Neon lights glow, music takes over the park, and Taste of Jalisco flips downtown Cathedral City into full festival mode. The city’s 10th annual celebration launched Friday night, May 1, with a Selena tribute band, tequila judges at work and kids lining up to shout their favorite karaoke songs — yes, lots of Justin Bieber — proof that Coachella energy is still very much alive in the valley.
The festival, which celebrates Cathedral City’s ties with its Jalisco sister city of Tequila, has been moved from winter to May this year. But it maintains most of what has made it one of the most popular events on the Cathedral City calendar, including carnival rides and games, Mexican vendor booths, and nightly musical performances.
The festival continues Saturday, May 2, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., with performances by tribute acts for Shakira and Carlos Santana scheduled for 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively. The festival wraps up from 3 p.m. to 10 for its final day, Sunday, May 3, with a lucha libre wrestling demonstration at 5 p.m.
Looking for more information on the festival and how to buy tickets? Check out The Desert Suns’ complete guide to Cathedral City’s 2026 Taste of Jalisco here.
Watch the video to experience Taste of Jalisco after dark — from the music and midway lights to the Bieber sing-alongs and tequila tastings.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Here’s what you missed at night 1 of Cathedral City’s Taste of Jalisco
Reporting by Paul Albani-Burgio, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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