Why Go Now: Revel in the sound of mariachi
The quintessentially Mexican music of mariachi, featuring costumed bands playing stringed instruments and trumpets, originated in Jalisco in the 19th century and has been added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Experience it firsthand in Guadalajara, Jalisco’s state capital, which hosts the International Mariachi and Charrería Festival for two weeks every August and September.
“We fill the city with celebration, folklore, and joy,” says Carlos Mateos, the festival’s general manager. Some 500 mariachi bands perform in the Teatro Degollado and public squares; there’s also parades, music workshops, and thrilling rodeo competitions of charrería, Mexico’s national sport.
