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-Editorial
If you’re a fan of grilled meats, mark October 19th on your calendar, because “A la Parrilla Fest 2024” promises to be the most anticipated culinary event of the year in Baja California. With the slogan “the best grill in Baja,” this celebration will feature delicious barbecues, live music, and an unforgettable atmosphere, solidifying itself as an unmissable event in the region.
This festival is not just about traditional grilling. “A la Parrilla Fest” will offer a truly international gastronomic experience, with over 60 barbecue stations, each representing a recipe from different countries, spanning from the Americas to Asia. The best Grill Masters and invited restaurants will be in charge of the dishes, offering attendees the chance to travel the world through their taste buds without leaving the venue.
With your ticket purchase, you’ll enjoy an “all you can eat” barbecue feast and unlimited drinks, including beers, cocktails, sodas, and water. Additionally, the event will feature three live shows led by international chefs, headlined by Grand Master Chef Toño Méndez. Live music, and artistic and cultural performances, along with a surprise show, promise to complete a unique experience.
Besides the food and entertainment, “A la Parrilla Fest 2024” has a charitable purpose. This year, the festival aims to raise funds for the Castro Limón Foundation, which provides specialized care for children with cancer across the region. The foundation’s services, such as hospitalization, medication, and palliative care, benefit families from Mexicali, Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, and other areas, offering a glimmer of hope during difficult times.
“A la Parrilla Fest” has a history that dates back several years. It was originally started by the Rotary Club Mexicali Empresarial to raise funds for children with cleft lip and palate and become a symbol of solidarity and support for hundreds of families. However, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the event, and the situation also impacted the Rotary Club, which dissolved that same year.
Despite these setbacks, the spirit of the festival didn’t disappear. A group of former Rotary Club Mexicali Empresarial members, aware of the event’s importance, decided to revive it. They formed a new organizing group, and although the original club no longer exists, their mission to help the most vulnerable remains the backbone of “A la Parrilla Fest.”
Rogelio Bretón, Vice President of the A La Parrilla Fest Organizing Committee, stated that a movement was created that has now become the largest “Rib-Eye” competition in the country and had to continue.
“We have a lot of security during the event, on the road, in the parking lot, and everyone is going to have a phenomenal time,” said Bretón, inviting people from Imperial Valley to attend.
A special attraction is a commemorative t-shirt designed by Mexicali artist Marco Miranda. He was asked to create something symbolic that people could wear all year round. The design includes the sun, representing Mexicali, Baja as a grill seen from above, and on the back, a cow grazing in front of the iconic Centinela Mountain, another representative symbol.
With a renewed focus on supporting children’s causes, such as cancer treatment, the festival has come back stronger, proving that the desire to help and solidarity can overcome any adversity.
Today, “A la Parrilla Fest” continues to draw thousands of people, not just for its international culinary offerings, but also for the opportunity to contribute to a noble cause. What began as an initiative of the Rotary Club Mexicali Empresarial has evolved, adapting to the times and keeping the legacy of helping those in need alive.