The sixth annual Tortilla Festival, Cemait/Modiily 2026, began on March 21 with an early-morning torch run that started at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Repository and ended at the Huhugam Ki: Museum grounds.

Salt River Fire Department runners finished their trek by lighting a fire under the komal/madiily cooking discs to signify the beginning of the festival.

“Who knew that the fire’s flames would set the tone for the day?” asked Huhugam Ki: museum manager Gary Owens.

“It was a great surprise that by 9 a.m. we had about 100 people on the grounds. And I’m not including working staff.”

3 Takeaways:

• The torch run set the tone for the Tortilla Festival by lighting the komals with the torch.
• Hundreds of people showed up to the Tortilla Festival on a blazing hot day and enjoyed tortillas and other traditional foods.
• Tortillas were prepared by members of O’odham sibling tribes.

The day was unusually hot for this time of year, so museum staff members were prepared to shut down early if the heat became too much. It was so hot that only one burrito race was held, and the dancing tortilla mascot could only perform to two cumbia dances. Winners took home RoadHouse Cinemas and Medieval Times tickets as prizes, courtesy of Discover Salt River.

Waila Style 87 provided the chicken scratch music this year, with the stage facing toward all the food and jewelry vendors.

Owens said that the tortilla makers got straight to work and were soon flapping out tortillas and selling them to the growing crowd.

“Salt River got things going with the tortilla samples and the wheat tortillas for the hungry group,” said Owens, who also had a booth where he showcased tortilla making and folding etiquette to observers.

Tortilla makers from sibling tribes the Tohono O’odham Nation, Ak-Chin Indian Community and Gila River Indian Community also had demonstration stations where they prepared and cooked tortillas for sale.

Cultural Resources Department staff prepared and handed out samples of traditional foods next to information tables operated by Diabetes Prevention and Public Health. There was also a “tortilla toss” game similar to cornhole for visitors to play.

Owens said that by 11 a.m. the event had swelled to about 300 people. “Thank you to all who survived the hottest March date so far,” Owens told the crew who participated in the festival. “You are all to be commended and much appreciated for making this year’s festival a memorable one.”