The streets of downtown Brownsville came alive this week with the 89th annual Charro Days Fiesta, a beloved binational celebration honoring the shared Mexican heritage of Brownsville, Texas, and its sister city Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

First conceived in 1937 by local business leaders and held for the first time in February 1938, Charro Days is named in honor of the “charro” — the dashing Mexican gentleman cowboy. The pre-Lenten festival promotes friendship across the Rio Grande, featuring daily parades, traditional music, folklorico dances in beautiful colorful attire, food vendors, contests, carnival rides, and the popular Sombrero Festival.

Organizers expected tens of thousands of attendees for the week-long event, which ran from February 21 to March 1, 2026, culminating in the Grand International Parade, which features ‘Mr. Amigo’, a celebrity that is a guest of honor at the parade every year. Usually, a hispanic actor or singer that is well-known in south Texas. This year, the guest was Alex Fernandez, a singer who is the grandson of Mexican legend Vicente Fernandez.

The festivities took on an extra layer of local pride as SpaceX’s Starbase facility — just down the road in Boca Chica Beach — joined the celebration as a five-time participant. Starbase officials, including Mayor Bobby Peden, extended well-wishes to the community, highlighting the collaboration between South Texas culture and cutting-edge space exploration. SpaceX’s eye-catching float rolled through the Friday night Illuminated Parade, drawing cheers from crowds and symbolizing the region’s unique blend of tradition and innovation. SpaceX representatives cruised in Tesla Cybertrucks and the float featured a giant Starship, video below.

Cosmic Chronicles reporter Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo (@JaneidyEve) attended the events on the ground to cover the festivities and described the atmosphere as thoroughly enjoyable. “It was a fun event full of vibrant energy, live music, dancing, and that special border-town spirit that brings everyone together,” she said. “All the children were happy and amazed by seeing SpaceX Starbase participate in the parade.”

Starbase and @spacex show up for Charro Days! Honored to celebrate heritage and a bright future in the RGV. https://t.co/m6Y158v7ED

— StarbaseTX (@StarbaseTX) February 28, 2026

The participation of Starbase underscored Brownsville’s growing identity as a hub where rich cultural roots meet the future of spaceflight.

Authors Note:

On a personal note, the reporting trip hit a snag when the car I borrowed was towed during the Charro Days Fiesta parade, requiring ~$340 to recover it. That’s exactly why I’m so grateful to everyone who reads, shares, and supports these Cosmic Chronicles stories — and especially to those who subscribe for $5 a month on X (@JaneidyEve). Your support makes it possible to keep bringing you these local stories from the Rio Grande Valley.

Viva Charro Days and thank you for supporting Cosmic Chronicles!

Charro Days is a multi-day parade that highlights Brownsville, Texas, cultural heritage & celebrates the friendship between south Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The border checkpoint to cross to Mexico is in front of where I am standing.

All good vibes. Cool school… https://t.co/kXCB5H8AHi pic.twitter.com/FiQE0Qtr3x

— Evelyn Janeidy (@JaneidyEve) February 28, 2026