Reprint from the Progress Times - January 18, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Texas Citrus Fiesta is kickoff event for Centennial Celebration

 

With the City of Mission celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year, there is no better way to kick off the year’s celebration than with an entire Texas Citrus Fiesta dedicated to Mission’s colorful history. The Fiesta has long been one of the best things about the city with its colorful Parade of Oranges and unique Product Costume Show. Both of these festivities have long paid tribute to Mission’s rich history as a highly productive agricultural community in the last century.

Events this year will kick off with the annual Royal Reception at Mario’s Banquet Center. The ball will be held January 19 at 7 p.m. The event is formal and tickets are $50 per person. This is where the girls who are vying to be Queen Citrianna LVII or members of the Royal Court will be dressed in their elegant ball gowns for the first time.

The girls are formally introduced to the audience and escorted into the room by a former King Citrus. Their gowns will be a colorful array that represents a variety of agricultural products and plants found in the Rio Grande Valley. A portion of the judging to determine the next queen takes place when the girls move around and introduce themselves to the people attending the ball. They do not know who the judges are so they must talk to everyone.

The Royal Coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna will take place on Thursday, January 24, at 7 p.m. at the Mission Neuhaus Center on the campus of Mission High School. No one knows the identity of the new King Citrus; it is a closely guarded secret and is always someone who is involved in the citrus industry.

After the big announcement is made the members of the Royal Court will be introduced. Queen Citrianna, her lady-in-waiting and the other members of the Royal Court will join King Citrus on the stage. Then the duchesses will be presented in to pay their respects to the court. Tickets to view the pageantry of the Royal Coronation are $5 for reserved seating and $3 for general seating. They can be purchased in the box office prior to the show.

On Friday, January 25, the Product Costume and Royal Finale will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Neuhaus Center. The costume show is one of the most unique to be found anywhere because natural products are used to make the costumes. After the costumes have been shown, the Royal Court and Duchesses are once again brought on stage, and the announcements of those who will serve in the 2009 Royal Court are made.

Saturday’s festivities start with the annual Texas Citrus Fiesta 5K Fun Run. Participants will meet at Leo Pena "La Plazita" Park in downtown Mission at 7 a.m. Those interested in participating should contact the Mission Parks and Recreation Department at 580-8760 and speak to George Chapa.

Get ready for a day of entertainment at the Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair to be held in Mission Market Square from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be food vendors, arts and crafts, kiddie rides and a full day’s lineup of entertainment. This is where the Vaqueros will have their annual cook-off, which is growing in popularity each year. Competition starts at 2 p.m. Admission to the fair is free.

The Citrus Youth Show will also be held at the Fun Fair. Winners of the competition will be announced at 4 p.m. Fruit will be sold throughout the day.

A new attraction to this year’s Fiesta will be the first lighted nighttime parade. Excitement is building as many groups are opting to create their first lighted float. The Texas Citrus Fiesta board of directors has been thrilled with the response to the idea of a lighted parade. The parade will start at 6 p.m. and run north to south along Conway Avenue.

The Mission Historical Museum, 900 Doherty, will have its annual display of Citrus Fiesta Products including old gowns worn by former Queens and members of the Royal Court.

The annual Texas Citrus Fiesta Golf Tournament will be held in March.

With the addition of the night parade, combined with the start of Mission’s Centennial Celebration, this year’s Fiesta promises fun for everyone.