It\u2019s all part of a weekend-long lucha libre festival<\/a> to celebrate MOLAA\u2019s 30th anniversary. The museum\u2019s Robert Gumbiner Sculpture Garden will even convert into a temporary ring to host luchadors from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The festival starts on Friday, Sept. 25, with a book launch, reception and Q&A with the authors of “Luchadores vs Everything”<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Saturday, La Nueva Ola de Cumbia<\/a> will be performing at 3:30 p.m. Primitivo Rios, bass player for the band, said they are honored to bring their musical heritage directly to a museum that is dedicated to showcasing diverse cultural art. Rios welcomed the opportunity to express their culture especially as his band works on a new album. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The group has spent over a decade playing high-energy Cumbia music. Members of the band are from Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua and Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s always an honor when you get a chance to express who you are, what you bring, where you\u2019re from, and share it with people,\u201d Rios said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Rios, seeing the crowd embrace his heritage is what makes the performance rewarding. \u201cWhat we\u2019re doing with the art form \u2014 that we are choosing to provide into this world \u2014 is resonating with people that also care about culture, that also care about art. … It is very satisfying,\u201d Rios said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Saturday night, Rudo is scheduled to clash in the ring against a packed lineup of legendary luchadores including El Cumbias, Kensei<\/a> and Destiny<\/a>. For Rudo, bringing the ring into the museum\u2019s intimate outdoor space offers the exact type of close-up fan interaction he values as a performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve done small crowds and bigger venues. The small crowds you appreciate it more \u2014 you get to hear everybody, you get to react more, that\u2019s more personal,\u201d Rudo said. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this will be his first time at MOLAA, Rudo has a storied luchador career that started in 2005 and has taken him all over the world. But Rudo always remains eager to showcase his talent for local fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo be at that venue like this, it\u2019s going to be very exciting,\u201d Rudo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Sunday, the festival will host a slate of film screenings, like the 2024 short film, \u201cEl Luchador,\u201d and the 1968 film \u201cLa Mujer Murci\u00e9lago\u201d (The Batwoman).\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food vendors like De\u2019mon Tyndell<\/a>, owner of The Quesadilla Calling<\/a>, will be at Sunday’s festivities to feed attendees. Tyndell, who began his quesadilla cart last year, said events like the lucha libre festival are a great opportunity to draw people into Long Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a nice breath of fresh air to have, not only MOLAA, but to have a city that encourages people to come out and do things outdoors. It brings people together, and it gives the community something to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyndell also notes that events like this could inspire the next generation of luchadors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat excites me the most is that not only is it going to touch people that are fans of wrestling, but it might train other wrestlers. There might be a little boy there or a little girl and they might see this and figure out, \u2018This is what I wanna do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/09\/24183834\/img-5479-083620-ihxd0hmy-238918-WTpwVP7j-1024x684.jpeg\")
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