Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks host their Mole & Mariachi Festival later this month. Mark your calendars for Saturday, Sep 20 at the Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park.

And listen up, all you aspiring mole makers: chefs will compete for People’s Choice as well as Judges’ Choice honors. This is a great way to show off your skills with chiles, chocolate, achiote, pine nuts, cilantro and other tasty ingredients. There will be lots of prizes for the best mole sauces and participants can soak up live music, folklorico, tortilla-making and craft activities.