A Day in Old Mexico & Charreada closes out 2022 Fiesta
Dancers perform during"A Day in Old Mexico and Charreada" Sunday as part of the final day of Fiesta.Tiny ballerinas in brightly colored dresses, cowboys riding dancing horses donning gold-adorned saddles, traditional elotes, or Mexican corn, consumed by the truckload - a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage was the name of the game on Sunday at “A Day in Old Mexico and Charreada,” one of many events taking place in San Antonio on the final official day of Fiesta.
The Charreada, at its core, is a celebration of the charros, Mexican cowboys, whose performances were the precursor to the traditional American rodeo, said Edmundo Rios, president of the San Antonio Charro Association. Sunday’s fiesta event drew thousands to come and witness some of the flashy rodeo-style events of the traditional charreada.
“This is our heritage, we can’t let it die out,” Rios said, donning traditional Mexican garb himself. “We need to teach our young ones where we come from, who we are.”Express-News interviews Michael Quintanilla aka Mr. Fiesta for things Fiesta this year!The effort to keep the tradition of the charros seemed to be alive and well.
It was standing room only at Rancho del Charro in south San Antonio, as people of all ages crowded in the rodeo arena to watch the performances. Vendors outside the arena sold elotes, tacos, fruit and traditional Mexican cuisine, as well as brightly-colored crafts, jewelry and Fiesta souvenirs. Jorge Gaxiola, director of Faisan Folklorico, which put on the ballet folklorico performance, said it was good to be back in the Fiesta saddle, so to speak, after two years of COVID disruptions.Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad