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Council OKs shifting Taste of Jalisco to Cinco de Mayo weekend and authorizes updated three‑year contract
Summary
City council approved a requested date change and three‑year contract update for the Taste of Jalisco festival to align with Cinco de Mayo weekend, expand tequila tasting footprint, and change operating hours to 4 p.m.–11 p.m.; council cited weather and marketing advantages and approved a three‑year commitment to preserve the carnival operator.
The Cathedral City Council voted unanimously July 9 to approve a staff recommendation to move the Taste of Jalisco festival to Cinco de Mayo weekend for 2026–2028, authorize a three‑year contract with SoundSkills Inc., and change daily hours to 4 p.m.–11 p.m. for the event's carnival component.
City staff and event manager explained the change was proposed after vendor feedback, weather considerations and marketing analysis. Presenters said early May is drier and has warmer nighttime temperatures, which they expect will improve vendor and attendee experience. Staff also said the carnival operator (Helm and Sons) requested a three‑year commitment for planning and equipment scaling.
The proposal includes aligning the festival with Cinco de Mayo weekend (proposed May 1–3, 2026, with subsequent alignment in 2027–28), shifting to later hours to concentrate activity in afternoon-evening periods, and continuing the city’s standard annual price increase (about 5%) in the operator contract. Council members discussed marketing, tequila tasting footprint expansion and carnival safety; no public speakers spoke on the item. The motion to approve was made by Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Gregory, seconded by Council member Lam, and passed unanimously.
