The folkloric-themed festival, to be held at the Cortijo Los Fernández ranch on the outskirts of Guadalajara, is billed as “a cultural-commercial” event and is open to the public.
Organizers say more than 160 tequila manufactures will be exhibiting their products. There will be tequila tastings (catas) free to all those with the purchase of an entrance ticket, new product launches and discounts on sales they promise will be “unattainable” elsewhere.
Also planned are mariachi music, folk dancing, food stalls, an art exhibit related to tequila, charro displays, bulls and informative talks. Famed Jalisco fashion house Takasami Casa de Modas and jeweler Gabriela Sánchez will be showing off their creations.
According to CNIT President Eduardo Orendain Giovannini, ten journalists or “opinion leaders” from China will be special guests at the festival. Tequila sales to China have increased 104 percent since the Chinese government relaxed import regulation governing the liquor in June 2013.
Entrance to the Tequila Festival costs 150 pesos and tickets may be purchased ahead of time through Ticketmaster, or at the gate. The festival is open on Friday, September 12, from noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, September 13, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cortijo Los Fernández is located in Tonala on the Carretera (Highway) to Zapotlanejo (toll road), immediately after where the highway crosses the Periferico Sur. The Carretera a Zapotlanejo is the extension of Avenida Lazaro Cardenas. Cortijo Los Fernández is about six kilometers from the Lazaro Cardenas/Chapala highway intersection. Those coming from the Lake Chapala area can save time by turning on to the Periferico Sur immediately after the Guadalajara Airport. After about eight kilometers they will cross the Guadalajara-Zapotlanejo “Libre” highway. They should continue another four kilometers to the next major road, which is the Carretera a Zapotlanejo, where they should turn right. Almost immediately they should take the lateral (slip road) in front of the Farmacias Guadalajara distribution center and turn left back under the highway to get to Cortijo Los Fernández, which is 100 meters in the left. Signposts should lead the way.
Organizers say breathalyzers will be on hand at the exits so drivers can check whether they have exceeded the legal alcohol consumption limits.
The CNIT says it will be running free buses to and from the festival from its headquarters at Lázaro Cárdenas 3289 in Guadalajara’s Colonia Chapalita. For more information call (33) 3121-5021.