Fandango Jarocho Newyorkino is a family-friendly community celebration filled with music and dance courtesy of the fandanguero community of New York City. This one-night-only event at Chelsea Factory (547 W 26th St.) is inspired by fandango jarocho, a living cultural tradition over 400 years old from the coastal region of southern Mexico, but infused with distinctive New York influences. Everyone is welcome! 

The roots of fandango jarocho go back to the spontaneous jams that would inevitably arise whenever neighboring rural townships gathered at local festivals and markets in Mexico. Performers and artisans would share poetry, theater, food, fashion, and music: jaranas, violins, harps, folksongs, and zapateados around a wooden platform called tarima. The sharing spirit of these gatherings expanded across the country, developing into rituals that have inspired meaningful cross-cultural connections.

This event is organized by México Now Festival - 20th Anniversary and sponsored by The Latinx Project. 

Artwork credit: Illustration by Alberto Villalobos and digitization by Catalina Sandoval.