Taste of Jalisco Festival Returns to Cathedral City for 10th Anniversary Celebration, May 1-3, 2026

10th Annual Weekend-Long Festival of Culture Features Live Music and Performances, Carnival, and Fun for the Entire Family

Gold Medal Tequila Tasting Competition Opens Program

Early Bird Tickets On Sale NOW

The City of Cathedral City is proud to announce the dates of the 10th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival, celebrating the sights, sounds, and tastes of its sister city Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico here in Southern California. Scheduled for May 1st through May 3rd, 2026, in downtown Cathedral City, this annual celebration honors the 30-year sister city relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco through culture, arts, cuisine, music and fashion.

The Jalisco weekend includes a sprawling family-friendly carnival, an artisan craft vendor market, gold medal tequila tastings, authentic Mexican cuisine, community folklorico dance presentations, daily entertainment, a Lucha Libre wrestling show, and more.

Following the lighting of City Hall Friday evening, a highlight of the weekend will be entertainment from the Jalisco Cultural Stage and Cathedral City Community Amphitheater stages, featuring local and regional musical groups and live acts celebrating Mexican art and culture. All headline amphitheater performances at the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater will be announced on March 3 with pre-sale signups getting first dibs on tickets and lineup starting March 3, 2026.

The event also features a judged tequila and mezcal tasting, a practice instituted last year. Last year, Tequila Laya took home first place in the Taste of Jalisco Gold Medal Tequila Tasting Competition. Their Silver Blanco Tequila stood out among the best, capturing the essence of authentic craftsmanship and bold flavor.

Early bird advance pre-sale tickets are on sale for those on our email list starting on Thursday, March 5th for only $3.00. Official ticket sales open to the public on Friday, March 6th at 10:00 AM PST and start at $5.00.

There's also power-ups available: unlimited ride wristbands and "fast passes" to skip the lines. This year, Taste of Jalisco offers something really new and special: all tickets include access to all entertainment inside the Amphitheater. This includes Lucha Libre Wrestling. Want to take part? Vendor applications are now open. Volunteers can apply by submitting a request on our website.

The Sister City relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico was first established in 1996 when the two cities entered into a formal Sister Cities agreement. Since then, exchanges between the cities have included art, culture, governmental best-practices, youth-focused educational opportunities, donation of firefighting equipment, and firefighter training, among others.

"The Taste of Jalisco Festival is a reflection of Cathedral City's unique spirit - and a proud celebration of our vibrant Latino community," says Cathedral City Mayor Raymond Gregory. "Our sister city relationship with Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, the food, the music, the culture - it all comes together in a way that makes this festival truly stand out. As we mark this 10th anniversary, we hope you'll join us May 1-3 for what we think will be our best celebration yet."

2026 event hours are Friday, May 1st from 5 PM to 11 PM; Saturday, May 2nd from Noon to 11 PM; and Sunday, May 3rd from Noon to 9 PM. Festivities take place in downtown Cathedral City, at 68600 East Palm Canyon Drive. Parking is free. For tickets and more information about the Taste of Jalisco Festival, visit www.tasteofjalisco.com.

ABOUT THE TASTE OF JALISCO FESTIVAL

Now in its tenth year, Taste of Jalisco Festival celebrates Cathedral City's Sister City relationship with the City of Tequila in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The festival honors this relationship through music, fashion, culture, spirits, and cuisine. The Sister City relationship was first established in 1996 when the two cities entered into a formal Sister Cities agreement. Since then, exchanges between the Cities have included art, culture, governmental best-practices, youth-focused educational opportunities, donation of firefighting equipment, and firefighter training, among others.

WHO WE ARE: CATHEDRAL CITY

Cathedral City takes its name from Col. Henry Washington of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who in 1850 noted the area's canyons resembled the interior of a grand cathedral. The name stuck; in 1925, developers named the area's first subdivision Cathedral City, California. After living in the area for millennia, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians established their reservation in the Coachella Valley in 1876, which comprises approximately 28% of Cathedral City.

Incorporated in 1981-later than its neighbors-Cathedral City is dedicated to providing a quality lifestyle and welcoming business climate. Cathedral City represents about ten percent of the Coachella Valley's population and is a destination of friendly neighborhoods, lush country clubs, diverse shopping, and unlimited business potential. Cathedral City is the fastest-growing among the desert cities, boasting higher growth in "snowbird" and full-time resident populations and economic indices than its neighbors-yet remains a great value.