Chicagoans celebrate this year's Fourth annual Mole de Mayo outdoor festival on Saturday, May 26th and Sunday May 27th, 2012. The Mole de Mayo Festival will take place on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 27th from noon to 6:00 p.m. at 18th St. and Peoria St., just off of Halsted, in the Pilsen neighborhood, the heart of Chicago's Mexican community. The event is being organized by ESDC, the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that has served the Pilsen Community for over 35 years. Mole (pronounced moe-le) is a traditional Mexican sauce, typically made of chilies, nuts, spices, chocolate and seasonings. Traditionally served with chicken or over enchiladas or just about anything, this dish is a staple in most Mexican households. Mole originates from the Puebla, a region of Mexico. "We are excited for this 4th annual Family event held throughout the Memorial Day weekend, as we?ve had an outstanding response from years prior and continuously increase the number of vendors and new entertainment acts that encourage familial participation" said staff ESDC's, Hector Saldana. The Mole cook off will include awards in two categories; Best Mole Award and the People's Choice Award. The cook-off judges will be an eclectic mix of Chicagoans ? including food conosours, celebrity judges and a host of foodies throughout the Chicago Land area. A variety of restaurants from Pilsen and the surrounding Chicago Communities have signed up to compete! In addition to sampling the mole and other food specialties, vendors will also be selling Micheladas (Mexican-style Beer Bloody Mary's) and Sangria. Participants will have the opportunity to take away ?Mole de Mayo? souveniers, to shop at the outdoor Mercado/Market that will be filled with local Pilsen businesses, displaying a variety of artisans and merchandise, including Mole vendors. A variety of live entertainment will fill the two days, the much anticipated return of the high flying Lucha Libre Wrestlers will be displaying their fun-filled acrobatics and wild stunt driven performances. As well as two Mariachi bands (a youth and adult band) on Sunday! Come and Sample Mole, learn about Mole or show-off your Mole skills, this Memorial Day Weekend! Specifics of the event are as follows: When: Saturday, May 26th ? from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 27th - from Noon to 6:00 p.m. Where: 18th Street and Peoria just off of Halsted (CTA Pink Line Stop, the CTA Halsted Bus and 90/94 18th St. Exit) Cost: $1.00 - $5.00 Suggested Donation Celebrity Panel Judging: Sunday between 1:00 p.m. ? 2:00 p.m. Mole Trophy Winner Presentation: 3:00 p.m. People's Choice Award Trophy Presentation: 6:30 p.m. # # #