Discussion with IGNC President

IGNC PRESIDENT DISCUSSES CHALLENGES FACING FIESTA DE LA AMISTAD AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

By Texas Times Staff
DEL RIO — Longtime Del Rio tradition Fiesta de la Amistad, one of the community’s oldest and most recognized celebrations, is facing growing challenges as organizers work to keep the event alive in changing times.
During a live interview on Town Talk Live with hosts Javier Martinez Jr. and Guillermo Garza, International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC) President Andrew Scarbo spoke openly about the difficulties of organizing large community events and the obstacles that organizations now face compared to past decades.
Scarbo explained that the IGNC has hosted community events for many years, with Fiesta de la Amistad, now more than 60 years old, remaining the organization’s signature event.
“Fiesta de la Amistad is one of the biggest events we have, and it’s probably one of the oldest traditions in Del Rio,” Scarbo said. “We want to keep that tradition going, but it’s getting harder every year to make these events happen.”

Events Meant for the Community, Not Profit
Scarbo emphasized that events like Fiesta were originally created to bring the community together, not to generate revenue.
“These events are meant for the community. They’re meant to bring people to our town. They’re not meant to make money,” he said.
“Back in the day, people worked together to make the event big. Now it seems like it’s harder to get everyone on the same page.”
He noted that years ago, Fiesta de la Amistad attracted large crowds and even well-known entertainers, something he says has become more difficult due to costs, regulations, and limited resources.

HOT Funds and Restrictions
One topic discussed during the interview was the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds, which are often misunderstood by the public.
Scarbo explained that HOT funds received by the organization are restricted and can only be used for advertising and promotion, not for paying performers, renting equipment, or covering other event expenses.
“People think we get all this money and can bring in big bands, but that’s not how it works,” Scarbo said.
“Those funds are strictly for advertising. If we want big entertainment, we have to pay for it ourselves or find sponsors.”
He added that without sufficient advertising funds, it becomes harder to attract visitors from outside the area, which affects attendance and vendor participation.

Permits, Costs, and Fewer Sponsors
Scarbo also pointed to increased permits, fees, and regulations as another factor making events more difficult to organize.
“Back then you didn’t have to get a permit for everything,” he said.
“Now vendors have to pay for permits, travel, supplies, and workers. That makes it more expensive, and that cost gets passed on to the public.”
He also noted that businesses today are under more financial pressure, making sponsorship support harder to secure than in previous years.

Need for Unity in the Community
Another concern raised during the interview was the number of separate events being held throughout the year, which can divide attendance and sponsorship support.
Scarbo said he believes the community could have larger and more successful celebrations if organizations worked together instead of hosting competing events.
“If everybody came together, we could have huge events like you see in Eagle Pass or Acuña,” he said.
“Those communities work together to make one big event. Here, sometimes everybody wants to do their own thing, and that makes it harder for everyone.”

Parade Will Continue For Now
Despite the challenges, Scarbo confirmed that Fiesta de la Amistad and the parade will continue this year, although organizers are carefully evaluating the future.
“It’s going to happen one way or another,” he said.
“We love this tradition, and we want the next generation to experience it. But it’s getting harder, and we need support from the city, the county, sponsors, and the community to keep it going.”
Scarbo said IGNC remains committed to continuing the event as long as possible, but hopes to see stronger cooperation and community involvement moving forward.
“We’re going to keep trying,” he said.