Charro Days Festivities parade through downtown Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Charro Days Festivities continued Saturday in Brownsville with back-to-back parades.

The Color Guard and Grand International Parades traveled down Elizabeth Street Saturday afternoon.

Onlookers began lining the streets hours before the events started. Two hundred businesses, schools, elected officials and others participated in the two parades.

“I love the horses, you don’t really get a chance to see horses in downtown," said Brownsville City Manager Helen Ramirez, discussing some of her favorite parts of Saturday's events. "But just really, happiness, I see a lot of happiness."

Officials said Charro Days events show the collaboration between Brownsville and its sister city across the river, Matamoros. The combined population of both cities is over a million people.

Ramirez expanded on that close relationship, saying, “Many of the families in Brownsville and Matamoros not only send their kids to school here, from Matamoros to Brownsville but also have businesses that thrive in both cities.”

City leaders said that in addition to being a cultural celebration, Charro Days also provides an economic boost.

Ramirez said hotels in the area are sold out. She said President Biden's visit on Thursday, the inauguration of the Charro Days Classic soccer match and working with sister organizations tied to Charro Days helped add to the city's coffers.

“The Mister Amigo Celebration brings Mexicanos from other parts, all different parts of Mexico, which are also staying in our hotel beds as well. So yea, we’re pretty much sold out," Ramirez said. "I absolutely expect our sales tax numbers to be really, really high this coming month.”

She said events like these also provide a chance to highlight the border community and combat negative impressions those who aren't from the area might have.

Ramirez said, “The city of Brownsville, in 20-22 and 20-23, was ranked one of the safest cities in the United States. Nationally ranked based on crime data, safety data.”

The Charro Days carnival runs through next Sunday, located at the Texas Southmost College ITEC Center, formerly Amigoland Mall.