Meet Mark Wahlberg on Friday: Actor to sign tequila bottles at Publix & help with Maui event at Rocco’s Tacos

Mark Wahlberg and Rocco Mangel are double-teaming efforts to help victims of the Maui fires.

Wahlberg will mix and mingle with customers during a visit to restaurateur Mangel’s Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar in Delray Beach during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25.

What was originally a promotional appearance by the actor for his Flecha Azul Tequila brand has evolved over the last few days into a fundraiser for World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit founded by celebrity chef José Andrés that’s currently helping people affected by this month’s wildfires in Hawaii.

“We happen to have Mark Wahlberg … doing a launch party for his tequila,” Mangel, the founder and co-owner of Rocco’s, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “(But now) this is the kickoff for the ongoing campaign, which will go until the first of September. Wahlberg will sign a limited number of Flecha Azul Tequila bottles that we will auction off, and that money will go to the charity.

“During happy hour, we’re only serving Flecha.”

Also during happy hour — with the usual $5 tacos and appetizers — the featured cocktail will be a Flecha Azul Strawberry Basil Margarita.

Proceeds from happy hour on Friday and from sales of the special cocktail through Sept. 1 will go to the World Central Kitchen, Mangel says. This event is for guests age 21 and older.

HOW THE DYNAMIC DUO OF WAHLBERG AND MANGEL CAME TO BE

This all started by happenstance, when Wahlberg and his team happened to be in Palm Beach Gardens.

“They came into Rocco’s up there, just walking around in Palm Beach Gardens. Then his team Facetimed me and started talking to my P.R. team and that started relations with the brand,” Mangel recalls. “We were talking and I was saying that I’d like to move forward as long as we can give back to the community. While we were thinking and brainstorming, this unfortunate and catastrophic event happened.”

The event is part of Mangel’s philanthropic organization, Join Team Rocco, which is based in West Palm Beach.

Rocco’s in Delray Beach is located at 110 E. Atlantic Ave. For more information, go to roccostacos.com or jointeamrocco.com or call 561-808-1100. Street and valet parking will be available.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE OF MARK

Earlier on Friday, Wahlberg is expected to make a Flecha Azul promotion appearance from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Publix Liquors in Cooper City. Wahlberg will only be signing bottles of his tequila. The event is free and open to the public. Publix Liquors is located at 10018 Griffin Road, Cooper City.