In Mexico, Christmas is not just a single day, but a whole season of Christmas-related celebrations. Today, the Christmas traditions in Mexico are a blend of indigenous culture, Spanish heritage, and many influences. On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), it is tradition for Mexican families to attend midnight mass before returning home to a late-night feast that includes foods like bacalao, ham, turkey, tamales, and mole, with ponche to drink and lots of music! Performed by Ballet Folklorico de Los Angeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar.

Nochebuena: A Christmas Spectacular returns to The Bankhead in this breathtaking and traditional show featuring a talented cast of dancers, singers, and musicians who will take you on a journey through the joy and wonder of the holiday season. With stunning choreography, dazzling costumes, and unforgettable music, Nochebuena is the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! This show will surely sell out– book your tickets now so you don’t miss out on a magical night at The Bankhead!

In Mexico, Christmas is not just a single day, but a whole season of related celebrations. Today, the Christmas traditions in Mexico are a blend of indigenous culture, Spanish heritage, and many other influences. On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), it is tradition for Mexican families to attend midnight mass before returning home to a late-night feast that includes foods like bacalao, ham, turkey, tamales, and mole, with ponche to drink and lots of music! Gifts are not usually given at this time, but this is changing with increasing cultural influence from the USA. (Santa Claus has started coming to Mexico!) In this concert, Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar embrace some of the traditions that people in Mexico celebrate during Christmas time, but keep in mind that many of these customs and their celebrations vary region to region. Many of them are also changing with the influence of other cultures (most notably that of the United States).

Experience the vibrant spirit of Mexico’s Christmas season with an all-star cast featuring Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar. 

Immerse yourself in Nochebuena traditions, where captivating music, dance, and festive customs create an unforgettable cultural celebration. This spectacular show focuses on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), where Mexican families attend midnight mass before returning home to a late-night feast and lots of music! In Mexico, Christmas is a whole season of Christmas-related celebrations, representing a blend of indigenous culture, Spanish heritage, and influences from other cultures.

Mariachi Garibaldi enjoys a professional partnership with Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and together they have entertained thousands of people at sold out venues. Both collaborated with Mitú Network to recreate Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’s “Tale As Old As Time” which catapulted their professional careers and became a viral video with over 15 million views.

Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Edible Magazine, 95.7 FM The Beat, and La Ley 100.3 FM

This event is part of Resonance: A Cultural Art Series Sponsored by the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion.

In Mexico, Christmas is not just a single day, but a whole season of Christmas-related celebrations. Today, the Christmas traditions in Mexico are a blend of indigenous culture, Spanish heritage, and many influences. On Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), it is tradition for Mexican families to attend midnight mass before returning home to a late-night feast that includes foods like bacalao, ham, turkey, tamales, and mole, with ponche to drink and lots of music! Gifts are not usually given at this time, but this is changing with increasing cultural influence from the USA. Santa Claus has started coming to Mexico! In this concert, we’ll go through some of the traditions that people in Mexico celebrate during Christmas time, but keep in mind that many of these customs and their celebration vary across region to region. Many of them are also changing with the influence of other cultures (most notably that of the United States).

2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

“Lively holiday spectacular… “—Los Angeles Times

Celebrate the holiday traditions of Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) in San Diego. Artistic directors Kareli Montoya (Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles) and Jaime Cuéllar have created a holiday experience celebrating the traditions and customs of Christmas in Mexico with an all-star cast of musicians and dancers. In Mexico, Christmas is a whole season of holiday celebrations that represent a blend of Indigenous cultures, Spanish heritage, and diverse cultural influences. Spirited folk tales are shared through a stunning display of vibrant colors and dance as Mariachi music fills the air.

One of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed on by building an Ofrenda, a home altar decorated with a collection of objects, candles, marigold flowers, and photos of our dearly departed. Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebrationfeatures traditional music and dance from different regions, including “La Bruja” from Veracruz, “Dance de Tare Ambakitis” from Nayarit, as well as the fantastic music from the Disney movie “Coco.” All this is interspersed with tributes to great Mexican artists such as Juan Gabriel, Selena, Jose Infante, and Alejandro Fernandez. The live Mariachi and our original traditional costumes all create an unforgettable visual and musical experience. Ofrenda is a show for the entire family. Entertaining and fun for the kids, moving and exciting for the grown-up, also sweet and filled with memories for our Abuelitas and Abuelitos.

"The welcome from 'Ofrenda' was so spectacular, surely the nearly 3,000 living souls at the Rady Shell on Sunday were surrounded by legions of spirits, drawn to the heart-melting singing, thrilling percussive footwork, and parade of vivid costumes."
- Janice Steinberg, San Diego Story

Friday, October 27, 2023 at 7:30pm - One of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed on by building an Ofrenda, a home altar decorated with a collection of objects, candles, marigold flowers and photos of our dearly departed. Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration features traditional music and dance from different regions, including “La Bruja” from Veracruz, “Dance de Tare Ambakitis” from Nayarit, as well as the amazing music from the Disney movie “Coco”. All this is interspersed with tributes to great Mexican artists such as Juan Gabriel, Selena, Jose Infante, and Alejandro Fernandez. The live Mariachi and original traditional costumes all contribute to create an unforgettable visual and musical experience. Ofrenda is a show for the entire family. Entertaining and fun for the kids, moving and exciting for the adults, sweet and filled with memories for our Abuelitas and Abuelitos.

Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration debuted at San Diego’s Rady Shell on October 31, 2021, to a sold-out audience! One of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed on by building an Ofrenda, a home altar decorated with a collection of objects, candles, marigold flowers and photos of our dearly departed. Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration features traditional music and dance from different regions, including La Bruja from Veracruz, Dance de Tare Ambakitis from Nayarit, as well as the amazing music from the Disney movie Coco.  All this is interspersed with tributes to great Mexican artists such as Juan Gabriel, Selena, Jose Infante, and Alejandro Fernandez.

The live Mariachi and our original traditional costumes all contribute to create an unforgettable visual and musical experience. Ofrenda is a show for the entire family. Entertaining and fun for the kids, moving and exciting for the grown up, also sweet and filled with memories for our Abuelitas and Abuelitos. 

One of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed on by building an Ofrenda, a home altar decorated with a collection of objects, candles, marigold flowers and photos of our dearly departed. Ofrenda: A Dia de los Muertos Celebration features traditional music and dance from different regions, including “La Bruja” from Veracruz, “Dance de Tare Ambakitis” from Nayarit, as well as the amazing music from the Disney movie “Coco”.  All this is interspersed with tributes to great Mexican artists such as Juan Gabriel, Selena, Jose Infante, and Alejandro Fernandez. The live Mariachi and our original traditional costumes all contribute to create an unforgettable visual and musical experience. Ofrenda is a show for the entire family. Entertaining and fun for the kids, moving and exciting for the grown up, also sweet and filled with memories for our Abuelitas and Abuelitos.

Ofrenda es un programa de El Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles y el Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar que rinde tributo a quienes ya no están con nosotros. Una propuesta escénica de danza y música que toma como poética de inspiración las celebraciones del pueblo mexicano referentes al día de muertos.

El sincretismo y la tradición que se vive en México los días primero y dos de noviembre son un referente internacional que permite apreciar una extensa cantidad de actividades de carácter popular centradas en la muerte, danza, música, artes plásticas, ofrendas y celebraciones forman parte del contexto festivo para conmemorar a sus difuntos.

Ofrenda es un espectáculo cautivador y nostálgico para honrar la memoria de grandes artistas musicales como Juan Gabriel, Pedro Infante, José Alfredo Jiménez y Selena. Un viaje por las expresiones dancísticas de los estados de   Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca y Veracruz, un paneo por la historia revolucionaria a través de sus bailes y la apropiación de tan soléenme celebración en nuestra propuesta coreográfica inspirada en Coco de Disney.

Celebrate one of Mexico’s most beloved holidays, Día de Los Muertos, with the nation’s premier Mexican folk dance company, Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles, and the musicians of Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar, led by three-time Grammy award-winner Jimmy Cuéllar.

In an unforgettable visual and musical experience, OFRENDA pays tribute to traditional music and dances from different regions, including “La Bruja” from Veracruz and “Retablo Purépecha” from the state of Michoacán, along with amazing music from the Disney movie “Coco,” plus an homage to Mexican artists Juan Gabriel, Selena, Pedro Infante, and José Alfredo Jiménez.