2026 Sombrero Festival President holding event flyer at the Sombrero Festival Headquarters. Emilio Suarez / Vaquero Radio
Sombrero Fest was first designed to highlight the blended cultures between Matamoros and Brownsville. Making more than four decades of celebrating across the border traditions and Brownsville culture
2026 Sombrero Festival President Charlie Abrego said Sombrero Fest is all about concerts, food vendors, clothing vendors, cook-offs and several other activities throughout the event.
Abrego said the event plays a bigger role than just entertainment, by supporting the Brownsville community, festival employees are volunteers and many of the earnings are donated back to local nonprofits and organizations.
“One little thing that I get to do as President, I get $2,500 dollars that I get to give to any nonprofit of my choice, so this year’s recipient of the nonprofit is the Gladys Porter Zoo,” Abrego said.
The president also mentioned the organization made a donation to Brownsville Perkins middle school which helped provide pumpkin pies to students during thanksgiving.
He said this year’s festival will allow free admission to the event during the first three hours of the event each day. Giving attendees an opportunity to attend the festival.
Earlier this week, Los Invasores de Nuevo Leon cancelled their performance during the main night of the festival, Abrego said this was due to visa issues.
Abrego said the entertainment team is working on securing a replacement and should be giving an announcement via social media soon.
The president said preserving Sombrero Fest is important for future generations, he explained that many attendees who came as children are now returning with their own families.
“It’s important you know, it’s something that is a tradition that they’ve held dear in their heart and they want to share that with their own children,” Abrego said.
Sombrero Festival Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Garcia said preparing the event is an intense commitment for a volunteer position, as preparations take from 6 months to a year planning it in advance.
Garcia said in recent years the festival has attracted people from other parts of the country.
“We’re able to see that people all across the United States are looking at our website, are planning to come down, are buying their tickets before they get here,” Garcia said.
The Marketing Officer described Sombrero Fest as more than an event and compared it to a high school reunion. People who have moved away plan their vacations to come back home and spend some time at the event.
Biology Freshman Carlos Garza said he enjoys Sombrero Fest now more than when he was younger and he sees it as something meaningful to the Brownsville community.
Garza said he plans to attend this year’s event and he said he encourages other students who may be unsure about going to give it a chance.
“You go and you live it, it’s a fun experience, you get to live a different experience every year for sure, but I definitely do encourage going, ” he said.
For more information about Sombrero Fest visit its instagram @sombrerofestival or visit their website at sombrerofestival.com
