By James Ratcliff/@JamesR5767
On a humid Sunday afternoon, Texas A&M University-San Antonio held its fourth Festival de Cascarones, marking the end of Fiesta and an opportunity for the university’s student clubs to fundraise for their organizations.
Now that the Fiesta San Antonio Commission officially approved A&M-San Antonio’s Festival de Cascarones, attendees said they embrace the campus festival as one of the last events of the 11-day Fiesta calendar.
Participants braved Sunday’s humidity following a drenching Friday and Saturday rain, but spirits remained festive. A bouncing castle and cascarones-painting station entertained children and families.
Alumnus David Uminski came clad with dozens of Fiesta medals and said he was glad to return to his alma mater. Uminski now works at the department of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts for St. Philip’s College.
“It feels great coming back here,” Uminski said. “What I like is that it’s a free event since everyone’s Fiesta money is likely depleted at this point.”
For University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson, who attended Festival de Cascarones for the first time, the festival was received with high hopes.
“It works out that we’re one of the last events,” Matson said. “I hope to keep the event going and let it grow as the university continues to grow.”
Students representing 11 different student organizations set up booths throughout the venue. The total revenue raised by student organizations was not available from the office of student
“I’m proud to be a very small part of this Fiesta event,” said Christian Mac Donald, bilingual education senior and 2015 Mr. A&M-San Antonio. “I hope that, as it goes on, the festival becomes an integral part of Fiesta as a whole,”
Mabel Contreras, bilingual education senior and president of the Bilingual Education Student Organization, said she was glad so many turned out to the booths to support the students and the University.
Title sponsor and spirits distributor Glazer’s contributed $15,000. Other sponsors of the event included Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union and IBC Bank.
The event’s total budget was approximately $50,000, according to Marilu Reyna, associate vice president for university communications.
Uminski hopes the festival becomes instrumental to the end of Fiesta, much like the St. Mary’s Oyster Bake is to the start.
“I think that the event can benefit from being at the end of Fiesta,” he said.
