Cairns to celebrate first Mexican Festival, Day of the Dead
It’s time to break out the sombreros and get ready to fiesta at the first Cairns Mexican Festival this weekend.
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Day of the Dead celebrations showcasing rich cultural heritage of Latin America will set the scene at the first Cairns Mexican Festival on Saturday, November 2.
Hosted at the Cairns German Club, festival organiser Uriel Navarro said it was a dream come true.
“I had a dream to share the culture of Mexico and Dia de los Muertos for a long time,” Mr Navarro said.
“I wanted to do a bit of education around it because people have mixed feelings thinking it’s similar to Halloween.”
Mr Navarro said the popular festival was a nod to Mexico’s Aztec heritage and Spanish colonisation.
“It has a deep meaning from over 2000 years combining from different cultures in Mexico, from the aztecas to when the Catholics came in 1500s,” he said.
“It was (created as) a mix between the religions and a celebration of the day of the dead.”
Mr Navarro said the festival would include live music and entertainment, traditional folk dances, authentic food and more.
“I have a friend who has a tortillaria (tortilla making business), who will be bringing corn and flour tortillas from Western Australia and we will have quesadillas, homemade salsas etc,” he said.
“I’m passionate about sharing the culture and that is the main reason I wanted to do this.”
Cairns Mexican Festival will run from 5pm to 11.30pm on Saturday, November 2.
Entry is free for children, and $15 for adults.
Tickets will be available at the door.
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Originally published as Cairns to celebrate first Mexican Festival, Day of the Dead
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