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Your Guide to the 2024 Pueblos Del Maíz Festival

Guide

Your Guide to the 2024 Pueblos Del Maíz Festival

by Matt SternerApr 3, 2024Updated May 17, 20244 min read
From Thursday, April 11 – Sunday, April 14, the nonprofit Tucson City of Gastronomy (TCoG) hosts the third annual international Pueblos Del Maíz festival, which celebrates the gastronomies, histories, and food cultures of maíz (corn) in Tucson and three other UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. Participating cities this year include Tucson, San Antonio, Mérida MX, and Bergamo-Gandino IT. Pueblos del Maíz in Tucson will be a four-day celebration of the major role of maíz in Southern Arizona’s food heritage, gastronomy, and culture. Centered in downtown Tucson, it will also extend to Mission Garden, Native Seeds/SEARCH, Kennedy Park, and other venues across the city. It will feature a free fiesta at Kennedy Park with street food and bands, cooking demonstrations by visiting chefs, a white-cloth dinner collaboratively prepared by visiting and local chefs, live musical performances, interactive art installations, and free educational tours, demonstrations, and presentations on the theme of maíz.
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8 spots

Club Congress

311 East Congress StreetDowntown

AmericanBar Food

BIDI BIDI BANDA (Selena Tribute Band)

Friday, April 12 from 7 - 11 p.m.
Bidi Bidi Banda is Austin's first all-star Selena Tribute, embarking on their final tour! Composed of members of some of Austin's premier Latin bands, Bidi Bidi Banda is the refried dream of Stephanie Bergara, a native Austinite who grew up listening to Tejano radio and singing into a hair brush while wearing her mother's red lipstick. The band's interpretation of Selena's greatest hits will leave you belting lyrics, doing the washing machine, and reliving the greatness of the Queen of Tejano Music. Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 622-8848
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FORGE at Roy Place

44 N Stone AveDowntown

Milpas and Microbes: Landscapes of Fermentation with Dr. César Ojeda Linares

Sunday, April 14 from 2 - 3 p.m.
This free presentation by a pioneer in ethno-microbiology will explore how the traditional milpa agricultural system of Mesoamerica creates landscapes designed to provide the ingredients for a variety of traditional fermented beverages made with maize and complementary crops through microbial interactions. Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 621-4657
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Kennedy Park

3357 S La Cholla BlvdWestside

Pueblos del Maíz Fiesta

Saturday, April 13 from 4 - 10 p.m.

Tucson City of Gastronomy presents the third annual "Pueblos del Maíz Fiesta," a  FREE community event at Kennedy Park. Starting at 4 p.m., Kennedy Park will transform into a maíz themed fiesta with live music from Los Gallegos and more. The event will also feature local food and artisan vendors, family-friendly activities, and art installations, all celebrating the cultural and culinary significance of Maíz in the Sonoran Desert.

Live music by: Angel Norteño Los Gallegos Native Creed Dámaris Bójor La Nueva Onda DJ TitoSuavecito
Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 791-5909
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Mission Garden

946 W Mission LnDowntown

Tasting History: Corn Traditions

Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 from 9 - 11 a.m. each day
The free program will include a display and interpretation of heritage and indigenous corn varieties grown at Mission Garden, a demonstration about making cal (lime) for nixtamalization of corn, a demonstration of the nixtamalization process, and tastings of fresh corn tortillas and traditional O'odham gaivsa (corn soup). Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 955-5200
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Native Seeds/SEARCH

3584 E River RdFoothills

Native Seeds/SEARCH Tour

Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. each day

Tour the Native Seeds/SEARCH (NS/S) seed lab, seed bank, and conservation gardens. Learn about the rich history of heirloom seed conservation and seed banking in the Southwest and the diverse regional maize collection stewarded by NS/S.

The tour will be followed by a brief presentation on different types of maize and the processes and challenges of conserving it.

Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗
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Pima Community College

5901 South Calle Santa CruzSouthwest

Learn to Make Maíz Recipes from Texas and Yucatan

Friday, April 12 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Free cooking demonstrations and tastings of traditional and innovative maize dishes by chefs visiting from San Antonio and Mérida, Mexico. Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗
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The Carriage House

125 S Arizona AveDowntown

GlobalInternationalDim SumCreative Western

Noche de Maíz Chef's Dinner

Thursday, April 11 from 7 - 10 p.m.
Tucson City of Gastronomy and Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) present an unforgettable dinner to kick off Pueblos del Maíz 2024. Visiting chefs from sister UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy, Mérida MX, Bergamo-Gandino IT, and San Antonio TX will collaborate with award-winning local chefs to prepare wine-paired courses highlighting corn's creative culinary possibilities. Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 614-1922
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The Rialto Theatre

318 E Congress StDowntown

CIMAFUNK

Sunday, April 14 from 6 - 11 p.m.
Cimafunk is a Grammy-nominated, Afro-Cuban Rockstar. His name refers to his heritage as a "cimarrón," Cubans of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery, as well as to the essence of his music that aims to subvert classical Cuban rhythms with innovative mixes of funk, afrobeat, and hip hop. Cimafunk has received overwhelming praise touring the U.S. and Europe, making a name for himself as one of today's great showmen, performing an electric live show with La Tribu, his nine-person band from Havana. His live show is a celebration of groove and an unforgettable sonic and bodily experience. Cimafunk is redefining contemporary Cuban music as well as Afro-Latin identity and the fusion of black cultures. His latest album, El Alimento, was nominated at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. Learn more.
Website ↗Instagram ↗(520) 740-1000
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@Pueblovida is closing its original downtown taproom this fall, 12 years after opening, and moving next door to a larger space at 121 E. Broadway Blvd. The new taproom will seat 100+ guests and feature 14 taps, a curated wine program and, for the first time, a restaurant. Chef Scott Girod of @Anello_pizzeria will open a new restaurant in the shared space, expected to follow the taproom’s late fall 2026 opening in early 2027. “This taproom has always been more than four walls. It’s where we’ve celebrated milestones, introduced hundreds of new beers, watched friendships grow and built a community we’re incredibly grateful for. While we’re excited about what’s next, it’s impossible not to feel sentimental about saying goodbye to the place where it all happened.” — @Pueblovida Co-founder Linette Antillon Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com@Pueblovida is closing its original downtown taproom this fall, 12 years after opening, and moving next door to a larger space at 121 E. Broadway Blvd. The new taproom will seat 100+ guests and feature 14 taps, a curated wine program and, for the first time, a restaurant. Chef Scott Girod of @Anello_pizzeria will open a new restaurant in the shared space, expected to follow the taproom’s late fall 2026 opening in early 2027. “This taproom has always been more than four walls. It’s where we’ve celebrated milestones, introduced hundreds of new beers, watched friendships grow and built a community we’re incredibly grateful for. While we’re excited about what’s next, it’s impossible not to feel sentimental about saying goodbye to the place where it all happened.” — @Pueblovida Co-founder Linette Antillon Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com
Bigger. Better. Tastier. Save the Date! @Tucsonasiannightmarket returns on Saturday, November 28th, 2026! Our last event showed us just how much our community loves this experience and highlighted the improvements needed to give Tucson the event it truly deserves. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes fixing bottlenecks, reworking the site plan, adding entry points, bringing in more incredible vendors, and introducing new food options to drastically cut down wait times. We can’t wait to welcome you back for an upgraded experience. When: Saturday, November 28th, 2026 Where: Kino Sports Complex We’re so grateful for this community’s passion as we grow. Stay tuned! Ticket details and vendor drops are coming soon! Vendor application link in bio. Photos by @sea_lyonBigger. Better. Tastier. Save the Date! @Tucsonasiannightmarket returns on Saturday, November 28th, 2026! Our last event showed us just how much our community loves this experience and highlighted the improvements needed to give Tucson the event it truly deserves. We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes fixing bottlenecks, reworking the site plan, adding entry points, bringing in more incredible vendors, and introducing new food options to drastically cut down wait times. We can’t wait to welcome you back for an upgraded experience. When: Saturday, November 28th, 2026 Where: Kino Sports Complex We’re so grateful for this community’s passion as we grow. Stay tuned! Ticket details and vendor drops are coming soon! Vendor application link in bio. Photos by @sea_lyon
After 13 years, Agustín Kitchen has permanently closed its doors at Mercado San Agustín. The space already has its next chapter lined up. Il Santo, an Italian concept from hospitality veteran Vito Prencipe and fifth-generation Tucsonan Bonnie Callahan, will take over the space. “I leave this chapter with mixed emotions as I say goodbye to our friends, patrons and colleagues at Agustín Kitchen. It’s with gratitude and admiration that I thank our managers, chefs, staff, and purveyors both old and new for their years of collaboration. Agustin Kitchen has meant so much to so many over this time and has been a beloved anchor in the Mercado District community.” — Owner Adam Weinstein Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.comAfter 13 years, Agustín Kitchen has permanently closed its doors at Mercado San Agustín. The space already has its next chapter lined up. Il Santo, an Italian concept from hospitality veteran Vito Prencipe and fifth-generation Tucsonan Bonnie Callahan, will take over the space. “I leave this chapter with mixed emotions as I say goodbye to our friends, patrons and colleagues at Agustín Kitchen. It’s with gratitude and admiration that I thank our managers, chefs, staff, and purveyors both old and new for their years of collaboration. Agustin Kitchen has meant so much to so many over this time and has been a beloved anchor in the Mercado District community.” — Owner Adam Weinstein Read the article on Tucsonfoodie.com
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