Reprint from the Progress Times - January 25, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Lighted night parade highlights Texas Citrus Fiesta events

 

The signature event of this year’s Texas Citrus Fiesta will be the lighted night parade—a first in the history of the Fiesta.

The Fiesta chose to change their most popular event to a night parade this year in commemoration of the City of Mission’s Centennial celebration. The Citrus Fiesta has been designated as the first in a series events in 2008 designed to celebrate the city’s 100-year history.

The Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges follow the traditional route, going from north to south on Conway, starting at FM 495 and proceeding south to Fourth Street. But this year instead of starting at noon, it begins at 6 p.m.

Parade-goers will be in for a treat as lighted floats light up Conway Avenue. The other entries in the parade are also expected to add lights and glow sticks to their costumes and vehicles. Eight bands are returning again this year to entertain the crowds, including each of the local high school bands.

As an added treat, participants on the floats—including Fiesta duchesses—are being asked to wear silly shoes. See what they come up with. It could be house slippers, cowboy boots—who knows? Citrus Fiesta Executive Director Berta Filut encourages spectators to ask the people on the floats to show off their silly shoes.

Visitors will want to secure viewing points along Conway early enough to get a good spot.

While waiting for the parade, many spectators look forward to those famous Texas Citrus Fiesta barbecue sandwiches. The barbecue pit crews will be traveling up and down the parade route selling sandwiches and drinks starting at 4 p.m., and continuing right up until parade time.

The parade will have a variety of entries, including floats covered with citrus products following the City of Mission’s Centennial theme.

Grand Marshal for this year’s Parade of Oranges will be Congressman Henry Cuellar. He will also be keynote speaker at the Mayor’s International Brunch.

In addition to the parade, the Texas Citrus Fiesta has several other events to keep Valleyites, Winter Texans and guests entertained.

The Royal Coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna was held Thursday, January 24. It is here that the identity of King Citrus is revealed. The new king must be involved in the citrus industry in some way. Identity of Queen Citrianna is announced at the Citrus Fiesta Product Costume Show the prior year.

The Product Costume Show and Royale Finale will be held tonight, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mission Neuhaus Center on the Mission High School campus, located on W. 18th Street, just west of Conway. Tickets are $5 for this event where the identity of the new Queen Citrianna LXXII will be announced. Costumes will follow the City of Mission’ Centennial theme.

The Product Costume Show is one of the most unique craft shows in the country. The base costumes are covered with citrus and other agricultural products that have been dried, pulverized, blended and powdered. They are then applied onto the fabric with glue or sifted over fabric that has been painted with glue. The ingenuity of the costumes is a tribute to creativity of the designers. Many hours are spent making these costumes.

After the costumes are displayed, they exit the stage. While the Costume Show judges are making their decisions, the Royal Court will be brought back for the announcement of who will be in the LXXII Royal Court. And finally, winners of the Product Costume Show are announced.

While audiences are amazed at the creativity and ingenuity of the costume designers, it is the antics of the primary-age models that bring delighted laughter.

Fun Fair

On Saturday, January 26 the Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Fair starts at the Mission Market Square at 10 a.m. and runs until 10 p.m. There will be a variety of entertainment including several different styles of live music performed by talented local artists. Food vendors, lots of display booths, arts and crafts, kiddy rides and in general, everything needed for a good community fair will be at the Fun Fair.

A special attraction this year will be the Siberian tigers which will perform stunts to entertain the audiences.

One of the big draws is the Vaquero Cookoff included in the TCF Fun Fair for the 12th year. Cowboys from all across South Texas will set up chuck wagons and cook foods over an open fire, the traditional way food was cooked by cowboys on the Chisholm Trail. It’s a great look at history and it smells good.

The 5K Texas Citrus Fiesta Fun Run sponsored by the Mission Parks and Recreation Department will start early in the morning Saturday.

Another event many people look forward to is the Fiesta Citrus Youth Show where students in 4-H and FFA learn how to judge and select good citrus. The students select fruit from orchards of participating area growers and create displays, which are then judged to see who has selected the best fruit in a host of different categories. The displays are a learning experience for fair goers.

When the competition is over the citrus fruit is sold to fair goers at a greatly reduced price. Judging will be at 2 p.m., with winners announced at 4 p.m.

For more information call the Fiesta office, (956) 585-9724, or log on to www.texas citrusfiesta.net.