The 830 Times
Hundreds of Del Rio residents made their way to historic Brown Plaza in the city’s San Felipe neighborhood Friday, Oct. 23, to celebrate the third annual Del Rio Monarch Festival.
Visitors began arriving at the plaza as soon as the festival began at 5 p.m. The autumn afternoon was flawless, with temperatures in the low to mid-80s, a mostly clear sky and a soft, balmy breeze blowing from the southeast.
Food and drink vendors set up at strategic sites around the plaza and included Rosy’s Gorditas, a food truck serving delicious fried dough shells stuffed with savory ground beef and potatoes, shredded cabbage and chopped tomatoes, as well as plates of street tacos.
Also on hand was Allison Hubbard’s Sip Society, a portable drink stand where Hubbard mixes up generous fancy lemonades with a variety of add-ons like sweet fruit syrups and sparkling sodas.
City employees, led by Community Services Director Esme Esparza and Communications and Marketing Director Peter Ojeda, who spearheaded organization of the festival, were on hand to register participants and provide information to festivalgoers.
The first 100 people to register also received a beautiful pin specially designed for the occasion.
Various tents and tables were set up on the plaza. Most of these catered to younger festival attendees, but parents accompanied their children to each.
Members of the local public school district’s Ready Set Teach organization set up tables where they applied temporary tattoos to visiting children. At the other end of the table, more organization members helped youngsters create their own crowns with gold-colored cardstock, sparkling rhinestones and glitter.
Youngsters and adults could get designs painted on their faces by Jessica Garcia in her Face Painting By Jessica tent or have their caricatures drawn by Del Rio artist Jose Gaitan.
At another table, Rene Rios, representing the San Felipe Creek Coalition, used coloring sheets to educate young and old about the fascinating life cycle and the epic migration of monarch butterflies, where the annual journey passes through Val Verde County and Del Rio every October.
Hernandez, foreground, director of the Falcon Arts Center; and Isabel Gallegos, background, of
the Mexican Consulate in Del Rio; as he applies paint to a large painting he is creating for the
consulate. Falcon and his team set up a station at the 2026 Del Rio Monarch Festival at Brown Plaza on Friday, Oct. 23, so attendees could watch the process. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Adults attending the festival enjoyed several rounds of plant lotería run by Casa de la Cultura Executive Director Lupita De La Paz. Winners of each round were awarded various types of potted plants to take home to their own gardens.
De La Paz also ran a “plant swap.” Festivalgoers who brought in a plant or clean cutting from their own gardens were given “Monarch Bucks,” which they could use later to “buy” a plant someone else had brought in.
This feature of the festival proved immensely popular, with dozens participating.
Grownups also enjoyed music played by DJ Yessy and spirited performances by Ballet Folklorico Macuilxochitl and several synchronized dances offered by matlachines with the group Danza Guadalupana.
Following the dance performances, a monarch costume contest and parade commenced, with prizes awarded to the best costumes in three age categories — child, teen and adult.
Two-year-old Eloísa Ortiz took home first prize in the child category; August Avila, 16, won top honors in the teen category; and Irma Berreles Ojeda earned first place among the adults.
Each winner received a $100 gift card sponsored by The 830 Times. In the interest of full disclosure, this writer served as one of the contest judges.
After the costume contest, those attending the festival could settle in and listen to the cumbia stylings of La Quimica, a local band that often performs at various events around town.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
