Another Charro Days Came, Another Charro Days Went, Another Charro Days Will Come
By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon
Sunday morning is here. Some Brownsvillians are still sleeping off the partying done over the last week, ending with the big party this past Saturday night at the Sombrero Festival.
The wind is howling and blowing through the downtown streets. Elizabeth Street has fallen silent once again, as it usually is on a sleepy Sunday morning. A few wooden barricades and plastic orange barriers still line the parade route. Food booths are being broken down and loaded in the back of pickup trucks.
Washington Park is still fenced off and the surrounding streets are still blocked off as Sombrero Festival workers and volunteers break down all the booths, tents, and stages. The portable toilets are lined up ready to be picked up and taken back to their storage facility.
In the distance, the bells toll at Saint Thomas, at Sacred Heart, and at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Some good Catholics have managed to make it to church on the first Sunday of Lent.
By Monday, most of Downtown Brownsville will be cleared of all the Charro Days paraphernalia and Brownsvillians will begrudgingly go back into work, wishing they had one more day to sleep off La Cruda, the pounding hangover they earned while downing beer, and stronger spirits, at all the celebrations around town.
The Charro Days festivities will come to a close today, and soon the powers-that-be at Charro Days, Inc., the Sombrero Festival, and the Mr. Amigo Association will meet to do their postmortem and discuss what went well, what didn't go well, and what they can do differently next year.
Despite all the drama, all the controversy, and all the naysayers, Charro Days has once again been a success. Social media was all abuzz with stories and pictures of thousands of people packing the parade routes. From the Beacon's headquarters, every evening was filled with the faint sound of music and people celebrating from Washington Park a few blocks away. Downtown was packed with partygoers during every day, and night, of the celebration.
Despite all the stories about Mr. Amigo not appearing at all the public events, Julio Cesar Chavez did appear in the Grand International Parade, even allowing a superfan to approach him and give him a big ol' Brownsville hug and kiss.
Several people came in from out-of-town to enjoy the festivities. My mother's house was packed with several cousins from the Houston area who make their annual trek to attend the parades and the Sombrero Festival. They all had a great time with no complaints. They all made their way out of town on US-77 this morning. They'll be back next year.
Charro Days is one of the biggest jewels in Brownsville's crown. Of course, we're not all going to agree on everything, but it is nice to see the community coming together for a few days in celebration.
We can only hope this tradition continues to grow and enjoy success for Brownsville and all her native sons and daughters.
Now we can get back to the dogfighting that is the primary election.
Super Tuesday is just a couple of days away.
Sunday morning is here. Some Brownsvillians are still sleeping off the partying done over the last week, ending with the big party this past Saturday night at the Sombrero Festival.
The wind is howling and blowing through the downtown streets. Elizabeth Street has fallen silent once again, as it usually is on a sleepy Sunday morning. A few wooden barricades and plastic orange barriers still line the parade route. Food booths are being broken down and loaded in the back of pickup trucks.
Washington Park is still fenced off and the surrounding streets are still blocked off as Sombrero Festival workers and volunteers break down all the booths, tents, and stages. The portable toilets are lined up ready to be picked up and taken back to their storage facility.
In the distance, the bells toll at Saint Thomas, at Sacred Heart, and at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Some good Catholics have managed to make it to church on the first Sunday of Lent.
By Monday, most of Downtown Brownsville will be cleared of all the Charro Days paraphernalia and Brownsvillians will begrudgingly go back into work, wishing they had one more day to sleep off La Cruda, the pounding hangover they earned while downing beer, and stronger spirits, at all the celebrations around town.
The Charro Days festivities will come to a close today, and soon the powers-that-be at Charro Days, Inc., the Sombrero Festival, and the Mr. Amigo Association will meet to do their postmortem and discuss what went well, what didn't go well, and what they can do differently next year.
Despite all the drama, all the controversy, and all the naysayers, Charro Days has once again been a success. Social media was all abuzz with stories and pictures of thousands of people packing the parade routes. From the Beacon's headquarters, every evening was filled with the faint sound of music and people celebrating from Washington Park a few blocks away. Downtown was packed with partygoers during every day, and night, of the celebration.
Despite all the stories about Mr. Amigo not appearing at all the public events, Julio Cesar Chavez did appear in the Grand International Parade, even allowing a superfan to approach him and give him a big ol' Brownsville hug and kiss.
Several people came in from out-of-town to enjoy the festivities. My mother's house was packed with several cousins from the Houston area who make their annual trek to attend the parades and the Sombrero Festival. They all had a great time with no complaints. They all made their way out of town on US-77 this morning. They'll be back next year.
Charro Days is one of the biggest jewels in Brownsville's crown. Of course, we're not all going to agree on everything, but it is nice to see the community coming together for a few days in celebration.
We can only hope this tradition continues to grow and enjoy success for Brownsville and all her native sons and daughters.
Now we can get back to the dogfighting that is the primary election.
Super Tuesday is just a couple of days away.
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