By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the NEWS
San Benito will celebrate 25 years of preserving conjunto music with the inaugural Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum Music Festival on November 20–21, 2026, at the San Benito Boys & Girls Club Pavilion at Stookey Park, 410 N. Stookey Road.
The two-day event, which also incorporates Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum’s annual hall of fame induction ceremony, will feature live performances, food vendors, and recognition of six new Hall of Fame inductees.
Patricia Avila, Executive Director of the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum, explained that the festival expands the museum’s traditional annual induction celebration.
“San Benito is the Birthplace of Conjunto Music, and our museum turns 25 this year,” Avila said. She explained that community members had requested a conjunto festival for years and that organizers spent four years planning the event.
“Events like this give San Benito (residents) a reason to gather and dance, and they will bring visitors to our hotels, restaurants and shops, which is good for the whole city,” Avila said.
The 2026 inductees are Candelario “Cande” Aguilar Sr. of Brownsville; Johnny Guerrero of Weslaco; Salome Gutierrez of San Antonio; Juan P. “J.P.” Moreno of Idaho; Jose Luis “Pops” Garza of Poteet; and Ramon Hernandez of San Antonio.
The honorees include bajo sexto musicians, a songwriter and record-label founder, and a music historian. Avila explained that the museum’s board selects inductees from a master list compiled by founder Rey Avila Sr., along with nominations from community members.
The 22nd Annual Induction Ceremony is Saturday, November 21, at Mi Tesoro Event Center, 119 S. Sam Houston Street. Doors open at 11 a.m., lunch begins at 11:15 a.m., and the ceremony runs from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include lunch and admission to Saturday evening’s festival. Availability is limited.
Festival gates open at 5 p.m. both days, with music starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday’s lineup features M & M Nortenos, Marlissa Vela, Texas Sweethearts, Estani Frizzell, Cindy Ramos y Su Conjunto, Linda Escobar, and Joe Pearl.
Saturday’s performers include Los Chavalones del Valle, Fruty Villarreal y Los Mavericks, Gilberto Perez Jr. y Sus Compadres, Ruben Garza y Su Conjunto, and Santiago Garza y La Naturaleza.
A special presentation on Saturday at 7 p.m. will recognize the 2026 inductees and celebrate the museum’s 25th anniversary. The program will feature performances by Placido Salazar, Javier Salazar, and Mariachi Caballero of Weslaco.
In recognition of the museum’s anniversary, the Texas Music Office arranged for a Texas flag to be flown over the State Capitol in Austin on Monday, November 16. The flag and a letter of recognition will be presented to the Avila family on November 21.
The museum will also receive recognition from the City of San Benito for its anniversary.
Festival admission is a $10 donation per day; children under 10 enter free. Wristbands are available at the museum through November 16 and at the gate. Attendees may bring lawn chairs and one sealed bottle of water. Outside food, other drinks, coolers, weapons, and tents are prohibited.
Avila said the proceeds support the volunteer-operated museum’s accordion classes, exhibits, operating expenses, and preservation efforts, including plans to digitize videotapes.