Washington's Birthday Celebration facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington's Birthday Celebration |
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| Genre | Rock Tejano |
| Dates | Annually; Mid January to End of February |
| Location(s) | Laredo, Webb County, Texas |
| Years active | 1898–present |
| Website | WBCA Homepage |
The Washington's Birthday Celebration (WBCA) is a huge festival that lasts almost a month. It happens every February in Laredo, a city in south Texas. The celebration honors the birthday of George Washington, America's first president.
This event is the biggest of its kind in the United States. About 400,000 people come to Laredo each year to join the fun! The celebration includes many different activities. There's a fancy pageant and dance called the Society of Martha Washington Colonial Pageant and Ball. There's also a Princess Pocahontas Pageant and Ball.
The celebration also features two big parades, a fun carnival, and an air show. You can enjoy amazing fireworks and live concerts. There's a "Fun-Fest" at Laredo Community College. Many people in Laredo dress up in old-fashioned Colonial clothes for a special citywide dance. Each year, a man and woman from Laredo are chosen to play George and Martha Washington. One of the most popular parts of the celebration is the Jalapeño Festival. It has even been called one of the top 10 eating festivals in the United States!
It's interesting to know that George Washington never actually visited Laredo, Texas. He didn't even know about the city!
Contents
History of the Celebration
The Washington's Birthday Celebration first started in 1898. It was organized by a group called the Improved Order of Red Men. This group had a local chapter in Laredo called Yaqui Tribe #59. Before this, a former Laredo Mayor named Samuel M. Jarvis (who lived from 1822 to 1893) had a party at his home to celebrate Washington's birthday. He hoped for a bigger celebration later, but he passed away before seeing it happen.
The very first celebration in 1898 was a huge success! In 1923, the group that organized the celebration officially became a state organization. A year later, in 1924, the celebration held its first Colonial Pageant. Thirteen girls from Laredo took part, each representing one of the thirteen original colonies that formed the United States. Over the years, the WBCA has become a very important part of Laredo's history and community.
Honoring Special People
A special part of the festival is when someone is named "Mr. South Texas." This honor is given to a man or a woman who has done great things. People who have received this award include governors, U.S. representatives, and state lawmakers. For example, in 2013, John Spencer Sharp was named "Mr. South Texas." He used to be in charge of Texas's money and is now a leader in the Texas A&M System.
In 2014, John Cornyn, a U.S. Senator for Texas, was chosen as "Mr. South Texas" for the 2015 celebration. The president of the WBCA said that Senator Cornyn "loves Laredo."
Recent Celebrations
The 2016 celebration started on January 21 with a special party at the Laredo Energy Arena. This festival lasted for 33 days, ending on February 22, which is George Washington's traditional birthday. The festival president, Dr. Joe Castellano, compared the celebration to "the Super Bowl, Miss America, and the Academy Awards all rolled up into one." He said that Laredo becomes "the center of the universe" thanks to all the people who help, including members, sponsors, volunteers, and the community.
The Jalapeño Festival
The Jalapeño Festival began in 1978 as part of the Washington's Birthday Celebration. A food company called La Costeña helps to sponsor it. This festival has concerts and a "Miss Jalapeño" contest.
One of the most exciting parts is the La Costeña Jalapeño Eating Contest. People compete to see who can eat the most jalapeños in 15 minutes! The current record is an amazing 266 jalapeños. This contest is different from other professional eating challenges. In 2018, the Jalapeño Festival celebrated its 40th year. About 21,000 people attended that year, which was more than the usual 13,000 to 14,000 attendees.
