2012 Charro Days poster unveiled in Brownsville

The clip-clop of the horses, with Charro Days riders in the saddle, heralded the unveiling Wednesday of the poster for the 75th anniversary of the annual event that celebrates the unique history of Brownsville and Matamoros.

“You didn’t expect that, did you?” Charro Days Inc. President Kenneth Lieck said of the seven men dressed as Charro riders standing before the audience at the celebration’s headquarters on Elizabeth Street.

Lieck said it was a bit of an early start for the festivities, set for Feb. 19-26, in honor of the milestone anniversary. He said three parade floats have been redesigned for Charro Days this year.

Also as a nod to the 75th year, the nonprofit Charro Days corporation is still accepting photo submissions from past Charro Days to make copies of them for an album the organization will display, he said.

The public may pick up free copies of the new poster starting today at Charro Days headquarters, 455 E. Elizabeth St., or at the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau at 650 FM 802.

“We know it’s an integral part of what Brownsville is,” Assistant City Manager Jeff Johnston said of Charro Days while at Wednesday’s ceremony.

Both the poster and this year’s logo feature two horsemen riding side by side; one rider carries a U.S. flag, the other a Mexico flag.

Each year horsemen bearing the flags are at the start of the first Charro Days parade, symbolizing the bond Brownsville has with Matamoros and the unity of the border region. Brownsville organizations work closely with Matamoros groups to hold the celebration.

Artist Don Breeden, who designed the poster, said he wanted to incorporate more horse riders as well as the old B&M Bridge that joins the two nations. A Texas flag also figures into the design. The riders in the poster, who were the same group at Wednesday’s ceremony, modeled for two afternoons, he said.

“I wanted to try and capture the look, feel and spirit of that first poster created in 1991,” Breeden told the audience.

At the end of the poster unveiling, Charro Alfredo Barrera masterfully swung and jostled a lasso, making it dance and occasionally jumping into the loop.

Charro rider Ramon Garcia represented a connection to the past at the ceremony. Breeden said the man, who is featured holding the U.S. flag in this year’s poster, was also featured in the first poster created in 1991.

Garcia called Charro Days a magnificent event.

“It’s important to promote Mexican culture so it isn’t lost,” he said. “I put on my (Charro) attire and go to all the events because I like to serve.”

Johnston said various city departments, including police, fire, emergency medical services, and parks and recreation, all work to help make Charro Days happen. The city also collaborates with the three nonprofit groups associated with the event: Charro Days Inc., the Mr. Amigo Association and Sombrero Festival Ltd., he said.

“Charro Days is a cornerstone for the city of Brownsville and has been for many, many years.” He said. “I’m trying to think of which department is not involved. It reaches out to everything.”

The city expects visitors from all over North America — and is happy for their contribution to the local economy, he said. The presence of federal authorities on the border has ramped up in recent years, and Lieck said Charro Days organizers work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to plan the logistics.

“Charro Days is an event for the citizens of Brownsville and surrounding communities and nothing is going to stop us from holding the Charro Days event,” he said.

After the ceremony some of the audience went inside the Charro Days building for refreshments and to pick up a poster. Inside a festive banner welcomed them, expressing in two simple words the message of Charro Days:

“Bienvenidos Y’all”