If you’re always craving an oatmeal or celery-flavored pulque, you’ll love to know that November’s calendar now includes the perfect plan for pulque lovers. It’s the Magueyero Cultural and Gastronomic Festival, which will combine the joy of good pulque with activities to learn about the work of the tlachiquero, as well as the culture surrounding the maguey plant.
This is a free, public event offering a wide-ranging program of activities to fully explore the world of pulque and the maguey plant—from work in the fields to the advocacy for this beverage.
While you sample natural pulque, aged pulque, and aguamiel, you can join workshops, share your thoughts at the talks, and even show off your best dance moves.
Without further ado, here’s the full program:
Presentations, lectures, and panel discussions
- 11:00–11:20: opening ceremony
- 11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.: Ballroom dance performance.
- 12:20–1:00 p.m.: Lecture “The Healing Properties of Metl,” presented by Gabriel Gámez Torres, accompanied by the book launch of *Un cuento a PILARES* by Araceli Sánchez Rodríguez.
- 1:10 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.: Book presentation of *¡Que viva el Pulque!* by Juan Escalona, followed by an environmental talk.
- 2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: discussion titled “Defending the Maguey and Its Designation as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City,” led by Professor Valdovinos.
- 2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Book presentation of *Los últimos Tlachiqueros: Manual para hacer Pulque* (The Last Tlachiqueros: A Manual for Making Pulque), by David Polo.
- 4:50 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Lecture “The Ecological Importance of the Maguey in Mexico City,” by biologist Fidel Francisco García del Valle.
- 5:40 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.: Folk dance performance.
Live Music
- 2:00 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.: performance by “Kumbia Azotacalles.”
- 3:40 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.: Featured performance by Ópera Amicus.
Workshops, exhibitions, and activities
- Curado-Making Workshop: Led by Allin L. Reyes at two times (11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.); pre-registration is required by scanning the event’s QR code.
- "Pulquerías de la Ciudad" Photography Exhibition.
- "Paint Your Guaje, Don’t Be a Maje" workshop, led by Coconed.
- A tasting of the different stages of aguamiel fermentation, led by Miguel García.
Gastronomy and Traditional Medicine
To recharge your energy, you’ll find delicious maguey-based cuisine from projects like Mundo Pulque and Cocina Xantico, as well as a traditional medicine area where you can experience a pre-Hispanic tarot reading.
Date and Location
The event takes place on November 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All the festivities will be held at the basketball courts next to Pilares Tlacopan, located right at the intersection of Calzada México Tacuba and Avenida Aquiles Serdán, in the Miguel Hidalgo borough.
There’s no excuse to stay home—come celebrate at the Magueyero Cultural and Gastronomic Festival!
