The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

8 things you shouldn’t miss at Festival de Cascarones

8 things you shouldn’t miss at Festival de Cascarones - The Mesquite Online News - Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Revelers participate in the cascarone smash at the 2018 Festival de Cascarones. File Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University-San Antonio Flickr.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio will crack open its doors for the Festival de Cascarones after a two-year hiatus 1-8 p.m. April 10 on university grounds. Parking and admission are free. 

The Festival de Cascarones is a Fiesta-sanctioned event known for its annual cascaron smash at the end of the festival. 

“It’s a big cascaron party,” said Abigail Montañez-Rodríguez, manager of event services in the Office of the President. “And everyone smashes whoever they want with a cascaron at that point.” 

Attendees should check out entertainment and activities including some not offered during past festivals. 

  1. VIDA , a development of homes, stores, restaurants, entertainment, a nature trail and even a Southwest ISD school being built near campus, will have its own activation area with food trucks, vendors and a DJ. Builders and representatives from VIDA will be present to talk about the homes that will be built.
  2. An esports scrimmage will be held 1-5 p.m. in the auditorium. Small teams will compete against each other by playing Call of Duty or other games. 
  3. There will be a kid zone area with inflatables and other family-friendly entertainment.
  4. The Festival de Cascarones will also feature performances around campus and on its two stages.
    • Student organizations such as the Jaguarettes Dance Team, Mariachi Son de Esperanza and Jaguar Percussion will perform. Jaguar Percussion will debut at 1 p.m. on the Central Academic Building Courtyard Stage. 
    • The university also invited community folklorico dancers and a DJ who is an A&M-San Antonio graduate.
    • Havana NRG, a Latin orchestra, will be the opening performance at 5:15-6 p.m. on CAB Courtyard Stage.
    • Kevin Fowler, an American singer-songwriter who released the top 40 hit “Pound Sign” will be performing as the headlining artist at 6:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.
John Vesely, who performs under the name Secondhand Serenade, closes out the 8th annual Festival De Cascarones. (File Photo by TAMUSA Flickr.)
  1. There will be an area for students who have been newly admitted to the university and are scheduled to start in the summer or fall. The students will get to meet faculty and staff and participate in a scavenger hunt. 
  2. About 50 vendors will sell food, clothes, rinks, festival merchandise and beer. 
    • Regular fiesta foods such as chicken on a stick, turkey legs, funnel cakes, aguas frescas, mangonadas and more will be available for purchase. 
  1. Flower crowns are a Fiesta tradition, and Tau Sigma’s first fundraiser will be selling them for $5, said Tau Sigma president and English senior Cat Naranjo.
    • The flower crowns were bought at Fiesta At North Star. 
    • Colors include a black and silver Jaguar spirit crown and a traditional brightly colored pink, teal, and yellow crown inspired by Mexican embroidery. 
  1. The Women in Cyber Security will be hosting a pet rock adoption and will be selling them for around $2 to $3, said Maria Robledo, the organization’s community outreach and events coordinator. 
    • Rocks up for “adoption” and paint pens will be provided.  
    • Guests are allowed to customize their pet rock to their liking.  

For more information on the Festival de Cascarones, contact specialevents@tamusa.edu.  

About the Authors

Carolina Amor
Carolina Amor is a junior communication major at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She received an Associate of Arts from Palo Alto College in May 2020. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to live music, reading and taking care of her plants. Upon graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in PR with Ford Motor Co.
Irma Saenz
Multimedia Editor
I’m Irma Saenz and I am a communications major from Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Photojournalism, Television, Film, Social Media and News are just some of things I like to work on. I don’t have a preference, so dipping my toes where I can helps me gain experience.
Bernadette A. Serna
Bernadette A. Serna is a communication junior, minoring in English at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She received her Associate of Arts from Northwest Vista College. She currently works as a proposal coordinator in the Space Science and Engineering division at Southwest Research Institute. Bernadette enjoys spending time with her family. Upon graduating, she hopes to continue her career at Southwest Research Institute.

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