By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Fiesta de Amistad will have a different look this weekend, with a new parade route and more activities centered at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, but its purpose remains rooted in friendship — and helping local students.
Last year, the celebration helped provide 26 scholarships through the International Good Neighbor Council’s scholarship program, Miss Del Rio pageant and annual art contest, said Andrew Scarbo, the International Good Neighbor Council/Del Rio Chapter’s president.
This year’s celebration carries the message, “Stronger Together, United by Friendship,” with events continuing Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18.
A mayor’s reception Friday at 6 p.m. at the Enchanted Event Center. The reception is by invitation only.
Saturday’s activities begin early with the Fiesta de Amistad 5K at Star Park. Registration and lineup begin at 7 a.m.,
followed by the race at 8 a.m. Scarbo said runners will travel up North Main Street to the fairgrounds and back.
The Fiesta de Amistad parade follows at 10 a.m., with participants lining up on West Second Street at 8 a.m. This year’s route heads up North Main Street to the fairgrounds.
Scarbo said the parade’s move from South Main Street, along with the relocation of the arts and crafts fair, reflects an effort to keep the celebration affordable. He said rising city fees and reduced in-kind assistance made the previous arrangements more expensive.
“If we save money by moving some of our events, then that means more scholarships we can give out,” Scarbo said.
The changes also bring several attractions together at the fairgrounds, giving parade spectators a place to continue celebrating after the final entry passes.
“Everyone is welcome to come into the fairgrounds after the parade and enjoy all the Charro Extremo events, the Arts & Crafts, the Khoury Kids Zone, and the McDonald’s entertainment arena,” Scarbo said.
The council has partnered with ARA Productions to bring Charro Extremo into this year’s Fiesta de Amistad lineup.
Activities scheduled across the three days include goat roping, a barbecue cookoff, a charreada, a ranch rodeo, bull riding, bronc riding and live music, Scarbo said.
The arts and crafts fair also runs Friday through Sunday at the fairgrounds, with a listed opening time of 9 a.m.
The “Abrazo,” event has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at Amistad Dam in Del Rio.
“Abrazo,” Spanish for “embrace,” brings representatives of Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña together at the international boundary to exchange hugs symbolizing the friendship between the neighboring communities.
Together, the new arrangements give this year’s celebration a central gathering place while continuing a tradition built around the ties between two neighboring cities.
For more, see the Que Pasa insert in this weeks issue of The 830 Times.
