Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

We are writing this on a stormy, rainy day, but in just a couple of days, there will be lots of musical sunshine in town, when the Tejano Conjunto Festival returns to San Antonio, starting Wednesday. The San Antonio-based fest, is the oldest such festival in the US and has become a model for other similar festivals that have popped up since 1982, when the local celebration of music and dance was first produced. The event draws more than 10,000 fans to our city.

The brainchild of Juan Tejeda, who at the time worked at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center as the first Xicano Music Program director, the fest is now directed by the current GCAC executive director, Cristina Balli and produced by Dan Margolies.

“Celebrating the Tejano Conjunto Festival is a vibrant tribute to the heartbeat of San Antonio and South Texas’ cultural landscape, encompassing music, dance and community spirit,” Tejeda said for the press release GCAC sent us.

Here’s what’s coming up, and, hopefully, no rain will spoil the fun!

May 15, 2024
Senior Conjunto Dance; free for dancers 55+; music will be provided by Los Hermanos DeLeon and Felipe Perez y sus Polkeros. The event will honor new inductees to the Tejano Conjunto Hall of Fame: Jose A. Morante and Juan Santos. (May 15 at 10 a.m.; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186; 650 VFW Blvd., 78223.

May 16, 2024
Dinner, ceremony and dancing with HALL OF FAME induction ceremony and special presentations.
(Doors open at 5:15.; dinner and program, 6-11 p.m.; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9186; 650 VFW Blvd., 78223.

May 17, 2024, Rosedale Park; 5:30 -11 p.m.
Opening ceremonies at 303 Dartmouth Rd. Performing groups include: Conjuntazzo with Joel & Sarah,
Los D Boys, Los Conjunto Kings de Flavio Longoria, David Flores y Los Tremendos Alacranes, Los Desperadoz and others.

May 18, 2024, Rosedale Park, 12, noon to 11 p.m.
J.R. Gomez y Los Conjunto Bandits; Conjunto Prestigio, Los Tellez, Ruben de la Cruz, Lazaro Perez,
Los Cucuys de Rodney Rodriguez, and others.

May 19, Rosedale Park, 12, noon to 9 p.m.
Student Conjuntos; Texas Sweethearts; Linda Escobar y su Conjunto; Susan Torres y Conjunto Los Pinkys; Cindy Ramos y su Conjunto, Eva Ybarra y su Conjunto Siempre; Los Texmaniacs with Flaco Jimenez and Los Fantasmas del Valle.

Founder, Juan Tejeda, is still involved as a consultant and is happy that the new GCAC director is continuing the tradition he started. But he would like a better space. “We submitted a proposal to the city about improving Rosedale Park providing a bigger dance floor, better electric connections; It could be a showcase place for numerous events.” Still, he likes having an outdoor event with family atmosphere for what he describes as the “largest small Festival.”
——————————————————————————————————————–
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 210-271-3151; the three-day pass gives you access to three days of events at Rosedale Park for $50; The VIP 3-day pass – $80 – gives you reserved seating in designated areas. Access Park entrance on General McMullen. The Tejano Conjunto fest is organized by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center; 210-271-3151; https://guadalupeculturalarts.org
———————————————————————————————————–