Seen here are the various activities that took place at Sunday’s Fourth Annual ResacaFest, in which over 3,000 attended. (Photos by T.J. Tijerina and Jose Ramos)
By CRISTINA M. GARCIA
Special to the NEWS
Thousands of people set foot at the W.H. Heavin Resaca Trail and Kennedy Park to relax, unwind, and enjoy ResacaFest 2011 as early as 8 a.m. Sunday.
San Benito’s 4th Annual ResacaFest was held July 3, and the committee, volunteers, and performers did not let the early downpour, which seemingly came out of nowhere, put a damper on the success of the event.
The event started with an estimated 51-mile Bike Race and 37-mile tour that circumnavigated around the city. On both sides of the Resaca were events to the public and that showcased local vendors and performs, including a mini-market, food and drinks, a dog show, music, Zumba and karate performances.
City of San Benito Special Events Board Chairperson Victor Rosas said ResacaFest is a special event. “We had at least 3,000 people (attend). After the rain settled in, we got a little more people than we had last year,” Rosas said, adding, “We had to shut down the rides because we did not want anyone being shocked.”
Vendors along the Resaca sold handmade purses, homemade jewelry, hats, old vinyl records, and items out of the ordinary. On the opposite side of the Resaca, pizza, funnel cakes, snow cones, and other snacks were being sold.
Not only did residents of San Benito attend, but also people from around the Valley got in on the fun. Samantha Martinez of Harlingen said, “I was passing by and we saw it on the way to a friend’s house, and we decided to stop because it looked pretty fun. We wanted to know what’s going on. It was very family-oriented, the music was good, and it was a fun event to be at.”
ResacaFest took months of planning, according to Rosas. “We promoted the event through flyers, the newspaper, and the internet. We had sponsorships from people from Corpus, Brownsville, and McAllen,” Rosas said.
Toward the end of the evening was the event’s most successful showcase. San Benito’s sky lit up, as a 15-minute firework showcase was held. Thousands faced Business 77, looking up to the sky in awe. As each rocket burst into colors in the sky, people clapped and shouted in admiration of the show.
The excitement continued on throughout the night as residents and visitors stuck around the park to converse and take pleasure on the eve of Independence Day.
“It was successful for the committee and the entire city,” Rosas said.
A meeting will be held on Monday, July 11 to discuss further advancements for ResacaFest. The meeting is open to the public and will be held inside the Municipal Building at 5:30 p.m.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the July 6 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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