This Sunday, Aug. 9, Cantina la Martina will once again bring together chefs, artists, and food lovers for the 4th Annual Cemita Festival, a celebration dedicated to Puebla’s popular sandwich.

This year’s festivities will take place at The Garden Center, 1825 Frankford Ave., located across from Mural City Cellars, and will feature six restaurants from across the region, each offering a distinctive interpretation of the traditional Mexican bite.

Although Cantina la Martina’s Kensington location closed in November 2025, the restaurant has been continuing service through a series of events, pop-ups, and collaborations across Philly, and the Cemita Festival remains a cornerstone of that mission.

A classic cemita is built on a sesame-seeded roll and typically layered with quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), pápalo, avocado, and a flavorful filling. While honoring those essential elements, this year’s participating chefs will showcase their own creativity to make their own unique take on the dish.

Festival guests can try out Cantina la Martina’s Cemita de Lengua, featuring beef tongue; Gilda’s El Antonio, made with a housemade green chorizo; and Vientiane Bistro’s Lao Sausage Cemita, combining an Angus beef patty, quesillo, lettuce, and smoky jeow Mak Len tomato sauce. Additional offerings include Bolo’s Tripleta Cemita with pernil, country ham and bacon; Cinteotl Tamalli’s traditional Cemita de Carnitas with slow-cooked carnitas; and Cuatro Soles’ classic version featuring breaded chicken milanesa.

Each cemita will be available for $16 and can be purchased directly from the participating restaurant vendors. The festival is pay-as-you-go (no tickets are required), and guests are encouraged to bring cash, as some vendors will be cash only. Beverages will be available for purchase from Mural City Cellars, and DJ Cali Rumba will also provide music throughout the afternoon.

Beyond the food, the festival will additionally highlight Mexican and Latin American culture through live performances, art, and community experiences. Danza Tonantzin Cultural, a Mexican folkloric dance group founded by Pamela Plata, will perform traditional dances from the state of Sinaloa at 2 p.m., including Pato Asado and Toro Mambo. Guests can also enjoy pay-as-you-go face painting from noon to 4 p.m.

Wilde & Lovely, the creative collaboration of Chris and Liana Calabrese, will also join the festival as a vendor, offering Mexican silver jewelry, traditional Colombian hats, accessories, and vintage items inspired by Latin culture.

This year’s festival will also introduce the first-ever Cemita Festival Passport, giving guests a new way to experience the event. Visitors who purchase all six festival cemitas and one beverage from Mural City Cellars, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic, can complete their passport and enter a prize drawing. The prize package includes $25 gift cards to Cantina on the Go Jenkintown, Vientiane Bistro, Gilda, and Bolo; a bottle of Mural City Cellars rosé; two complimentary glasses of wine for a future visit to Mural City Cellars; and a jar of Sunny’s Chili Oil from Vientiane Bistro. Note, the winner does not need to be present to receive the prize.

For more information  on Cantina la Martina’s 2026 Cemitas Festival, visit cantinalamartinapa.com

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Keywords

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Cantina la Martina,

Philadelphia food,

Mexican food,

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Mural City Cellars,

Philadelphia events,

Things to do in Philadelphia