National City prepares for March mariachis in park

The National City Chamber of Commerce will celebrate San Diego’s Mexican heritage on March 12 with its fifth annual International Mariachi Festival and Competition  from 11 a.m. to 7.p.m. at 3299  Tidelands Ave.

The  free public festival is the chamber’s signature event and organizers expect to exceed the 15,000 attendees from last year.

“It’s a huge (event) for us because it’s not only promoting Mexican arts and culture which is a  reflection and a connection to our Mexican heritage in National City and even throughout San Diego and the region but it is also a way to stimulate tourism and community building,” said National City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jacqueline Reynoso.

The event will feature mariachi groups throughout the United States like Javier Rodriguez and Mariachi Reyes  from Los Angeles,  Mariachi Aztlan from Texas  and  Guadalajara, Mexico’s Mariachi Sol de America. Mariachi will not be the only showcase as many ballet folklorico dancers will hit the stage in a celebration of arts and culture.

Danza Mexi’Cayotl Indio Cultural Center  will host the opening ceremony.  Followed by a high school mariachi competition starting at 1 p.m.

Reynoso said the arts and culture pavilion will display the artwork of 30 local artists. Off-site parking for $10 and free shuttle service will  be provided.

Prior to the event on March 10 and March 11,mariachi practioners will participate in  a two-day  music conference at the University of San Diego. The conference will consist of mariachi instruction and training for about 300 students from throughout the United States by renowned mariachi educators and practitioners. Conference participants will be invited to the festival.

“The reason we do this (educational workshop) is to support youth development in the arts and to offer a program that connects children from all over and  especially here in San Diego to s their  Mexican roots through the study of mariachi music,” she said.