Annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Parade delights crowd of all ages
Mar. 11—MERCEDES — There was something new to the 2023 Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Parade as it moved through the city Saturday morning beneath a flawless shroud of blue skies.
Horses gleamed in the morning sun, young flute players filled the air with a sort of musical delicatessen and police vehicles from Brownsville and Pharr were greeted by the cheers of visitors who sat in lawn chairs.
The parade moved up Texas Boulevard toward the livestock show grounds, celebrating the beginning of the event with great fanfare.
There seemed to be more of everything, as several spectators pointed out.
"There are a lot more floats and a lot more police vehicles," said Brittany Perez, 24, as she and her family watched law enforcement vehicles from South Padre Island, Weslaco and Willacy County.
"They usually just have local police, but now they have them from other cities," Perez said.
Her daughter Zaidalynn, 6, smiled with wonder at the horses while the rattling of hooves snapped like staccato shots on the asphalt.
Brittany's mother Santos Perez said attendance to the yearly livestock show parade is a family tradition that began decades ago. She hoped bringing Zaidalynn and her younger grandson to the parade would continue that tradition.
"She likes to see the animals," she said. Then, referring to a favorite activity at the livestock show, she added, "She likes to ride the sheep."
Everyone erupted with clapping and whistling as U.S. Border Patrol agents in their crisp green uniforms rode forward on their handsome mounts. A pause gave one horse the chance to relieve itself on the asphalt, prompting chuckles from the audiences as an officer quickly removed it.
A float with bands of color and glitter bore young women in maroon dresses and straw hats who smiled and waved; a man in a checkered shirt rode an imposing longhorn with sweeping horns, confirming the connection between the Mercedes livestock show and the ranch culture from centuries ago.
A lanky-dressed clown in bright colors and a bulbous nose spun around on his tiny bike, weaving in and out of cars and floats and stopping to entertain the kids.
A man waved from an open casket pulled by horses.
"It's a beautiful day, beautiful weather and there is a lot to see, especially the horses and the kid bands," said Vanessa Perez, 38.
"I have a niece in the Chacon Middle School band, and she plays the clarinet," Perez said. "She's excited and proud to have been one of the ones to open up the livestock show."
Jacob Camargo, 30, took his mother to the parade. He had never seen the parade before, and he liked the bands, the trucks and the floats passing.
"It's very good; it's awesome," he said. "There are a lot of different things, like the floats and a lot of horses."
Jacob and his mother Cynthia were still coping with the recent loss of the elder Santos Camargo, the late owner of Camargo's Western Boots. He died last year, and Jacob and his mother are slowly recovering from the loss. They seemed to enjoy the parade Saturday.
"Oh, it's really nice, nice weather, and I love the horses," said Cynthia Camargo.
Meanwhile, horses did quick swirling dances before dashing away, school bands charged the air with their performances, and there was a taste in the wind of something extraordinary in the days of spring.
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