Photos & article  by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media (see photo gallery below)

What a beautiful day as the Sunday crowd at the Viva Denver Mariachi Festival and County fair enjoyed variety of colorful live mariachi bands, carnival rides, lucha libre, ballet folklorico dancers and Adriel Favela! The festival was held at the National Western Complex. Latin Life Denver Media was honored to be a media sponsor.

Mariachi Vasquez, Mariachi Sol de Mi Tierra & Mariachi Los Reyes from Los Angeles took the audiences breath away with their incredible performances. All these mariachi bands are so good, I wish there were many more people here to enjoy this. I love mariachi music and I know anyone else who does would love this said Rita Bonilla who sat in the stadium arena for all the day’s performances. “It was hard to find the venue for this event as everything is so spread out here. I think that’s why they’re are not more people here, she added.

The Cherry Pie Eating Contest was a big pie in the face hit as 13 contestants faced off to see who could eat a whole cherry pie the fastest. The winner, who quickly threw up afterwards was awarded more cherry pie. The event has been held in county fairs across the country since 1895 the crowd was told.

The men in lucha libre masks at Viva Denver included, Los Trauma, Solar Jr & Solar Estrada

The carnival was a total blast with over 20 rides and games for adults and kids. Among the usual carnival rides were inflatables, pony rides, unicorn rides and camel Rides.

​What would a county fair be without the vendors. Dozens of them offering everything from mattresses to beer and just about anything else you can think of.

Sinaloan singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adriel Favela is a Mexican regional artist specializing in norteño and corridos finished off the evening along with Huracan Ramirez Jr. and Vago Rudo.

The festival promises to be even bigger and better next year…

Photos by Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver Media

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