Mariachi Madness in Orange County

Laura Sobrino, a classically trained violinist, remembers 20 years ago when she decided to be a mariachi. “Everybody thought I was crazy,” she says. But things were different then, Sobrino adds--such as, there were only three female mariachis she knew of. But now, female mariachis are not only accepted by the public, they have earned the respect of male musicians, too.

Sobrino and the dozen other members of her all-female group, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, will be among the headliners at the Orange County Fair’s Fiesta del Mariachi on Sunday (closing day). The women, who range in age from 14 to 40 and auditioned for their roles, play at 3:45 p.m.

The fiesta begins at 11 a.m. with Ballet de Carol Armijo and closes at 11 p.m. with Mariachi Juvenil Tecalitlan. The premier mariachi group in the country, L.A.’s Mariachi Sol de Mexico Jose Hernandez, performs at 5 p.m. The mariachi groups will perform in the Arlington Theater.

Other events on fiesta day include a mercado (marketplace), a PRCA Rodeo in the arena, and a concert by Vikki Carr in the Pacific Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m.

Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. All the entertainment is included in fair admission: $6; ages 13-17, $5; ages 6-12, $2 (free on Friday); seniors, $4 ($3 today); 5 and younger, free. Parking, $3; car-pool parking (four or more in a vehicle), free.

Orange County Fair hours: today-Sunday, 10 a.m. to midnight ($11 wristband today and Friday includes all rides until 7 p.m. Sunday; $15 wristband includes rides from 10 a.m.-midnight Sunday). (714) 708-3247.