Courtesy photo.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with its ninth annual Mariachi Encuentro event, an evening filled with authentic Mexican food, music, and culture on Saturday, May 13th at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus, 5315 Foothill Road.
Guests will enjoy dinner and live entertainment, featuring Los Angeles-based Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar; Grupo Bella, an all-female group from Los Angeles that will be serenading guests during dinner; and Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles.
“Mariachi Encuentro is one of our favorite events of the year,” said John Cerda, a member of the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria board of trustees and the event’s co-chair. “I’m personally very passionate about Mariachi music and enjoy the opportunity to share it with the community while giving back to Girls Inc’s mission of inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold.”
Founded in 1994 by Jamie Cuellar, Mariachi Garibaldi began as a privately run community youth group. The ensemble gained popularity quickly and was one of the first youth mariachis to arise in Bakersfield, CA. Over the years, Mariachi Garibaldi has evolved into a premier mariachi ensemble in California led by Jimmy “El Pollo” Cuellar. They have shared the stage with many mariachi ensembles and well-known artists such as Latin Grammy Award winning artist Alejandro Fernandez and the late, Latin American music legend Juan Gabriel.
Grupo Bella is an all-female multi-faceted group from the Los Angeles area that uses Mariachi instrumentation to perform different styles of music, adding a modern twist to Mariachi music. Offering everything from traditional mariachi to salsa, the women who make up Grupo Bella have all worked on Grammy-winning or nominated albums.
Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles was founded in 2011 by Kareli Montoya and has already distinguished itself as the nation’s premier Mexican folk dance company.
Girls Inc. Carpinteria invites the entire community to Mariachi Encuentro. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. and dinner will be served at 5:15 p.m.
Tickets are $40 for bleacher seating and $60 for reserved seating and include dinner. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door. All proceeds will benefit Girls Inc. of Carpinteria.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please call (805) 684-6364 or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is a member of Girls Incorporated®, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value, and assert their rights. We provide programs for girls 6 to 18 years old that focus on science, math, and technology; health and sexuality; economic and financial literacy; sports skills; leadership and advocacy; and media literacy. To learn more, become a volunteer or offer support, please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.