Chanclas y Cervezas Kicks Off Fiesta Week

Photos by B Kay Richter - Contributing Photographer- SA Sentinel.

April 19, 2019 - Greenline Park (Southeast SA)

Article By: B Kay Richter - Contributing Writer, SA Sentinel


The first object which stuck out while approaching the Greenline Park on Saturday evening was a bright silver moon which seemed to parallel the setting sun. 

The "Running with the Moon" sculpture was designed and created by Brad Oldham which stands 35 feet tall rising well above the newly developed 43-acre linear park located at Brooks City-Base. The park which was home to the first-time Fiesta event called "Chanclas y Cervezas" seemed to be a natural fit for the Southside location. 

As far as the reception, nearly 1,500 enjoyed the day where food and art vendors lined up next to residents in their lawn chairs all seeming to enjoy the musical offerings for the day. Children played outdoor games and were easily entertained by the adjoining play structures. 

According to Garrett Heath of SA Flavor, the event's music and beer lineup was on point. "To me, this event was killer for a first-time event. This was also a free Fiesta event and there are not too many of those," Heath said. 

Heath was one of the many vendors selling his trademark Fiesta medals and, while this is his last Fiesta vending event of the year, he said he definitely enjoyed his time at Greenline Park. 

"I had been wanting to see Bombasta for a long time and I finally got to see them today," he remarked. "The art here is awesome and they (Brooks) even released three Fiesta medals to commemorate the art here. We didn't know what to expect, but this was a great event." 

Another musical crowd pleaser was the popular Volcán, a self-described South Texas indie Latin project formed during the summer of 2014. The 16-piece ensemble boasts a full rhythm section comprised of drums, congas, bongos and much more. According to Volcán’s Facebook page, "Creating pieces of music that stretch the definition of what traditional Latin music can be and modernizing our favorite classic sounds for a younger audience is an enormous cultural responsibility and we gladly accept the challenge."