Margal Vicars Honorary Parade Marshal
 Margal Vicars carried the banner for his school in the very first Charro Days parade in 1938. As honorary parade marshal for the 2011 festival, he’ll lead the whole procession.
Vicars, a former mayor and longtime civic leader, has been chosen by the Charro Days board of directors to preside over this year’s Illuminated and Grand International parades on Feb. 25 and 26. He has been a steadfast volunteer for many decades in Brownsville’s annual celebration of international friendship. Read more...
Carlos Bañales- Executive Director for Charro Days, Reconnects with his community
When Carlos Banales moved back to his hometown in the 1990s, a friend suggested a good way to reconnect with his community would be to drive a parade float for the annual Charro Days festival.
Eighteen Charro Days Fiestas later, Banales is executive director of the entire festival, leading hundreds of volunteers who each year bring the eight-day community celebration to life.
Read more...
Charro Days Volunteers ...Thank You!
Behind the scenes at Charro Days’ popular Illuminated Night and Grand International Parades, groups of volunteers keep the floats fresh and colorful, while others make sure these eye-catching creations are pulled safely and securely through the streets of Brownsville each year.
Like hundreds of other willing helpers, the volunteers who work on parade committees use their creative and organizational skills to make Charro Days an annual success.Read more...
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Carlos Cuevas This Year's Mr. Amigo
 Mexican singer Carlos Cuevas was named Mr. Amigo 2010 during an event held outside of the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville.
The Charro Days celebration will take place from Feb. 23-26 with Cuevas headlining the event in Brownsville.
Mr. Amigo Association President Jose Camacho said Cuevas was very honored upon learning of the title last month in San Antonio.
“Carlos is very excited, he liked very much the idea and he gladly accepted,” Camacho said as he added that the singer is a worthy ambassador for Mexico who has taken the country’s music and culture beyond all borders.
“The committee traveled to San Antonio, he (Cuevas) had a performance there so we took advantage of the occasion to give him the news,” Camacho said.
During the presentation in Brownsville, Mr. Amigo Association showed a video presentation by Cuevas who thanked the citizens for the honor and then sang a song acappella.
“It was just like if he was performing live at the event,” Camacho said.
The Mr. Amigo Association has worked to implement projects and events that promote better relations between the U.S. and Mexico and to spread through the use of media the way the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros share their bonds.
From 1964, Mr. Amigo Association has named one Mexican citizen that has helped strengthen those bonds. Some of the most well known Mr. Amigos includes Mexican President Miguel Aleman, Mario “Cantinflas” Moreno, Raul Velasco, Vicente Fernandez, Armando Manzanero, Juan Gabriel, Angelica Maria, Dulce, Lolita Ayala, Lucero, Angelica Vale, and others.
Cuevas has rekindled the love for the bolero genre by performing it as is without changing its essence but adding a bit of a modern touch.
Cuevas has performed in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala as well as in major U.S. cities.
The singer credits as one of his biggest accomplishments having performed duos with Armando Manzanero a
Julio Iglesias but above all having sang alongside Placido Domingo.
BY PATRICIA LOPEZ The Brownsville Herald |
