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Festival rings up cash for college with thousands in attendance


Kimberly Rubio

Assistant editor

The more than 20,000 attendees of the 22nd-annual Palomino Fest translated into a $25,000 donation to Southwest Texas Junior College for student scholarships.

The multi-day concert series, carnival and professional rodeo event held at the Uvalde County Fairplex ran from last Thursday to Sunday and provided a variety of music and entertainment.

The concerts were well-attended, with especially large crowds present for A.J. Castillo on Saturday and Los Palominos on Sunday night.

Carnival staples included the ferris wheel, carousel and a slide, which allowed participants to slide down a series of hills while sitting on a potato sack.

The Cliffhanger found riders lying on their stomachs as they flew through the air, as if hang gliding, while the Tornado spun riders around.

Thrill rides included Kamikaze and Hurricane. The Hurricane spun riders around before allowing riders to feel a free-fall. The Kamikaze ride swung riders back and fourth and upside down more than 60 feet up.

Carnival game classics were at Palomino Fest last weekend as well. Ring toss, basketball-themed games, and throwing games were spread out around the Fairplex. In addition to traditional games, attendees stood a chance to win $100 if they could hang from a bar for 100 seconds.

Parade

Victoria Dühring, director of Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce, said there were 60 parade entries, making the fun-in-the-sun-themed parade more than an hour long on Saturday morning.

First State Bank of Uvalde chief executive officer Chad D. Stary, who rode in a 1955 Bel Air convertible, was parade marshal.

“A huge thank you to our local Uvalde Police Department for all of their hard work and help in coordinating on parade day,” Duhring said.

Texas Agri-Women served as parade float judges.

Awards went to the Lone Star Cowgirls for best general float; Lone Star Cowgirls, best horse unit; Uvalde County Nutrition Center, best commercial; Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy at Southwest Texas Junior College, best marching unit; Knights of Columbus, best honor guard; La Salle County Fair and Wild Hog Cook-off, best float/flatbed; UHS junior varsity cheer, best school category; Centro De Adoracion Y Albanza, best band; Discovering Rylan Foundation, best car/truck/motorcycle; Ronald Garza, best political; and Southwest Texas Junior College EMS program, best other.

A Uvalde High School student injured her ankle during the parade when she attempted to disembark a moving float.

Pete Luna|Leader-NewsLos Palominos – James, Julio, Johnny and Jorge Arreola (left to right) pose for a picture after performing at the 22nd-annual Palomino Fest. The group took to the Bud Light concert stage Sunday. The festival took place at the Uvalde County Fairplex, beginning Thursday, Aug. 30 and ending Sunday, Sept. 2.

Pete Luna|Leader-NewsLos Palominos – James, Julio, Johnny and Jorge Arreola (left to right) pose for a picture after performing at the 22nd-annual Palomino Fest. The group took to the Bud Light concert stage Sunday. The festival took place at the Uvalde County Fairplex, beginning Thursday, Aug. 30 and ending Sunday, Sept. 2.

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