6th Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends), a non-profit organization dedicated to sustaining the legacy of our state parks and beaches, will host its sixth annual Mole & Mariachi Festival on Saturday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park (144 School St.) in downtown Santa Cruz.

The festival features a mole tasting competition with a wide variety of moles—a traditional Mexican sauce, sometimes made using chocolate—available to sample. Mole tasting kits will be available for purchase. Attendees will have the option to purchase six tasting tickets for $10.

Festival attendees can also purchase mole-inspired food items from local vendors who will be selling tamales, tacos and more. Admission to the solar-powered, zero-waste community event is free and attendees are encouraged to bring refillable water bottles for free water. Transportation options include free bike valet and free shuttle from downtown Santa Cruz (stops to include Locust Street Garage and Del Mar Theater).

Beer from Discretion Brewing, wine by Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, chavelas (a drink made with beer, tomato juice and spices) and aguas frescas will be available for purchase.

Attendees are encouraged to stop by the raffle table, which will feature numerous prize packages. Children’s activities include piñatas every hour, paper crafts and free face painting.

All proceeds benefit Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.