The state government has announced that the 15th annual Mazunte International Jazz Festival is a go this weekend, albeit with a largely reduced budget.
The state Tourism Ministry finally contributed funds for the festival, allocating and delivering half a million pesos, or just under US $26,000, to the municipality of Santa María Tonameca.
When Governor Alejandro Murat announced the festival was returning to the Magical Town after being suspended for two years due to the pandemic, his tourism minister announced that 5 million pesos had been allocated. Over the next few months, that sum diminished every time it was mentioned.
Reports in early November indicated that whatever state funds were to be made available would be less than 1 million pesos.
Even if this week’s funding announcement was less than expected, the municipal authority of Tonameca is moving forward with the organization of the three-day festival, which begins Friday. The mayor announced that the municipality will put up 500,000 pesos in funding for the event.
The largest musical and cultural event on the Oaxaca coast will offer world-class shows by artists from Mexico and abroad. All shows are free.
Tonameca authorities expect the event will attract more than 6,000 visitors and much-needed revenue in the region.
Tourist service providers have reported they expect about 6,000 visitors with 100% hotel occupancy for the weekend. Occupancy rates will also be high in the neighboring towns of San Agustinillo, Zipolite, Puerto Ángel and Pochutla.
The lineup for the three days of music includes the Chilean group Ajimsa, which will perform on Friday. Other performers scheduled for Friday are Son Mazunte, Ross y Su Ensamble de Jazz.
Saturday’s lineup consists of Toque de Azafrán, Madai Real con la Xhiguiezz Jazz Band, Ensamble Deluxe and Orquesta Basura. Sunday’s performers will be ByT Band Blandas, Y Tlayudas Band, Los Pream, Techy y Su Aroma and DJ Markuz.
It will be the first festival since 2019, when the state provided funding of 2 million pesos, rather less than the 5 million it received under the previous government.
With reports from Estado Actual
