This past weekend, the Houston Wortham Theater hosted the 5th Annual Mariachi Festival bringing together mariachi lovers eager to enjoy and celebrate Latino culture. Families showed up hours early, many dressed proudly in traditional attire, on Sunday afternoon for a sold out show. Performances over the weekend ranged from decades-long, iconic local groups like Mariachi Imperial de America, all female mariachi ensembles like Mariachi Mariposas, and award-winning solo vocalists. Backstage, performers watched intently in support of their fellow mariachi. Photographer Joe Robles IV documented Sunday’s lineup for Houston Landing, the final evening of a three-day festival.

Mariachi Festival attendees approach a Goya stand before the show begins Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. Goya was handing out many free samples and products during the festival. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
Upper left photo: The Brown Theater before being filled with festival attendees. The Mariachi Festival turned out to be a sold out event. Upper right photo: Jose Longoria plays his violin backstage of the Mariachi Festival. Longoria is the director of Mariachi Imperial de America. Bottom photo: Members of Mariachi Imperial de America speak before their performance begins Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. Mariachi Imperial de America has been in existence for over 30 years. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
Members of México en Danzas Grupo Folklórico pose before their dance begins Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. The Houston Area All-Star Mariachi Group played the music for MeDGF to perform to. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
Top photo: Juan Rivera poses for a photo in his Charro attire. Rivera performed at the Mariachi Festival with Mariachi Imperial de America. Bottom right photo: The boots of a performer from the Houston Area All-Star Mariachi Group. The Houston Area All-Star Mariachi Group is made up of many students from around the city. Bottom left photo: Members of the the Houston Area All-Star Mariachi Group play their violins during their performance Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
(Left to right) Hanna, Bani and Judith Castillo pose for a photo before entering the Mariachi Festival Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. Judith Castillo is a Latina activist and the Multilingual Specialist at KIPP Northeast College Preparatory HS. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
Members of México en Danzas Grupo Folklórico dance Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )
A member of Mariachi Imperial de America walks through a curtain backstage of the show Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, in Houston. (Joe Robles IV for Houston Landing )

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Joe Robles IV is a Houston-area independent photographer and longtime resident of North Pasadena. He can be reached at joerobles83@gmail.com and on Twitter and Instagram @joeroblesiv.

Lexi Parra is a photo editor for Houston Landing. Before moving to Houston, she worked as an independent photojournalist in Caracas, Venezuela and New York, NY, and her work has been published in The New...