SAN DIEGO — Baja Beach Fest, the outdoor Rosarito Beach reggaeton and Latin trap music festival that debuted in 2018, will celebrate its fifth anniversary Aug. 11-13 in a star-studded but streamlined manner.
The lineup, announced early Tuesday afternoon, includes such major acts as Ozuna, Wisin y Yandel, Feid, Don Omar and Becky G. The festival also includes what is being billed as a “special Sunday set” on Aug. 13 by Tijuana’s brassy Grupo Firme, which last year became the first regional Mexican banda music group to headline a full-stadium concert at Petco Park.
Nearly half of this year’s performers will be making their debuts at Baja Beach Fest, which was launched in 2018 and returned in 2019. It was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2021, expanding from one three-day weekend to two. It sold-out that year, with daily attendance of 35,000.
Last year’s edition also took place over two consecutive weekends. It was held under relatively peaceful circumstances, despite drug cartel-related violence that prompted the U.S. and Mexican governments to issue a “shelter-in-place” warning that week for Rosarito, Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate and Mexicali.
When contacted by the Union-Tribune, the promoters of Baja Beach Fest declined to release attendance figures for last year’s event — or to say why this year’s edition is being scaled back to one weekend.
“We’re super excited to be bringing Baja Beach Fest back to the beaches of Rosarito for a fifth year, and very grateful to welcome back San Diegans and the people of Southern California, who have been an integral part in the continued success of the festival since we started back in 2018,” said the event’s co-founders, Chris Den Uijl and Aaron Ampudia, in a written statement.
“This year’s fifth anniversary show will continue to be a celebration of Latin music’s rich history and culture, supported by a diverse community of artists and fans from all over the world. Nearly 50 percent of this year’s lineup is brand new to the (event), and we’re thrilled to welcome them to the festival for the first time.
“We’re also introducing a ‘special Sunday set,’ performed by Grupo Firme, one of the most beloved and vital acts in regional Mexican music. It’s incredibly important to us to showcase the wide variety of Latin music to our fans, but even more so to create an inclusive space for all to experience Latin culture and everything it has to offer. We can’t wait to see you on the beach in August.”
Tickets go on sale Tuesday at noon at bajabeachfest.com/passes.
General admission three-day passes for this year’s festival are priced at $329 each, plus service fees. Three-day VIP passes are prices at $799 and $1,499 each, plus service fees.
Skydeck tables, the festival’s priciest option, range from $4,080 for four people to $20,400 for 15 people. Daily skydeck wristbands cost $355 per person. This year, for the first time, the event will offer private Baja helicopter tour for $650 per person.
Baja Beach Fest 2023 lineup
Friday, Aug. 11: Wisin y Yandel, Nicky Jam, El Alfa, Eladio Carrion, Manuel Turizo, Tainy, Gera MX, Farina, Del V, DJ Miriam, DJ Fredy Fresco
Saturday, Aug. 12: Ozuna, Feid, Becky G, Ivy Queen, Ryan Castro, Alexis Y Fido, YOVNGCHIMI, Young Miko, Channell, Sky Rompiendo, DJ Dynamiq
Sunday, Aug. 13: Don Omar, Tego Calderón, Arcangel, Zion y Lennox, Tokischa, Nio Garcia, Blessd, DJ Luian, Mariah, Carmen DeLeon, Reggaetonlandia
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