Puerto Vallarta will host the fourth annual Cacao and Chocolate Festival, taking place on April 10th and 11th on Isla del Río Cuale. This event is dedicated to celebrating cacao and its traditions in Mexico through cultural, academic, and gastronomic activities.
At a press conference, Alejandra Cornejo, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, emphasized that the festival has become a vital space for preserving the historical and cultural heritage of cacao.
“It allows us to share these traditions with those unfamiliar with them, as well as with visitors from other cultures,” she stated.
Alberta Snelli, the festival’s founder, explained that this gathering is conceived as a space for community interaction where ancestral knowledge, practices, and wisdom related to cacao are shared.
She added that a film forum featuring a documentary screening will be held as part of the program.
Eduardo Nava, a cacao producer, emphasized that the event aims to introduce people to the product beyond just chocolate.
Nava explained that Puerto Vallarta has a community of more than 10 producers who work with cacao in various ways, which also boosts the development of the local market.
At the festival, attendees will enjoy activities such as food tastings, beverages, workshops, conferences, and cacao-derived products, including cosmetics and handicrafts.
Snelli reported that the festival will have an educational focus, as a drawing contest will be held in elementary schools, where participants will create illustrations of cacao trees, which will be exhibited in a gallery during the event.
In addition, workshops such as artisanal chocolate making and sensory experiences will be offered, for which the public can register in advance through the festival’s website.
In total, the participation of around 20 producers and artisans is expected, including some from Nayarit.
The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The organizers expressed their gratitude for the support of the Municipal Government, led by Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González, in making this event possible.
Source: contralinea.net
