The 6th Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival Brings Community Together at Santa Cruz Mission State Hi

Our biggest event of the year, the Mole & Mariachi Festival on Sept. 8, is behind us now, and it was a huge success! Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks held this free community celebration on September 8th at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park featuring a mole tasting competition, festive mariachi bands and folkloric dancers, fun activities for children and more. All proceeds go toward restoration of the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. The mole tasting competition offered attendees the opportunity to sample a wide variety of moles, a traditional Mexican sauce sometimes made using chocolate. A panel of local celebrity judges selected Margaritaville as the Judge’s Choice Award winner, while event attendees cast their vote for Mickey’s Café & Catering for the People’s Choice Award, and Chef Ana Mendoza won both the Judges’ Choice and the People’s Choice Runner Up Awards. Performances included music by Mariachi Gilroy and Mariachi Infantil Alma de Mexico, and folkloric dance by Estrellas de Esperanza and Senderos. Free children’s activities included piñatas every hour, paper crafts and face painting. Miller Maxfield was proud to help with all aspects of event management for the Mole & Mariachi Festival, from designing the festival poster to event production. Hope to see you next year!