Charro Days 2025 in Texas

Charro Days is an annual four-day celebration that brings together the rich cultures of both the United States and Mexico. This vibrant festival features lively fiestas, music, stunning costumes, colorful performances, and delicious traditional food. Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, join forces to create a unique cultural event that draws around 50,000 attendees each year.

Festival Highlights

The Charro Days festival features parades, food stalls, music, street dancing, fireworks, bullfights, and a rodeo in both Brownsville and Matamoros. Participants dress in traditional Mexican or cowboy-style attire. Among the most popular events are the Sombrero Festival, the Charro Days Costume Ball, and Noche Mexicana. The celebration typically begins with "Hands Across the Bridge," a ceremonial gesture where the mayors of Brownsville and Matamoros reaffirm their enduring friendship.

Schedule

The Charro Days festival is renowned for its vibrant parades that wind through Elizabeth Street in downtown Brownsville. The Children's Parade, hosted by BISD, kicks off the festivities on Thursday, February 27, at 2:30 pm. On Friday, February 28, at 7 pm, the Illuminated Parade dazzles spectators with its glowing displays. Saturday, March 1, begins with the Color Guard Parade at 12:30 pm, followed by the Grand International Parade at 1 pm, which spans from Brownsville to Matamoros. Each parade showcases folkloric dances, Mexican music, stunning costumes, floats, marching bands, and more.

The celebration concludes with the Charro Days Costumed Ball on Saturday, March 1, at the TSC Jacob Brown Auditorium, featuring live music, dancing, and entertainment.

Charro Days Carnival

The Charro Days Carnival will take place from Thursday, February 27, to Sunday, March 9, at the TSC ITEC Center (formerly Amigoland Mall), offering fun for the entire family. The carnival will be open Monday through Friday starting at 6 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm onwards.

Tickets

Tickets cannot be purchased online or over the phone. To buy tickets, visit the Charro Days Headquarters at 455 E. Elizabeth St. in downtown Brownsville. Ticket prices vary depending on the event. For instance, Noche Mexicana tickets are $40, while admission to the Costumed Ball is $35.

History

Charro Days is an annual fiesta held in late February in Brownsville, Texas, first organized in 1937 by local business leaders. The celebration honors the region's rich Mexican heritage on both sides of the Rio Grande and is named after the "Charro," the iconic Mexican gentleman cowboy.