Day 41: The Rio Grande Valley Music Festival in Mercedes Texas

A big annual event in these parts is the Rio Grande Valley Music Festival held at the Livestock Show Grounds near Mercedes Texas.  It is a five-day event that is held to raise money for the local schools in the Valley.  There are five different stages with different performers going in 1/2 hour sets.  Most of the entertainers are local groups who are down here playing shows at the RV and mobile home parks.  The various musical groups all donate their time and only make money by selling their CDs.  A few groups from the high schools also perform as you will see below.

Here is the metal sign above the main gate at the show grounds.

This was our favorite group called Cross Strung.  Two of the best fiddle players we had ever heard.

Betty Rydell was there with a band this time.  (Remember her from a month ago at Bentsen Grove?)  ((I didn't think so --- but Bill does))

Here is Red Johnson and his band.

This was a family called The Punches.

Here was the Edcouch-Elsa High School Estudiantina.  They were happy to pose for a picture before they went on stage.  Their instructor has the dark suit.

They played mandolins, guitars, and two bass fiddles and sang beautifully.

Their music was wonderful to hear.