Charro Days Adds New Event to Lineup

Updated: January 11, 2025

By Mike Villarreal

There’s something new and exciting happening at the Charro Days Festival! A new celebration called the Tardeada will be added to the lineup. The Tardeada promises lively dancing and incredible live music from Los Halcones Del Valle and Grupo Azido.

This event will take place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Dean Porter Open Pavilion. Bring your family and friends, enjoy the music, and treat yourself to delicious food available for purchase. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration, which will be part of an early observance of Charro Days.

Charro Days, which began in 1937, is a two-nation fiesta that occurs over four days in Brownsville, Texas, in collaboration with Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The festivities kick off each year with a “Grito” (a joyous Mexican shout) to celebrate the shared heritage of these two border cities.

Annually, around 50,000 attendees participate in the Charro Days Festival. The Sombrero Festival, taking place from February 27 to March 1, is also part of the celebration, along with a parade that travels down Elizabeth Street through historic downtown Brownsville.

The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce first organized this event in 1937 to honor Mexican culture and celebrate the “Charros” (dashing Mexican gentlemen cowboys). Initially, the festival was created to bring people together during the Great Depression, providing a way for everyone to celebrate and enjoy the unique cultures of the region. Throughout its long history, Charro Days has only been on hiatus from 1942 to 1945 and in 2021.

The Mr. Amigo Association is dedicated to preserving the Charro Days tradition and promoting friendly relations between Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The Sombrero Festival became part of Charro Days in 1986, transforming into a three-day street party at Washington Park featuring popular rock, country, and Tejano performances, alongside a variety of Mexican American food.

The former president of Mexico, Miguel Alemán Valdés, was the first president of the Mr. Amigo Association. Congressman Solomon Ortiz recognized the association with the Mr. Amigo Review Award for its pioneering efforts in fostering mutual understanding and friendship between Mexico and the United States. This award was presented during the creation of NAFTA in 1988-1989. As a symbol of bi-national friendship, the Mr. Amigo Award is now on display at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Photo from the Charro Days Fiesta Facebook page

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