(San Benito News/Ray Quiroga)
Special to the NEWS
LOS FRESNOS—Organizers of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center (NMCAC) are celebrating the center’s 33rd annual conjunto festival on Oct. 2-3.
This unique cultural program draws more than 2,500 attendees each year to Los Fresnos to honor the sounds, traditions, and community spirit that define Conjunto music.
This year’s festival showcases 15 Conjunto groups from across Texas, including those from the Rio Grande Valley, Eagle Pass, Corpus Christi, Houston, and San Antonio.
The lineup brings together highly skilled musicians across generations, from young performers to seasoned artists, all dedicated to keeping the Conjunto tradition alive and to bringing festival-goers to the dance floor, according to NMCAC founding board member Rogelio Nunez.
Two octogenarians, Santiago Jimenez, Jr., and Hector Barron, both 82, have led their conjuntos for over 50 years in the Rio Grande Valley and in San Antonio.
The Conjunto Festival is the longest-running Conjunto festival in the Rio Grande Valley and one of few festivals in the nation dedicated to the Conjunto musical genre.
It is the largest cultural production of the NMCAC, which was founded on October 29, 1991, on Narciso Martinez’s, genre pioneer, 80th birthday.
Guests can enjoy two days of live Conjunto music, dancing, food, beverages, and authentic Rio Grande Valley hospitality. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. No outside food or beverages are allowed.
The organizers look forward to hosting a safe, healthy, and welcoming event for the community, Nunez said.
The NMCAC preserves, promotes, and develops the rich cultural heritage of the Mexicano community through programs in the visual arts, music, theater, dance, and literature.
The event is being held at Memorial Park, 900 Arroyo Blvd., Los Fresnos. Admission is $10 per person, per day.
Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. Friday’s lineup includes La Naturaleza at 5 p.m., Los Badd Boys Del Valle at 6 p.m., and Mando y La Venganza at 7 p.m.
Ruben Vella, Jr. takes the stage at 8 p.m., and the legendary Los Fantasmas perform at 9 p.m. Los Telles are scheduled to perform at 10 p.m., and Krazy Pimps cap off the evening at 11 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, gates open at 2 p.m. Los Fresnos High School and Elementary Conjunto open the day’s performances at 4 p.m.
Contrabando hits the stage at 5 p.m., and David Flores y Los Tremendos Alacranes take the stage at 6 p.m. The evening continues at 7 p.m. with Valley legends Los Angeles Del Sur, and Santiago Jimenez takes the stage at 8 p.m.
Lazaro Perez continues the star-studded lineup at 9 p.m., and Rodney y Los Cucuys follow at 10 p.m.
Headliners Los Delta Boys close out the 33rd Annual NMCA Conjunto Festival with an 11 p.m. performance.