2014 San Felipe Blues & Arts Festival

San Felipe is a popular place to be in March, and people that like the idea of warm, tropical vacations with a sexy and exciting party feel, flock to San Felipe during this time. The middle of March is dedicated to spring breakers, consisting of mostly college students who spend the week laying out by the beaches, playing volleyball in some of the refreshing swimming pools, and dancing the night away at some of the hottest night clubs in the city. The end of March however, takes on a much more fun and sophisticated feel. The city turns into a musical and cultural party spot. One of the most popular events happening at this time is the Blues and Arts Festival.

In 2014, San Felipe held it’s 8^th annual Blues and Arts Festival in the community of La Ventana Del Mar in the prestigious El Dorado Ranch Resort. This is a great place for live music and events because of its large open areas and sound stage. The party takes place around The Pavilion on the El Dorado Ranch. The Pavilion is a landmark in San Felipe, popular for it’s beautiful mountain and ocean views. This is also the central hub for some of the best golfing in San Felipe. The outdoor concert attracts thousands of visitors from around the world each year 

The Blues and Arts Festival started in 2007, and has set the standard for music festivals in and around San Felipe ever since. It is the place to be for music and art lovers in San Felipe, as it showcases some of the best musical talent from all throughout the western United States and Mexico. The weather at the end of March is ideal for a outdoor concert, as the average temperature is in the mid to high 80’s. Unlike many of the southern US states, rain during the spring and summer months is very rare, so chances of the concert getting rained out are slim to none. The bands and musical artists that preform each year take center stage on a large, outdoor stage, raised high above the crowd so everyone has a great view. The venue does get pretty packed, so if you want a spot close to the stage, it’s recommended to get there early. You are encouraged to bring your own lawn chairs, and if do not have any, you can rent them from the Pavilion for $2 per chair. Pop up tents and large umbrellas are not allowed, as they can obstruct the view of fellow attendees. You are not allowed to bring ice chests or your own alcohol to the event. Drinks, both alcoholic and not, are available inside the fiesta grounds.

Well known Blues artists such as Rod Piazza, Agave Blues, Mercedes Moore,and Javier Batiz have graced the stage at the Blues and Arts festival, and have “wow’ed” the crowd with their vocals and soothing music. Every year the crowd gets bigger and bigger, and the talent just keeps getting better and better 

As if the great music wasn’t a good enough reason to visit the Blues and Arts Festival, you can’t miss the incredible variety of art displayed throughout the grounds. It’s almost impossible to stroll the fiesta grounds browsing the booths and stands featuring such talented artwork and NOT take some of it home. Gorgeous pieces of jewelry, sculptures, stained glass and many other types of art can be found here. If you’re looking for a souvenir to bring home, this is a great place to find it. The pieces here are original and hand made, and the attention to detail is sure to impress you. If you’ve never seen the handy work of Cristina Rendon before, she is work checking out. Her jewelry is unique and artistic, and each piece tells a story. She is a self taught jeweler and has showcased her work in various art shows, but makes it a point to show up every year at the Blues and Arts Festival to display and sell some of her best work.  Another must-see artist is Patti Kenmore, an expert in the art of stained glass. Her work is intricate and beautiful, and looks great shining in the sun of an open window. Her work incorporates a high level of technique, using hand made glass in every piece.

If you were looking for one more reason to check out the San Felipe Blues and Arts Festival, here’s the best one: all of the proceeds from festival go to help charities and orphanages in the city of San Felipe! You can purchase tickets right on El Dorado Ranch, as well as other local places like Fat Boys and Paws Wagon (located at the Swap Meet every Saturday.) The prices for the tickets are as follows:

Friday General Admission Ticket: Gives you access to the art and music performances happening the first day of the festival, Friday. Gates open at 2:30 so arrive early!   Ticket price: $20

Saturday General Admission Ticket: Gives you access to the art and music performances happening the second day of the festival, Saturday. Gates open at 9:30 am, so enjoy a full day of fun!   Ticket price: $24

Friday and Saturday Combo Ticket:  Enjoy both days of music and fun. Ticket price: $40

VIP Admission Ticket: Not only do you get access to both days of music and art, but you have access to the VIP shaded area close to the stage, and will have the luxury of a trained wait staff to bring you drinks! Ticket price: $72

The San Felipe Blues and Arts Festival is a great place to listen to great music, enjoy delicious, ice cold drinks, and meet other people who are passionate about Blues music and inspirational art. It is just another reason to visit San Felipe in March!

“My husband is NOT a dancer, but when we got to the Blues and Arts Festival, he turned into a dancing machine! He loved listening to Javier Batiz, the ‘Godfather of Mexican Rock!’ I bought so many great pieces of jewelry for friends back home, and loved that they were all original.  We are going to go back to the Blues and Arts Festival next year for sure!”

Julia, Boston  Massachusetts. 

• Address: KM 176 San Felipe-Mexicali Highway 5, San Felipe
• Start date: 03-28-2014
• End date: 03-29-2014