On October 24 and 25, the city of Loreto will host the 4th Latin American Cultural Festival, bringing together for the first time representatives from the three Californias: Baja California, Baja California Sur, and California, United States.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Thursday, August 21, at the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, where organizers shared details of the festival, held as part of the 328th anniversary of Loreto’s founding.
The event will feature live music, conferences, exhibitions, workshops, food tastings, and an artisan market. Guatemala will also participate as a guest country, and organizers emphasized that all activities are free and family-friendly.
This year’s program includes a performance by Baja California singer-songwriter Gabriela Bojórquez and the Peninsula Quartet from the Baja California Symphony Orchestra.
The United States, this year’s honored guest country, will be represented by a music ensemble blending country and blues influences. U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Christopher Teal, noted that the musicians will also lead free workshops for young people and local artists throughout the two-day event.
In addition, EducationUSA will set up an information booth to promote academic exchange opportunities in cultural and artistic fields.
The Three Californias United
Loreto is a fitting venue for the festival. Founded on October 25, 1697, as the first Jesuit mission in the peninsula, it is widely regarded as the historic heart of the Californias.
“The three Californias share a territory that has always had an impact in many ways, particularly in its cultural and historical legacy. That is what inspires us to create festivals like this,” said Victor Hugo Caballero, Director of the Sudcalifornian Institute of Culture.
For his part, Consul Teal underscored the symbolic value of Loreto as a host city:
“I am honored to visit Loreto. It is a place that reflects our shared history and the future we want to build together. We are more than three states; we are part of a binational family, sharing cuisine, music, and traditions.”
Finally, Loreto Mayor Paz del Alma Ochoa highlighted that the festival represents a cultural kinship that transcends the name the three regions share.
The festival is supported by the Government of Baja California Sur, the Government of Loreto, the Sudcalifornian Institute of Culture, and the U.S. Consulate in Mexico, along with the collaboration of cultural institutions from Guatemala.
