Jose Sulaiman this year's Mr. Amigo
 International boxing administrator Jose Sulaiman will join the Charro Days celebration as this year’s Mr. Amigo. The Mr. Amigo award has been given every year since 1964 to an outstanding Mexican citizen who contributes to international friendship and respect between the U.S. and Mexico. It has been a part of Charro Days since 1967. Read more...
MichaelPucket as Parade Marshal
 Michael Puckett’s first job with Charro Days came just out of high school, when he was drafted to drive a float in one of the annual parades.
That, of course, doesn’t count the times as a young boy when he donned colorful costumes and marched in the parades himself.Since then, Puckett has been a permanent fixture in Brownville’s premier celebration, and now serves as executive director of Charro Days Inc.
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Charro Days activities and events
 Swirling skirts, delicate laces and silver embellishments -- Brownsville decks itself in the colorful culture of Mexico during the 72nd annual Charro Days, Feb. 22 through March 1.
Parades, fireworks, dances and street festivals are all part of this unique bi-national festival, which celebrates the shared traditions and friendship of Brownsville and Matamoros.
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Charro Days Volunteers ...Thank You!
If you watch a parade, dance at a costume ball, or eat something good during Charro Days, thank a volunteer.
Volunteers organize those parades, decorate the dance halls, grill the fajitas and do countless other things to make this bi-national, cultural celebration a huge success. Read more...
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Volunteers Make Charro Days A Success
If you watch a parade, dance at a costume ball, or eat something good during Charro Days, thank a volunteer.
Volunteers organize those parades, decorate the dance halls, grill the fajitas and do countless other things to make this bi-national, cultural celebration a huge success.
Ciri Haugh, marketing coordinator at the Gladys Porter Zoo, is new in town, but it didn’t take her long to sign up as a Charro Days volunteer. Part of her job is helping tech-savvy residents and visitors stay connected to the fun via new media options like Twitter and Facebook.
While there are families who have been contributing to Charro Days for decades, Haugh is part of a new generation adding their energy and spirit to this 72-year-old celebration.
“Just hearing about Charro Days from other people, it seemed really exciting,” said Haugh, who moved from Dallas just months ago. “It seemed like one of those things, where, if you get involved in anything in Brownsville, it should be Charro Days.”
John Patriarca, president of Charro Days Inc., says 99 percent of the festival is volunteer effort.
“We don’t look at it as work,” he said. “We look at it as fun, putting on this great event for the people of Brownsville and Matamoros.”
Patriarca notes that volunteers help manage the crowds, build the floats, coordinate publicity, organize the dances and even set out chairs along the parade route for spectators. Organizations like the Mr. Amigo Association and Sombrero Festival Association host their own major events during the celebration, and are aided by volunteers as well.
Church, school and other non-profit groups also do their part to make Charro Days a whirl of music, food, color and costume.
Haugh will be part of that whirl for the first time, both behind the scenes and on a float through downtown Brownsville.
“I’m actually going to be on the zoo float during two of the parades,” said Haugh, who is counting on co-workers to help dress her in traditional Charro Days costume. “Part of moving here is getting thrown into a different culture altogether and this is kind of the peak of all of that…There’s no place else in the country with an event like this!”
Haugh said the Charro Days publicity committee is stocked with younger helpers.
“There are lots of Charro Days volunteers who have been doing this for a long time. But there is always a limited pool of people really putting in the effort and hours,” she said. “It’s time to pass the mantel and have younger people help out too.”
Rest assured, she said,, Charro Days traditions will continue.
“The younger volunteers also do understand the tradition…They’re ready to help out so the tradition doesn’t die,” Haugh said.
Haugh has created a Twitter profile for Charro days. To follow Charro Days via Twitter! |
