Los Algodones Welcome Party 2019

December 7 may be a day that lives in infamy but in Los Algodones, it’s a day to celebrate and welcome the treasured visitors that make Los Algodones the dental capital of the world. As with past parties, the food, drink and festivities are free. B Street is cordoned off from traffic and pharmacies, restaurants, dentists and other Algodones business have booths set up with many offering giveaways like pens, bottle openers and the like.

There is a big stage that is set up at the end of B Street with a thousand chairs all under a big canopy. The Master of Ceremonies is typically a very entertaining fellow and he cracks jokes in English and introduces the entertainment onto the stage. Entertainment in the past has included seniors demonstrating bachata dance, local kids showing off their musical talents, traditional dance and Mariachi musicians, and other shows.

The Master of Ceremonies gives out prizes to the crowd and a typical giveaway is to the first person that raises their hand from a given city or state. For example he says “…”is there anyone from Ohio here, Ohio, who’s from Ohio!” and someone will raise their hand. The prizes are sometimes for free dinner at a local restaurant, a facial, pedicure, or one of the statues that are sold on the street.

The demographic of the crowd is typically from 60s to 80s, retired, and a winter visitor (AKA “snowbird”)

If you plan on coming to the Welcome Party (or the Farewell party in April) it would be a good idea to plan on staying in Algodones at one of the hotels here. If not, plan on coming early (maybe 8:30) and leaving early ((around 11:00) before the pedestrian line back to the USA gets too long. Some people have reported waiting 3 hours in line when they left after the 2pm official party end time.