Public health concerns notwithstanding, the Festival de Café, Chocolate y Vino will take place as scheduled Saturday, January 8, and Sunday, January 9, at the Ajijic Malecón. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. Admission is free of charge.
At a press conference held Tuesday, January 4, in Chapala, event director Raúl Ceniceros announced that sanitary measures will be implemented to protect the wellbeing of visitors and exhibitors alike.
The strategies include obligatory use of hand sanitizer and face masks at the venue, and limiting access to 60 percent of the site’s capacity. Admittance will be restricted to the east end of the Malecón next to the pier, with visitors directed westward through the exhibition area to the exit. Head counts will be conducted at both extremes to avoid overcrowding, Ceniceros explained.
The gastronomy festival will showcase an array of coffee, chocolate and wine products, complementary foods and different liquors brought in to represent culinary traditions and novelties from various regions of Mexico. Around 60 featured exhibitors will offer sample tastings along with sales of their goods.
Associated cultural activities will include an art show, and live music and dance entertainment running from 4 to 8 p.m.
The Festival de Café, Chocolate y Vino originated in the neighboring state of Michoacán, with previous fairs held in Patzcuaro and Morelia. Ajijic was chosen as an ideal location for the first out-of-state edition.