SOCORRO, N.M. – Celebrating the culture and history of Mexico through traditional song and dance, Mariachi Mexico Mestizo and Ballet Folklorico University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, will join forces for the annual Mariachi Christmas performance. The annual holiday favorite, now in its eighth year in Socorro, returns to New Mexico Tech’s Macey Center Dec. 16, 2023, with a 7:30 p.m. show.

The show’s tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors age 65 and older, $8 for youth under age 17 and free for NMT students. Tickets are available online at nmt.edu/pas. NMT Performing Arts Series (PAS) season tickets are available, and season subscribers save 25% off tickets for the entire year. A full schedule of PAS events and ticket information is available online at: nmt.edu/pas.

Mariachi Mexico Mestizo was created in 2020 to showcase the talents of musicians from the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Celebrating their ancestral cultural heritage of Mexico, Mariachi Mestizo will perform some of the most beloved canciones and sones of the venerated mariachi tradition. The group has performed throughout the United States.

The Ballet Folklórico is a 32-member organization comprised of university students who are pursuing degrees in a variety of disciplines. The Ballet presents student and public concerts annually and travels to present programs for local, state, national, and international private and public affairs.

Noberta Fresquez, the founder and producer of Mariachi Christmas and founder of the annual Mariachi
Spectacular in Albuquerque, said the show is a summary of the journey her group takes, starting on one of the most important dates on the Mexican calendar and the Southwest, Dec. 12.

“We tour through several regions of Mexico and celebrate the traditional Christmas traditions seen in the
Southwest and throughout Mexico,” she said. “The regions we are visiting this year through music, dance and colorful costumes are Veracruz, Jalisco and Colima. A narration in English shares information on each state we visit and each tradition that is celebrated.”

NMT PAS Director Ronna Kalish called the Mariachi Christmas performance “always amazing.”

“I encourage students, staff and community members to attend this entertaining and lively evening of music
and dancing,” she said. “Whether you’re a longtime fan of mariachi music or new to this genre, we look
forward to spending the evening enjoying bright costumes and dance and song styles from different regions of Mexico.”

Traditional Mexican posole and biscochitos will be available for sale.