The Best Mole In Pilsen? Chefs Compete This Weekend At Mole De Mayo
The annual Mole de Mayo festival features a mole cook off, high flying lucha libre and live music.
PILSEN — Mole de Mayo returns to Pilsen this weekend, pitting the neighborhood’s best chefs against each other for the title of best mole.
The ninth annual Pilsen festival features a mole cook-off, live music and lucha libre. The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday at 18th Street and Ashland Avenue and runs until 10 p.m. Friday and from noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Mole, a traditional Mexican sauce typically made with chili peppers, spices, nuts and chocolate, will be in abundance at the festival. The classic version of mole is a dark red or brown sauce served over enchiladas and meats.
Neighborhood chefs and restaurants will put their best mole to the test for a chance to win Mole de Mayo’s Best Mole Award and the People’s Choice Award. Festival attendees will be able to sample a variety of regional and specialty mole dishes from Pilsen’s popular eateries.
La Cebollita Grill, Yvolina’s Tamales and El Campeon are among the 20 Pilsen restaurants that will serve up their mole at Mole de Mayo this weekend.
In addition to highlighting the Mexican staple, Mole de Mayo will also feature high-flying lucha libre wrestling matches, traditional Azteca danza, live music from more than 25 international and local acts across two stages and an open-air mercado filled with goods from Pilsen businesses and artisans.
Dos Santos, Olmeca, Vivian Garcia, and Bumbac are among this year’s performers. Check out the full schedule of performers at this years festival here.
Individuals will be asked to give an optional $5 donation upon entering the fest. The suggested donation is $10 for families. The donation benefits the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation.
The outdoor is a celebration of Pilsen’s Mexican culture and cuisine is presented by the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation and produced by StarEvents.
