JUAREZ, Mexico (Border Report) – Juarez’s popularity for drug violence doesn’t face U.S. guests like Adrian Escobedo, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident who has been driving his household to La Feria Juarez each summer season for not less than the previous seven years.

“First of all, it’s an experience because we’re in Mexico,” Escobedo mentioned. “Everything is delicious and then we come for the rides. We’re about to buy some tickets so we can go ride. It means a lot and it’s a tradition we have going on.”

La Feria is getting into its two remaining weekends at its conventional location on Plaza de la Mexicanidad (the Big Red X) simply southeast of El Paso’s Bridge of the Americas port of entry. The truthful will proceed from June 23 to July 9 at an alternate location deep in south Juarez.

This metropolis’s prime tourism draw – greater than 400,000 patrons got here final yr – succeeds in no small half due to guests from El Paso and different U.S. cities, mentioned Wendy Valenzuela, a spokeswoman for the occasion. Americans, principally households, account for 30% of gate receipts.

“It’s fun and it’s safe. In all the years I’ve been here, we’ve never had anything bad happen,” he mentioned.

Escobedo on Thursday introduced his kids, his dad and mom, and his brother and his kids to the truthful. “Safety-wise, there is no problem whatsoever,” he mentioned. “I would recommend for people to come here. […] We always had a strong relationship being neighbors. We live over there but our family is here. So, it’s something we need to keep going.”

Karen Gurrola, an East El Paso resident, additionally talked about household and cultural ties as a purpose for visiting Juarez.

“It’s kind of a tradition. We’ve been coming since I was little,” she mentioned. “When I bring friends, they’re always surprised by the size (of the fairgrounds).”

When requested what she likes most about La Feria, Gurrola mentioned, “the food, it’s always the food. I like the tacos, my parents like the enchiladas.”

If there’s something guests want to change concerning the truthful is the costs. Escobedo, Gurrola and different fairgoers mentioned the meals costs have gone up considerably in comparison with earlier years.

That is a priority that truthful organizers are attempting to handle. Mayor Cruz Perez Cuellar on Monday mentioned town informed distributors to put up the costs of their meals and merchandise so guests wouldn’t be stunned. And with the stunning current power of the Mexican peso, U.S. guests’ {dollars} don’t go as far anymore.

The peso on Thursday was buying and selling 17 to 1 to the greenback at cash alternate homes, however most stands on the Juarez truthful posted “16 to 1” indicators relating to the greenback.

A KTSM/Border Report crew of three ended up paying $72 for 3 orders of tacos, guacamole and chips, flautas, one bottled water and three servings of fruit-flavored water. A single trip on the Ferris wheel or the bumper vehicles prices 100 pesos, or $6.

Gurrola and Escobedo mentioned these costs are inexpensive for many U.S. guests. Gurrola additional mentioned there may be nothing corresponding to La Feria in El Paso.

Fair official Valenzuela mentioned the nightly concert events on the truthful are a price added. Spanish singer Natalia Jimenez headlines Saturday night time’s present whereas Mexican regional music singer Luis R. Conriquez is Sunday’s attraction on the open-air auditorium.