Celebrating Sister Cities Charro Days

Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico since 1938

Supervising dancers in the children’s parade 2014 Photo by author

Many celebrations in border cities in Texas are held in the spring, usually around the same time as Mardi Gras happens in New Orleans.

I moved to Brownsville in 1982 for a teaching job. I have always enjoyed the Charro Days celebration in February. As an elementary music teacher, I loved learning the dances and watching children in the yearly parade.

The local schools have Thursday afternoon and Friday off, and the children’s parade is held on Thursday afternoon. Each elementary school features dancers in the parade who stroll down the main street and stop at the Gateway Bridge that connects Brownsville, TX to Matamoros, MX.

I have heard that the parade crossed the bridge into both countries in its early days. I have not witnessed that, but I have seen quite a few changes over the forty years I have lived here.

I have marched in the parade, watched the parade, watched my children play band instruments during their middle school years, and taken visiting relatives from out of state to see the parade.

I have seen parades canceled due to bad weather, watched during scorching heat and have been almost blown away during windy days.

Parades are great fun, and dancing children are adorable. This year, my husband taught a favorite dance to the small Montessori school our grandchildren attend. La Danza de los Viejitos can be loosely translated, The Dance of Our Beloved Elderly.

Children waiting to dance The Dance of the Beloved Elderly Photo by author

The children wear masks and pretend they are elderly men who still love to dance. They fall on the floor, poke each other with canes, and have a grand old time. There are many ways to organize the dance, and my husband loved encouraging children, including our granddaughter, to imitate dancing old men as part of the show for their the school.

The dance began in the state of Michoacán and dates to the time of indigenous peoples.

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Like most parades, bands play, twirlers twirl, and floats compete for prizes.

Some elementary music school teachers have floats that feature their children singing conjunto style music.

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Local celebrities and politicians are waving. Since 1964, a Mr. Amigo has been selected every year to participate in the parade. Mr. Amigo must be a Mexican citizen who has contributed to friendship between the United States and Mexico. This year’s Mr. Amigo is Jose Cantoral, a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and pianist.

The Sombrero festival takes up several blocks downtown. There are chili cookoffs, jalapeňo eating contests, food trucks, dancing, bands, rides for young kids, and all kinds of fun for all ages.

My husband and I took my elderly parents to the Sombrero festival before the Pandemic shut everything down in 2020. We all enjoyed hot dogs and jalapeňos.

If you are in the mood for tacos, head down to Brownsville before everything closes by Sunday morning.

If you miss it, there are other festivals in border cities throughout the spring.

¡Hasta proximo aňo!

Thank you for reading!