Cactus Festival
It isn’t anytime soon, so I wouldn’t get too excited. Plus, they don’t have the money to hold the festival yet, so maybe you want to contribute?
But most of all, it’s in Santa Cruz!
First Cactus Festival set for November
The first annual Cactus Festival, to be called the Festival del Nopal, is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The event is designed to honor the prickly pear cactus, a staple of Latin American people that appears on the Mexican flag.
The Santa Cruz City Council agreed unanimously Tuesday to sponsor the festival in name only, declining a request to give $7,000 to the event during a time of fiscal restraint. But council members said they would support fundraising efforts for the event, which is being organized by the Viva Ozava! Guelaguetza Planning Committee, whose annual celebrations have drawn more than several thousand visitors to Harbor High’s football field.
Ticket prices are expected to be $10 for adults and $8 for children. Anyone interested in volunteering or fundraising for the Cactus Festival can contact Councilman Tony Madrigal.
I would like to also honor the nopal. I wonder what I would get if Cactus Jungle helped to sponsor this festival? More nopal recipes to share on the blog? A taste of a really delicious prickly pear pie? Cuttings from rare and unusual Opuntia?
Come back in November and let’s find out together!
