Fiesta! 

According to Wikipedia, there’s no solid proof of who invented the margarita. Which, if you ask me, gives the drink infinitely more street cred. It’s mysterious, it’s sweet, and it’s filled with booze—really, what’s not to love?

Margaritas have been a drink of lore for quite some time. Some say they got their start in a Mexican bar on a particularly slow afternoon in October 1941. Don Carlos Orozco was bartending and playing Frankenstein with some of the liquor when esteemed guest Margarita Henkel, the daughter of a German ambassador, walked in and became Orozco’s first willing victim.

Turns out, the drink was seriously delicious, so he named it after her. The margarita he served was equal parts tequila, orange liqueur, and lime, making it almost identical to the margaritas served by under-aged sorority girls in college towns every day, today.

The truth is that there really isn’t an occasion where a margarita would be inappropriate, and sometimes there are occasions when the margarita is supremely appropriate, like the Morro Bay Avocado and Margarita Festival happening on Sept. 15 and 16.

It’s been six years since Morro Bay decided to pay margaritas and avocados their proper dues, and the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

Along with some sweet and salty margarita goodness, there will also be an abundance of avocados and avocado-based foods to wrap your taste buds around.

Beyond the killer grub, there will also be several activities for the family to participate in, such as a fiesta costume contest, an avocado recipe contest, and a sombrero contest.

It’s all there, and you can wash down your margaritas and guacamole with a fine selection of beers and some great entertainment provided by bands like the Shival Experience, Shameless, Bobby Santa Cruz, and the Mystics. There will also be a tequila tasting event at Rose’s Landing in case, you know, the margaritas aren’t enough.

For the younglings who can’t partake in the liquor portion of the event, there will be arts and crafts booths, giveaways, and tons of exposure to really, really good avocado recipes.

Many of Morro Bay’s restaurants will be incorporating avocados recipes into their menus in honor of the festival, so be sure to spread the love to local businesses as well.

In summation, there just isn’t an excuse to miss this opportunity. If someone offered you a golden refrigerator, you wouldn’t turn it down, right? Well, this is your golden refrigerator moment, so don’t screw it up. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $1, with food and beverages available for purchase. A portion of the entry fee will benefit the SLO Food Bank.

Also, it should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: Please secure a designated driver for this event. Call a friend and offer a day filled to the brim … with guacamole and chips.

The festival is being held at 714 Embarcadero St. in Morro Bay. For more info, visit avomargfest.com. ∆

Calendar Editor Maeva Considine thinks whoever invented the margarita is kicking it with Mother Teresa in the big pub in the sky. We want a bite! Send your cuisine related news to [email protected].