Volunteers Make Charro Days a Success

It may seem magical, but it takes more than “abracadabra” to make Charro Days happen each year. Thousands of volunteers, in dozens of organizations large and small, work tirelessly to create the internationally famous festival of culture and history that Charro Days has become. Each year, those volunteers man the ticket booths, hang the pinatas, grill the spicy fajitas, even set out chairs along the parade routes to make sure the community enjoys itself. Read more...

 
President Selected as Parade Marshal

A Brownsville native who rose in the ranks of academia to lead The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College during periods of incredible growth and development is this year’s Charro Days Parade Marshal. “Charro Days is proud to honor UTB/TSC President Dr. Juliet V. Garcia as our 2008 Parade Marshal,” said Charro Days executive board member and past president Oran Neck. “She’s an exceptionally talented educator and administrator and is an asset to our community.” Read more...

 
Angelica Vale this year's Mr. Amigo

An actress, singer and comedienne who set television records in two countries with her ugly-duckling-turned-swan portrayal of “La Fea Mas Bella, visits Brownsville in February as this year’s Mr. Amigo. Read more...

Baile del Sol to Kickoff  71st Charro Days

The 71st annual Charro Days takes place February 24-March 1 and starts with Baile del Sol, the first event of the weeklong festivities. Now in its 10th year, Baile del Sol will take place Sunday, February 24 at the Charro Days headquarters at 4th and East Elizabeth Street. Read more...

Charro Days Fiesta Unveils Official 2009 Poster

Longoria Elementary students Mario Davila Jr. and Alina Gutierrez didn’t fret once after autographing several dozen of this year’s Official Charro Days Fiesta Poster.
The 2009 Official Charro Days Fiesta Poster was unveiled Wednesday as a packed audience at the event’s downtown headquarters waited in anticipation.
The poster, depicting Davila and Gutierrez dancing, drew applause as its artist, Don Breeden, and representatives from sponsors Keppel AmFELS, revealed it to the crowd. The dance portrayed, “La Danza de los Conceros”, is a modern, mystic, folk dance of Central Mexico based on the cultural legacy of the “Aztecs.”
Breeden has illustrated 10 of the 11 posters in the Charro Days poster series.

In 1991, the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. (BCVB) began the tradition of creating a Charro Days poster to commemorate the event. In 2004, Charro Days, Inc. partnered with the BCVB, and this year, Keppel AmFELS joined as the sponsor of the poster.

Free posters, while they last, remain available at the Charro Days Headquarters, 455 E. Elizabeth St., and the BCVB Visitors’ Center, 650 Ruben M. Torres Blvd. Businesses are being encouraged to display the poster.
For the first time this year, a Charro Days event was viewable live on the Internet. And, event organizers have organized a volunteer “new media” team to take promotion of the event to another level.

“With the age of technology, we wanted to bring both tradition and technology together,” said Charro Days Publicity Chairman Letty Fernandez. “We hope to attract a broader demographic.”
Those who were unable to watch the event either in person or via live Webcast, can watch the event in its entirety here .
Also new this year is a Charro Days Fiesta blog where up-to-date information and photos are provided on the event and constructive input is encouraged. The blog address is
Charro Days blogspot
Other new media features are the use of a micro blog known as Twitter and social media site Facebook.com .

The 72nd Charro Days Fiesta kicks off Feb. 22 and continues through March 1.

Contact: Mike Puckett, Charro Days, Inc.; (956) 542-4245

E-mail:Charrodaysfiesta@sbcglobal.net

Charro Days Twitter: twitter.com/CharroDays2009

2008 Parades & Dances Highlight 71st Fiesta

Parades and pageantry, costumes balls and street dances, food, music and fun for the whole family pack the 71st annual Charro Days Fiesta and its week-long schedule.

Traditional events and new additions take the festival to downtown Brownsville, Washington Park and many other corners of the city -- and across the border into Matamoros as well.

Street dances and costume balls are another major part of Charro Days fun, all starting with Baile de Sol, six hours of free entertainment, folkloric dancing, and children’s costume contest and a taco-eating contest Sunday, February 24 at Charro Days headquarters.

The “Grito,” or ceremonial yell that has traditionally launched the festival since its inception, now takes place during Baile del Sol.

“We want people to come out and get into the spirit of Charro Days,” said Charro Days president John Patriarca. We encourage people to wear costumes and get ready for a week of gritos, bailes, and parades.”

The first of three parades begin on Thursday, February 28 when Brownsville school children get the afternoon off to march, dance or hop a float down Elizabeth Street. This year, more than 500 students will participate directly in the BISD Children’s Parade, an old-fashioned procession that includes high school bands, drill teams, and folkloric dance groups in colorful Mexican costumes who stop and perform at stations along the parade route.

“I know the dance very well and I’m ready to be in the parade,” said a confident Ezequiel a la Torre, an El Jardin Elementary second grader who will be dancing to “Viva Linares” in black cowboy hat and boots. “My favorite thing about the parade is that I like to dance in front of people and perform in front of them.”

Seven-year-old Ruben Rodriguez said his mother, father, sister, aunt and cousins will be watching as he and more than two dozen other El Jardin students step and twirl. “It’s easy,” said the first-grader, who is making his Charro Days debut. “I like to dance.”

At 6 p.m. Friday, February 29, the Illuminated Night Parade sails down Elizabeth Street as well, led by honorary Parade Marshal Dr. Juliet V. García, president of The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.

Mr. Amigo Angelica Vale of “La Fea mas Bella” fame will also participate in this 75-minute lighted procession.

The biggest parade of all, the Grand International Parade, will take place Saturday, March 1 with floats, bands, dancers and other groups from Matamoros and Brownsville. The word “international” means what it says.

“I believe this is the only parade that starts in one country and ends in another,” said Patriarca. “That’s pretty neat.”

The grand parade travels down Elizabeth Street to Gateway International Bridge. Portions of the parade resume on the Mexican side, with additional participants organized by Fiestas Mexicanas, the Matamoros counterpart to Charro Days.

Street dances and costume balls are another major part of Charro Days fun beginning with “Noche de Fiesta Variety Night” on Thursday, February 28 with Noe Pro and The Band, mariachis, folkloric dancers and a Mexican buffet at Jacob Brown Auditorium. “Baile Ranchero” follows on Friday, February 29, including mariachis and music by Tejano Boys and Los Dos Gilbertos.

The final dance of Charro Days week, on Saturday, March 1, includes headliners Los Badd Boyz and Jimmy Gonzalez y El Grupo Mazz.

Meanwhile, at Washington Park, Sombrero Fest is three days of music, food and other fun contests and events, starting Thursday, February 28.

More recent elements of the festival include the Charro Days Carnival that starts Thursday, February 28 at the UTB/TSC ITEC campus, the USTA Men’s Professional Tennis Tournament at the Brownsville Tennis Center, a Charro Days golf tournament and a artists show.