Fans of Mexico’s famed firewater will have the chance to engage in some serious tippling over the three-day run of the Chapala Tequila Festival, which kicks off Friday, July 19 along the center line of the waterfront Malecon.
Activities get underway with an inaugural cocktail party starting at 4 p.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 5 p.m. Afterwards, visitors can begin cruising exhibition stands offering samplings and sales of 50 brands of Mexico’s distinctive agave hooch.
The expo area on the north-south leg of the promenade adjacent to Avenida Madero will also have displays of local gastronomy and craftsmanship. Art lovers will want to check out the installation piece on a Lake Chapala theme designed by Conrado Contreras and a lesson in local history revealed in Miguel Mora’s frescos painted inside the lighthouse at the foot of the pier (see story page 11).Jorge Martinez, author of an encyclopedic history of tequila production, will be on hand on Friday at 7:30 p.m. to lead a formal cata (tasting) of the fiery brew. He will return on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m., to present informative conferences on his topic of expertise.
Live entertainment
Singer Lupita Jimenez is booked to open the festival entertainment program at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and close the event with an appearance on Sunday at 8 p.m.
Saturday’s bill will put several baile folklorico troupes in the limelight, starting at noon. A giant Vampiro cocktail – made with tequila, grapefruit soda and Chapala’s famed Sangrita chaser – will be concocted to fill a 260-liter clay jug created by local artisans. It will be the trial run toward earning a Guinness World Record during a 2014 repeat of the festival.
Different musical genres will be featured on Sunday, from noon to 9 p.m. The program breaks at 6:30 p.m. for a rapid fire Señorita Tequila 2013 pageant, with models assisting at the fair stands stepping up as contestants.
Admission to the festival is free of charge. Bottled tequila will be offered at rock bottom prices.