La Tardeada Banda Festival brings food, music and, family fun to White Park

We are getting used to Cosme Cordova doing big things from his little gallery, Division 9, on Lemon Street. He founded the Riverside Dia de los Muertos Festival, one of the largest celebrations of the holiday in California. The Mucho Gusto Cumbia festival was a huge success and will return this September. He has partnered with Luis Hernandez of Killer Queens Social House to bring us La Tardeada, Banda Festival, to White Park on Mother’s Day weekend.

A “Tardeada” is an afternoon party, and Cosme, Luis, and the team are working to ensure this festival is bigger than just the bands on a stage. There will be food vendors and a beer garden. Kids are welcome and will have a designated play area. High-flying wrestlers will be battling in the Lucha Libre ring. The park will be brightly decorated with six-foot-tall, hand-made paper-mache boots. Cosme’s past events are well-produced and have a curated, magical feel. 

This is Luis Herndandez’s first Collaboration with Division 9, but his University Avenue nightclub is an emerging go-to spot for Banda music and one of the liveliest dance floors downtown. He talked about the popularity of Banda music locally and supporting local musicians.

 “We feel that for our first event it is very important that we support our local talent and bands that work hard every weekend to put their music and talent out there and we also feel that local talent brings in local support and brings the community together. In addition, we feel that traditions repeat and the new generation is becoming more involved and bringing more of the traditions that their parents implemented.” Luis Hernandez 

La Tardeada starts at noon on Saturday, May 11. Tickets are still available at the festival website or at the gate. The event is for all ages, and children 12 and under are free with a paid adult.