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...

 
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. 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...

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.

“We don’t consider it work – it’s fun,” said John Patriarca, who volunteers as president of Charro Days, the umbrella group that started it all. “We have 12 separate committees that oversee the full gamut of what we put on -- parades to decorating to special events. We couldn’t do it without all the groups who help.”

The Mr. Amigo Association and Sombrero Festival Association -- other organizations in charge of major events that help make up Charro Days – also are headed by volunteers boards and committees who give their time and talents to plan and prepare for this week-long celebration. And throughout the community, other groups, churches and schools also lend a hand.

For some, it’s an opportunity to raise money for worthy causes. But in the end, it’s a labor of love.

 Grupo Folklorico Tizatlan, a dance group from The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, will tour nursing homes as part of the festival, bringing a little bit of Charro Days to those who otherwise couldn’t enjoy it.

“That’s probably the most emotional and fulfilling dance performance we do for Charro Days,” says Dr. Zelma Mata, the UTB/TSC professor who oversees the group. “These people know the words to “Cielito Lindo’ and ‘Guadalajara.’ This is part of their childhood. When they see us dance, they feel a sense of pride. We make them proud of their heritage…”

The group also performs at other Charro Days events, including the kick-off “Baile del Sol” on the first Sunday, and “Noche de Fiesta Variety Night” on Thursday. “It is such a great time for Brownsville to celebrate who we are…. together,” says Mata. “Our group is a Mexican folklorico dance group. We participate in Charro Days because we’re trying to promote our cultural heritage, which is also the mission of the university and of Charro Days itself.”

There are similar stories all over town. In the hours before each of the three colorful Charro Days parades, volunteers in gold vests will be doing their part to make the festival safe and comfortable.

“We’ve been doing this for over 50 years,” said Mary Edwards, president of the Brownsville Downtown Lions, one of the Lions Club organizations that provide chairs for parade-watchers. “Everybody knows to look for the person with the yellow vest because that’s the person who will sell you a chair.”

The Downtown and Border Lions groups also coordinate other churches and civic groups that provide parade seating, helping keep the parade route safe by providing a buffer from the street.

The money the Lions raise during Charro Days supports Brownsville’s Moody Clinic and summer camps for disabled and diabetic children, among other worthwhile projects.