Summer Festival of Corn Opens this Weekend
Tara A. Spears
The 2024 Elote Festival in Jala awaits you as an excellent option for a fun-filled, flavorful, and cultural getaway. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know one of the most charming magical towns in Mexico and try its famous giant corn cobs. Various activities are slated between Saturday, August 3 and concluding Thursday, August 15.
Because Mexico is the world birthplace of maize with 64 types of corn- of which 59 varieties are heirloom Mexican corn- all with unique characteristics, with different flavors, colors, shapes and sizes, many communities celebrate the corn harvest. For thousands of years, indigenous communities have honored the plants that the earth has provided them throughout their history. So, corn is one of the purest inheritances of ancestors in Mexico, even in the 21st century.
Corn represents an important part of the country’s culture and gastronomy. What better way to learn how corn holds incredible cultural, economic, and ecological significance in Mexico than to attend a festival?
You can see facets of culture brought to life through the parades, exhibits and street food. There’s a popular saying in Mexico: ‘sin maíz, no hay país’—without corn, there is no country.
The Jala Corn Festival is a charming reminder of how food can be more than just a nutritious substance; it can be a link between people, land, and traditions. Here, in rural Mexico, corn becomes a common thread that unites past and present, tradition and innovation, and local communities welcome anyone seeking an authentic experience.
The current Municipal president, Antonio Carrillo Ramos, recently announced that for the first time the events will be 100% free so that all families can enjoy them, since at other fairs, despite the fact that they featured good artists, people could not attend due to the costs.
“For the first time in history, completely free of charge. The opening event is the election of our queen representative. She is selected, not only for beauty, but as an example of the intelligence of women of Jala. The competition will take place on the 2nd in the public square; and, on Saturday the 3rd, the opening of the pageant. We expect thousands of people to attend.”
This annual event one of the most anticipated festivities in the region, where the community and visitors come together to celebrate the craftsmanship and rich musical heritage. It is an easy commute by auto, taxi or bus from Jaltemba Bay. 
It is also a time when community members that left the area return to visit. Since last weekend, the arrival of countrymen from Jala began. These imigrants are returning to their land of origin to enjoy the 2024 edition of the Corn Fair. Jaleños -who live in different parts of the country or even beyond our borders- have come to Jala taking advantage of the summer holidays to reconnect with their family and friends.
The corn competition the traditional largest ear of corn contest, which became part of the festival in 1981 in order to celebrate Jala’s unique maize and to encourage farmers to keep growing it. The entrants submit 2 ears of corn still in the husk. The judges remove the leaves and rate the ears of corn. Historically, Jala has produced the world’s record size of corn!
In addition to viewing the corn competition and sampling yummy corn dishes, take time to check out local attractions, such as: the Basílica Lateranense de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción – This architectural jewel was built in 1856 out of pink, green and yellow stone, mixing Roman and Gothic styles.
Another interesting site is the Museo Comunitario de Jala – Located in the center of town, this beautiful museum is located in a restored home dating back to the XIX century. It showcases an important collection of pre-Hispanic and traditional regional pieces. For the adventurous, hike the Ceboruco Volcano – This volcano reaches a height of nearly 7,500 feet. It last erupted in 1870; today it’s a Geological Park beloved by mountain climbers for its extraordinary views.
Besides the corn competition and eating several traditional corn dishes, there is live music, kid’s activities such as dances, sports, games, and more. Make it a day trip or treat yourself to a couple of overnights in one of the town’s charming hotels.
The 2024 edition of the Corn Fair promises to be a celebration full of joy and tradition, uniting the people of Jala from all over the world in a festival that honors their roots and customs.
