| History of Charreria (Mexican Rodeo) 1948 |
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| Roberto Contreras Quintero. 1930 |
A strong tradition in our country such as the Mexican Charreria (Mexican Rodeo), could not go unnoticed in our little town. I learned there were a large number of enthusiasts in our community, my husband being one of them. He loved dressing as a charro and had his own horse. Among a group of local charros were Hermilio Palomera, Doroteo Peña, Bernardo Gradilla, Miguel Ibarria and Don Carlos Aguilar. The group was called The Pride of Vallarta.
Around 1936 to 1938, there was in particular a group of local young men who liked marking a conspicuous entrance into town riding their spirited horses, wearing holstered guns around their waists and dressing up like charros. Of this group I remember José Villa, Facundo Garcia, Sabino Ramirez, Rómulo Garcia, and others whose names I cannot recall. During May Holidays, the young men participed in roping competitions at the local Charrería. The charros were farmers and cattlemen. Their life was completely dedicated to care for their land.
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| Hermillo Palomera, Roberto Contreras Quintero and son. 1930 |
New generations have worked hard to preserve the tradition of Mexican Charrería making it grow nationwide. Among some of the new generations of local charros are the Ibarria Gonzalez brothers, Ramon and Miguel Armando. They were the founders of the Asociación de Charros de Vallarta in 1948. Our State Gobernor, Attorney, Señor, J. Jesús Gonzalez Gallo, registered the new Charro organization under the flag of its association. This event took place on May 28, 1948.
Among the founders of the Association of local Charros were Francisco and Eligio Herrera, Alfredo Flores, Ignacio Gutierrez, nicknamed "Carne Seca" /Dry Meat), José Maria Hurtado, Remberto and Raul Villaseñor, Ramón Joya, Gildardo Rios, Aurelio Gutierrez, Samuel Fletes, and others. All these development of the Charreria in Vallarta.
The new Association of Charros purchased a land by the Coapinole area to build a rodeo ring with added efforts and hard work from all the partners, Manuel Gutierrez was among a group of local businessmen who donated money for Charro Association.
After the construction of the ring was completed, the Association organized Charrerías every Sunday, including competing with other regional Charro organizations. September 14, 1948 was the date selected to be the holiday of Dia del Charro. The Charro Association organized elegant galas for the holiday celebrations. Everyone wanted to be invented to the dances. Men had to wear elegant Charros suits and women folkloric colorful charro dresses. The galas always took place at Salón Coronita. The place was decorated festively with balloons, serpentines and confetti. It was a great went and non-stop fun1 Added to the festivities was the presentation of the new Charron Queen, Señorita, Arcelia Siordia nicknamed La Prieta /affectionate for dark girl.) Among some of the Charro Queens were, Señorita Zenaida Palacios, Maria Elena Herrera and Maria Lopez. Maria Lopez married handsome Charro Miguel Ibarria, known as El Prieto (dark handsome man) Maria was an attractive dark Mexican lady of big black eyes and ethnic beauty. Her husband, Miguel, is still a good-looking representative of the Mexican Charro.
All the information above, including names of the Association of Charros, was officially recorded in the history of the Charreria in Vallarta.
At present, new generations are involved in the continuous development of the Charreria in Vallarta.
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| Ibaria brothers with Julieta Baumgarten and Berenice Orozco. 1947 |
Around 1964 or 1965, a group of young girls formed the famous female Charro cavalry named La Escaramuza Charra. The captain of the equine team was Silvia Ibarria, daughter of Ramon and Berenice Ibarria. Silvia was the Queen of the Charro Association at the time. Among others girls who formed part of the Escaramuza Charra were, Queen Teresita Reynoso ("La Caperusita") Nena Gonzalez Lomeli, Lety Avila, Barbarita Nolasco, ("Barita") Lulu Ruelas, Teresita Presiado Fernandez and Margarita Gomez. The group of girls performed many different and difficult horse maneuvers dressed in their classic charro suits. The Lienzo Charro (Charro Building) was inaugurated in 1965. The capital partners were Dr. Efren Calderon Arias and Señor Crisanto Mora. The two men were new in the Association and they had taken special interest to accomplish the construction of the new facility.
The Association of Charros La Tapatia, A. C. from Guadalajara was invented to the inauguration ceremony of the new Lienzo Charro.
The Mexican Charreria has caught the interest of locals as well as of national and international tourism, throughout the years. The local Association has improved and development more advanced techniques. Señor Noe Vallejo, native of Santiago, Guanajuato, was an active,, skilled Charro instructor who taught Charreria to children of Vallarta.
During many years, Vallarta has participed more and more in statewide and national competitions. The Association have won first places nationwide.
The Charreria has become one of the main attractions in Puerto Vallarta. The presence the Charrros at the festivities and parades is essential.
The Lienzo Charro building was demolished at the hotek zoning and was located on a boulevard. The new hotel was named Sheraton Bungabilias. Its inauguration triggered a rapid development of the hotel industry. The new charro facility was built in a different area of the city.
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