Help welcome Mariachi Vargas singer-extraordinaire and violin virtuoso Andres Gonzalez and honor mariachi pioneer and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán trumpeter Rigoberto Mercado tonight at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico at the Noche De Cultura event. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
This week marks the celebration of the 21st Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza, which officially began on Sunday, November 15 with a Mariachi Mass at Mission San José. You can stay connected with all of the upcoming events and celebrations taking place through November 21 by going to mariachimusic.com. Tomorrow, Thursday, the extravaganza will continue with the original mariachi songwriting competition, in which spectators can witness the talents of some of the greatest up-and-coming mariachi songwriters in the U.S. as they display their skills at breaking hearts and uniting people in the art of song, beginning at 1pm.
Following the songwriting competition at 5:30pm will be the Serenata en El Rio, which, similar to Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City where mariachi groups and vocalists gather and perform for audiences, will highlight some of the 50 youth mariachi groups from around the country and offer San Antonio the opportunity to welcome the visiting performers.