Texas Citrus Fiesta

The idea came from Paul Ord and the Young Men's Business League, with John Shary presiding, and the first fiesta in December 1932 ended with the coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna. The court grew into a tradition of duchesses, each representing a Valley community and its product. A hurricane in 1933 pushed the second fiesta to 1934. In the 1930s a Fox Movietone crew filmed young Valley women in bathing suits in a pool of floating grapefruit, a picture of how the fiesta sold the Valley to the rest of the country.

What the plaque says

Texas Citrus Fiesta In the 1920s John H. Shary, citrus grower and local developer, began plans to promote locally grown citrus crops on a large scale. The first Texas Citrus Fiesta, with the theme "Coronation and Pageant of Citrus" was held in 1932 with the same promotional purpose. Among the events in the one-day celebration were a coronation ceremony for Fiesta royalty, citrus exhibits, fruit packing contests, a flying circus, a football game, and a parade. Two years later the Fiesta was a four-day event held in Lions Park, and the fiesta style show was introduced. Over the years the Fiesta has grown into a two-week event, with added events such as an outdoor festival, barbeques, and a carnival. The product costume style show, for which costumes are made from local agricultural products, has become one of the most popular annual events. The Texas Citrus Fiesta has evolved into a notable cultural event in the Rio Grande Valley. Many prominent citizens have served as Fiesta royalty over the years. The purpose of the annual event has remained that of John H. Shary's vision-to promote the area's citrus industry on a large scale. (1989)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• La Lomita Chapel — 4.4 mi
  A small sandstone chapel on the Rio Grande levee, built by Oblate missionaries in 1865 and rebuilt at this site in 1899, the landmark that gave the city of Mission its name.
• Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park — 4.5 mi
  A 587-acre stand of Rio Grande woodland near Mission, once part of a Spanish porción, given to the state by the Bentsen family in 1944 and now headquarters of the World Birding Center.
• Museum of South Texas History — 11 mi
  Edinburg's regional museum, begun in 1967 in the 1910 Hidalgo County jail and now telling the Rio Grande's story from fossils and native peoples through steamboats to the 20th century.
• Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge — 15 mi
  About 2,000 acres of river forest on the Rio Grande's north bank, the surviving part of Benigno Leal's 1834 land grant, kept as a refuge since 1943 where two bird migration routes meet.

More markers nearby

• Leo Najo — 0.8 mi
• John H. Shary Home — 3.8 mi
• Juan Davis Bradburn — 4.4 mi
• Penitas — 4.6 mi