing cultural bridge between two communities that have truly invested in each other.
The Music Will Have You Dancing All Weekend
Entertainment is a massive part of why people come back year after year, and 2026 is bringing some serious energy to the stage that builds from the moment you walk in. The lineup this year leans fully into the nostalgia and heat of Latin music done right: Dreaming of You Selena, a Shakira Experience tribute packed with her biggest hits and signature moves and Savor the Band, a Santana tribute bringing Latin rock classics. And Sunday closes with lucha libre, featuring colorful characters, gravity-defying moves and nonstop excitement.
New this year, all tickets now include access to all entertainment inside the Amphitheater, which is a huge upgrade from years past. You won’t have to choose between stages or pay extra to see your favorites.
Local Insight: Get on the email list before you do anything else. Pre-sale tickets drop first for subscribers at a steep discount (as low as $3!).
Tequila Steals the Show
If you came here for the drinks and the bites, you are in very good company. The festival features authentic Mexican cuisine, daily cooking demos from local restaurants featuring drinks, salsa and signature dishes at 5:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. each day, with La Casa Del Mariachi performing on Saturday. But the crown jewel of the culinary experience is absolutely the tequila competition.
Friday night’s top-shelf tequila and mezcal tasting at 7 p.m. is the kind of thing that turns a festival into a memory. Highlights include Teocal Mezcal, Tequila Potro, Tequila Cabal and more. Last year, Tequila Laya’s Silver Blanco took home first place for its authentic craftsmanship and bold flavor. The competition is stiff, the pours are generous and lines form quickly for the standouts.
The Carnival, Vendors and Family Fun
This festival isn’t exclusively a grown-up affair. Taste of Jalisco is fully family-friendly, and one child aged 10 or under gets in free with a ticketed adult. The weekend includes a sprawling family-friendly carnival, an artisan craft vendor market with dozens of vendors and community folklórico dance presentations happening throughout the event.
There’s something for everyone here, and the layout of the Town Square Festival Lawn makes it easy to drift between the carnival, the vendor stalls and the food zones without feeling overwhelmed. If lines aren’t your thing, grab an unlimited ride wristband or a fast pass to skip them; a detail seasoned festival-goers will appreciate.
Before You Go
A little planning goes a long way for this weekend. The event runs Friday, May 1st from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, May 2nd from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday, May 3rd from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Festivities take place in downtown Cathedral City, and parking is free. Free entry is available for Cathedral City residents, military, first responders and teachers all day Friday, all day Saturday, and Sunday before 5:00 p.m., making it easy to drop in and enjoy the festivities throughout the weekend.
Agua Caliente Casino has come on board as this year’s lead sponsor, which signals just how much this event has grown in profile and production value over the past decade. For tickets and the full schedule, head to tasteofjalisco.com and make your plans before the weekend fills up.
Taste of Jalisco
68600 East Palm Canyon Drive
Cathedral City, CA 92234
tasteofjalisco.com
This article is brought to you by one of the many talented writers associated with Locale Magazine! We are a group of locals (whether born and raised or transplanted) who love this county we now call home!
