San Jacinto Plaza Will Not be Completed in Time for Mariachi Festival

The Mariachi Loco Music Festival will not be held at the San Jacinto Plaza after all because the plaza renovations will not completed in time.

Billed as the first major event to take place at the plaza since it was closed for refurbishment in 2013, the Mariachi Loco Music Festival will still be held downtown over the Mother's Day weekend but the festivities will instead will be moved to several downtown streets around the plaza.

“Opening parts of the plaza before it is complete could jeopardize the City of El Paso’s ability to hold the contractor accountable for delivering the world-class project we promised to taxpayers," said City Engineer Irene Ramirez via a city press release. To date, the reconstruction of the plaza is 80 percent complete. The largest item that still has to be finished is the shade structure which will protect the Los Lagartos sculpture from the elements.

Details and specifics of the area and streets the mariachi festival will be held are still being looked into and will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 3-day family-friendly celebration will take place May 8 – 10, and feature 13 Mariachi groups, plus Folkloric dancers, a Juan Gabriel impersonator, and live music by local bands and musicians. A variety of regional foods and beverages will also be spotlighted. For more info and ticket details visit the Mariachi Loco Music Festival website.