Los Angeles is bringing back its famous Mole Festival with a delicious new twist

• During Feria de los Moles 2026, Michoacán joins the festival for the first time with beef, mushroom, cheese and chicken moles, plus corundas and avocado water in Los Angeles.
• More than 80 vendors and guest chefs will serve mole poblano, Oaxacan varieties and new Michoacán specialties.
• The event will feature music, dance, artisans and the Voladores de Papantla with general admission free.

Feria de los Moles 2026 returns to Los Angeles this Sunday with an important new addition: for the first time, Michoacán will join the culinary celebration, with Purépecha cooks bringing their own moles, corundas and traditional avocado water. The 19th annual event also expects to draw between 30,000 and 40,000 people to Gloria Molina Grand Park, making it one of the city’s major celebrations of Mexican food.

Michoacán joins the mole showdown

Since Pedro Ramos founded Feria de los Moles in 2008, the event has grown into a major showcase for recipes and culinary traditions from different regions of Mexico. This year, the classic Puebla-Oaxaca rivalry will welcome a new contender, as Michoacán mole arrives in beef, mushroom, cheese and chicken preparations, while Purépecha cooks showcase flavors rooted in their family traditions.

The rivalry between mole poblano and Oaxacan moles also forms part of the festival’s own history which began after a friendly argument over which state makes the best mole. Puebla will defend one of its most celebrated specialties, while Oaxaca will bring varieties such as black, red, coloradito, yellow, green and chichilo moles to Los Angeles, proving that at this festival, a spoon settles the debate better than an argument.

More than 80 vendors and much more than mole

Feria de los Moles 2026 will bring together more than 80 food vendors and guest chefs, giving visitors the chance to sample flavors from across Mexico in one place. The official program also includes artisans, music, performances and activities focused on the history and preparation of mole, turning a visit to Gloria Molina Grand Park into an opportunity to experience the traditions behind each dish.

The program also features a closer look at the history and preparation of mole; a talk on the dish’s origins will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a mole poblano demonstration at 12:30 p.m. and a pairing session at 2:00 p.m. The event will also feature the Voladores de Papantla, who will bring a Totonac ceremonial tradition to Los Angeles as part of the festival’s cultural programming.

A free celebration in the heart of Los Angeles

Feria de los Moles will take place Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Gloria Molina Grand Park, located at 200 N. Grand Ave. in downtown Los Angeles. Another major draw is free general admission, with no ticket or registration required, while visitors can purchase food and beverages throughout the event, including Michoacán mole, mole poblano, Oaxacan moles and Mexican food in general. With Puebla, Oaxaca and Michoacán sharing the spotlight, Feria de los Moles 2026 brings together food, music and Mexican culture in a celebration expected to attract thousands of visitors to Los Angeles. The big question will be how audiences respond to the new Michoacán mole at a festival where Puebla’s culinary tradition and Oaxaca’s distinctive flavors already have a long-standing history.

 

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Una publicación compartida de Secret Los Angeles (@secret.losangeles)

What to keep in mind

• New addition: Michoacán will participate for the first time with moles, corundas and Purépecha flavors.
• Major food lineup: More than 80 vendors will offer a wide selection of mole poblano and Oaxacan moles.
• Free admission: The event takes place Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Gloria Molina Grand Park.