FolkLIVE: Mexican Folkloric Festival 2026

In September, we will celebrate Mexican culture and folklife through dance, fashion, and food. This year, we will spotlight the rich intersectionality of Mexican culture and the African Diaspora. Focusing on Guerrero and Oaxacan dance and folklife. Join us in celebrating the shared experiences of the African and Mexican diasporas in New Jersey and across the country.

This event will take place on Saturday, September 12, at Monument Square Park from 2 pm – 6 pm.

You will also find artisan vendors, folkloric performers, Mariachi musicians, and the Civic Ceremony of “EL GRITO DE INDEPENDENCIA,” led by the Mexican Consulate in New Brunswick. 

SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES

2:00 pm – Welcoming Remarks

2:30 pm – Introduction of “EL GRITO DE INDEPENDENCIA”, Consul Alan Hubbard, Master of Ceremony, El Grito

2:40 pm – “EL GRITO DE INDEPENDENCIA,” with Mexican Consulate in New Brunswick, led by Mariana Diaz, Head Consul, Mexican Consulate in New Brunswick

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Cultural Program with Group de Danza Folklorica la Sagrada Familia featuring Zawadi African Dance Ensemble

5:00 pm – Live Band Performance

PARKING

The nearest paid parking decks are the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, Morris Street Parking Deck, and New Street Parking Deck. The venue is within walking distance of the New Brunswick train station on the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Line.

This event is presented in partnership with the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, as part of the County’s FolkLIVE series, which celebrates the diverse arts, histories, traditions, and stories that make Middlesex County so culturally rich.

*Other 2026 FolkLIVE events include the FolkLIVE: Gospel Music Festival on July 25, the FolkLIVE: New Jersey Folk Festival – 51st Anniversary on August 29, and the FolkLIVE: Mexican Folkloric Festival on September 12.