MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SET TO HOST 13TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE MARIACHIS FESTIVAL

Mission San Juan Capistrano will host the 13th Annual Battle of the Mariachis Festival on Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the scenic Central Courtyard.
The event, the most popular Mariachi festival on the west coast, is presented thanks to the generous support of the Thomas J. and Erma Jean Tracy Family Foundation.
A record participation of fifteen Mariachi groups from California, Washington, Nevada and Arizona will compete on stage for cash prizes before a panel of judges. There also will be the ringing of the historic Mission bells, a special performance of the National Anthem, folkloric performances by Ballet Folklorico de San Juan Capistrano, bilingual-marionette shows by Franklin Haynes Marionettes and gourmet local food vendors.
Mission San Juan Capistrano executive director Mechelle Lawrence Adams and special guest emcee
Melinda Salcido will give the official welcome and introduction at the Central Courtyard stage beginning at 11 a.m., followed by the performance of the National Anthem and ringing of the historic Mission bells.
Mariachi performances, which include competition in both the Middle School/High School and College/
Open categories, will begin at 11:15 a.m. All musicians will fill the courtyard for an exciting all-group finale performance, followed by the presentation of awards at 3:45 p.m.
Both general admission tickets and reserved tables are sold out. However, the public can follow event updates at https://www.facebook.com/MissionSJC/ and cast their vote for favorite mariachi group at www.missionsjc. com/vote.
Following is a list of the bands that will perform:
Youth Category
Mariachi Los Jaguares de Middleton St. Elementary (Huntington Park, CA)
Mariachi Los Jaguares – El Sereno Middle School (Los Angeles, CA)
Mariachi Academy of Carson (Carson, CA)
Mariachi del Oeste (Los Angeles, CA)
Mariachi Juvenil Real de la Viña (Delano, CA)
Mariachi Alma de Canon – Canyon Springs High School (Las Vegas, NV)
Sinfonia Mexicana Mariachi Youth Academy (San Bernardino, CA)
Desert Pines High School Mariachi Los Jaguares (Las Vegas, NV)
Mariachi Corazon de Tucson (Tucson, AZ)
Mariachi Los Santos (Santa Ana, CA)
Open Category
Mariachi Juvenil Los Potrillos (San Bernaradino, CA)
Mariachi Tesoro del Valle (East Wenatchee, WA)
Mariachi Herencia (Corona, CA)
Mariachi de Uclatlán (University of California Los Angeles)
Mariachi Nuevo Capistrano (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Panel of Judges:
Lauryn Salazar
Margarita Chavez
Maricela Martinez
Tizoc Ceballos
Juan Mendoza
Jeff Nevin
Community Judges:
Mayor Kerry Ferguson
Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias
Don Dorkowski
Matias Belardes
About Mission San Juan Capistrano:
Known as the “Jewel of the Missions,” Mission San Juan Capistrano is a historic landmark and museum
that boasts of quality permanent exhibits featuring original artifacts as well as traveling and temporary exhibits on a wide variety of topics. The site itself serves as a living outdoor museum with original buildings constructed by Native Americans in the 18th century including the Serra Chapel, Great Stone Church, and the original padres’ quarters of the South Wing.
The Mission was founded on November 1, 1776 by Padre Junipero Serra as the seventh in the chain of the twenty-one California missions established by Spain, and is Orange County’s only mission. Every year, over 50,000 students visit the Mission and engage in an inspirational learning experience via the Mission Matters programming, as part of their State required California history studies.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is owned by the Diocese of Orange and is supported by the Mission Preservation Foundation, which is comprised of business and community leaders committed to ensuring the long term preservation and viability of Orange County’s only Mission. The Mission receives no funding from either the Church or the State of California and charges admission funds as a means of providing public access. Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. Open Daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday afternoon. Admission is $9 adults; $8 seniors (60 years or over); $6 children (ages 4 to 11); and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Free audio guide with senior and adult admission. For more information, call (949) 234-1300 or visit www.missionsjc.com.