Mole, Pulque and Barbacoa Festival Returns to Querétaro

The Pan de Muerto can wait, as a roasted turkey bathed in red mole or blue corn tacos with barbacoa sound much more appealing this weekend. The second edition of the National Mole, Pulque, and Barbacoa Festival takes place in Querétaro, bringing traditional cooks, producers, and artisans together in the magical town of Amealco de Bonfil. The event aims to highlight the culinary richness of the municipality while keeping its food traditions alive and promoting tourism through dishes tied to local identity.

What to Expect at the Festival

Hunger is the only requirement for visiting the festival. Visitors will find handmade mole, traditional barbacoa, pulque, and aged drinks, alongside a market for regional handicrafts. The main attraction is the Mole Contest, organized to recognize the flavor, quality, and identity of this iconic Mexican dish. Participants can use their own recipes, ingredients, and techniques, meaning the jury will encounter various interpretations of the mole during the event.

The jury will evaluate the taste and balance, aroma, texture, presentation, and authenticity of each proposal. The prizes for the contest are 3,000 pesos for first place, 2,000 pesos for second, and 1,000 pesos for third. Barbacoa also has a special place at the festival. The preparation with lamb meat is characteristic of Amealco and one of the most representative flavors of the region.

Pulque will be another key beverage, available in natural and flavored varieties. This drink maintains a close relationship with Amealco, where maguey growers and collectors still extract aguamiel, the raw material used to make pulque.

Event Schedule and Details

The 2nd National Festival of Mole, Pulque, and Barbacoa runs from Saturday, September 26, to Sunday, September 27, in the main garden of Amealco de Bonfil, Querétaro. Admission is free. Activities begin in the morning and extend into the night. The program includes live music, dance, and legends, along with the culinary contest awards.

The Saturday schedule starts with guitarist Vicente García at 10:45 a.m. The inauguration follows at 12:00 p.m., followed by the Mole Contest awards at 12:45 p.m. The Cultural Center Amealco participates at 13:00 hours, followed by versatile singer Daniel at 14:00 hours. The Dance of the Ribbons of Chiteje de la Cruz performs at 15:30 hours, followed by Miguel Arias and his Private Code at 16:00 hours. The Moncayo Academy performs at 18:00 hours, and the legend of La Llorona is represented at 19:30 hours.

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Sunday begins with the Marimba Jíbaros at 10:00 hours, followed by Bonyoo and Company at 12:00 hours. The Pre-Hispanic Dance of the Pulque Legend takes place at 13:00 hours, followed by Trio El Nuevo Legado at 14:30 hours. Los Ahijados de Santiago perform at 16:00 hours, followed by a clown show at 17:30 hours. The Chuwen Ox Dance Group performs at 18:30 hours, and the legend of La Carambada is represented at 19:30 hours.

Culinary Traditions of Amealco

Pulque and aguamiel are also part of Amealco’s culinary identity. Their production maintains a close link with the maguey plant, which has been exploited in the region’s communities for generations. The municipality was founded in 1538, and its name derives from the Nahuatl Ameyalco, related to springs. In 2018, it received the designation of Magical Town. If, after the patriotic festivities, you still have space for a good barbacoa taco or a mole with turkey leg, a visit to Amealco offers a chance to discover the cultural richness of this Querétaro town.