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Performing Arts & Festivals
The border culture comes alive with festivals and events
throughout the year in Brownsville. Charro Days Fiesta at
the end of February is a colorful, twin-city celebration of
folkloric dancing, mariachis, food and parades. In fact, the
event hosts the only known international parade with
numerous decorated floats. With the concurrent Sombrero
Festival and Mr. Amigo Association activities, fiesta-goers
have live concerts with popular and Tejano music, local
food, dances, and loads of fun.
The Commemorative Air Fiesta brings vintage and military
aircraft to the skies over Brownsville in March. Prior to
the opening of the shrimping season, the Gulf Shrimp fiesta
celebrates the world’s largest fleet in July. The
Brownsville International Birding Festival showcases the
area’s birds in February with guided field trips, seminars,
exhibits and other activities.
The University of Texas at Brownsville debuts it’s Arts &
Entertainment season with opera, Latin dance, Russian
ballet, stage productions and other classic performances.
The UTB-TSC Patron of the Arts Series offers numerous
artistic and musical presentations throughout the academic
year.
The Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts brings
special, world-class musical concerts to town throughout the
year. Their signature event is the very popular annual Latin
Jazz Festival in October, and includes a week of the best
regional and national acts.
The Brownsville Art League stages major events including two
international shows in March and April. The Camille Lightner
Theatre presents an ongoing schedule of live productions,
about every six weeks, with special dinner theatre and
spring break events. The Valley Symphony Orchestra and
Chorale puts on a number of performances in Brownsville.
Museums & History
Brownsville is a city of museums and historic sites
which interpret our past. The Historic Brownsville Museum is
housed in the restored Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. The
Brownsville Historical Association has expanded the Stillman
House Museum into the Brownsville Heritage Complex with the
acquisition of an adjacent building.
Additionally, Downtown Brownsville has a great number of
historically significant buildings identified with the Texas
Historical Plaques and are part of the Brownsville Heritage
Trail. Be sure to walk around the Brownsville historic
downtown to discover a variety of architectural designs from
the various periods, starting in the mid 1850’s to the
present time modern structures. Visitors can also tour the
old city cemetery where the ornate crypts provide a unique
glimpse into the past.
The Commemorative Air Force Museum has vintage military
aircraft on display and stages an annual Air Fiesta every
March.
The Brownsville Art League opens the Neale House
(Brownsville’s oldest house) with special exhibits and
Museum of Fine Arts to the public.
The battle of Palo Alto ignited the Mexican-American War in
the 1840s and impacted the USA such that it ultimately
changed the shape of the country. Both, Palo Alto and Resaca
de la Palma battlefield sites are managed by the National
Park Service. The Visitors Center displays exhibits, and
provides information to visitors at its location on FM 511
and Paredes Line Rd.
Brownsville is also home to the Children's Museum of
Brownsville where children are introduced to the "world of
learning" through creative and interactive exhibits and
activities.
Costumes of the Americas Museum, a wonderful rotating
exhibit of indigenous dress from throughout all of the
Americas is right next door to the Children’s Museum of
Brownsville. The Costumes of the Americas Museum emphasizes
hand woven textiles and colorful costumes.
Our Next Door Neighbor…Mexico
Just a two step away, our friendly neighbor, Matamoros,
Tamaulipas invites visitors to add an international flavor
to their visit.
Art and handcrafts from all parts of Mexico can be found in
the shops and markets of Matamoros. The goods include the
leather, silver and gold jewelry, talavera pottery, “Zarapes”,
boots, and art. Many shops are just across one of the
bridges. However, more are just a short taxi or tour-bus
ride away. Some of the shuttles have pick-up points near the
International Gateway Bridge.
Matamoros offers many restaurants to suit many tastes. From
traditional Mexican fare to regional seafood dishes and even
great steaks, visitors are sure to be satisfied. The dining
experience often takes on added dimensions with costumed
servers and music.
Many sites in Matamoros take you back into a colorful past.
The Casa Mata Museum is the only reminder of numerous
military actions that have caused the abbreviation “H.” to
precede Matamoros and conveys the meaning, ‘heroic’. At
Plaza Hidalgo, visitors can discover a marvelous cathedral
built in 1825 and renovated historic buildings such as the
city hall and the Matamoros Casino. The new “Museo Del
Agrarismo Mexicano”, depicts the agricultural heritage of
the State of Tamaulipas and Mexico with numerous exhibits
and authentic artifacts from the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Matamoros has a beach on the Gulf of Mexico, known as Playa
Bagdad. Thatched palapas dot the beach. Regional fishing
tournaments are held year-round and camping on the sand is a
tradition among the locals. The many celebrations include
the Expo fiesta in June and July, Mexican Independence in
September, the Festival Internacional de Otoño in October
with acts from around the globe, the Day of the Dead in
November, a vast display of Christmas lights across the
city, and Semana Santa at Easter. Plan a trip around one of
these events; it will be a pleasant experience.
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