The San Antonio beat is set to heat up with the return of the Tejano Conjunto Festival, now in its 42nd sizzle, slated for May 17-19 at Rosedale Park. But anyone thinking this is just a regular music fest might need to tune their frequencies. The annual event, backed by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, promises a blend of educational experiences, celebrating a culture rooted deeply in South Texas and Northern Mexico as much as the party, according to the San Antonio Report.
Organizers are pitching this year's festivities as a crash course in Tejano traditions through the lively strumming of guitars and the melodic swell of accordions. Announced at a fest press conference, the festival founder, Juan Tejeda alongside Cristina Ballí, the executive director of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, shed light on the fest's importance, infusing it with an educational spirit under the familiar banner of entertainment. "It's a place where people learn about their culture, where we learn about this beautiful folk tradition that we have here in South Texas and Northern Mexico," Ballí told KENS 5 News.
Connecting with younger demographics, the festival also plays host to an annual poster contest that this year was won by Anna Arce, with her lotería-style design turning heads and earning her a cool $2,000 prize. Arce, a college student from San Antonio attending school in Indiana, presented an image of a young Tejana with an accordion, something that young Mica Rivas, who performed at the conference, could almost see herself in. “I saw it and I was like, that reminds me of me! And my brother came up to me, he was like, ‘Mica, that looks like you,” Rivas said according to the San Antonio Report.
As for the music, the lineup is expected to draw crowds with big names like Los Texmaniacs, featuring Flaco Jimenez, and Los Fantasmas del Valle. "Sunday is going to be woman power," Ballí announced, as per the San Antonio Report, spotlighting a special lineup that highlights female conjunto powerhouses such as Eva Ybarra y su Conjunto Siempre and Linda Escobar. For those wanting to snag tickets, sales start on March 15 on the Guadalupe Center's website, with a three-day pass going for $50.
Pre-festival events at VFW Post 9186 are on the calendar too, offering dances and more intimate performances. Seniors can enjoy a free swing on May 15 with music by Los Hermanos DeLeón and Felipe Perez y sus Polkeros, while the Hall of Fame dance on May 16 will feature music from previous inductees providing a nostalgic backdrop.
