Frontier Fiesta

At its peak from 1946 through 1959,[1] the Frontier Fiesta received national attention by drawing huge crowds of up to 200,000 people and was profiled in Life magazine.

"Each year a piece of the University of Houston campus is transformed into a fully functional town called 'Fiesta City.'

The tradition grew tremendously over the next few years and became hugely popular, and Houston mayors often declared "Fiesta City" as an official "town" for the week.

Hollywood stars such as Humphrey Bogart, James Garner, Anne Baxter, Kenny Rogers, and Patsy Swayze were attracted to the annual event.

Frontier Fiesta was originally Western themed and most of the fronts and shows were done in an Old West style (country music and dancing were the norm).

As the years have gone by and as the student groups participating in the event have become more diverse, Frontier Fiesta has deviated from its Old West heritage and become more current.

Popular entertainers such as Jerry Jeff Walker, Doug Supernaw, Robert Earl Keen, Cory Morrow, and Roger Creager have been known to grace the stage.

Saturday afternoons usually have a "family day" scheduled where parents can bring their children for special events, demonstrations and a petting zoo.

The Frontier Fiesta Association awards ten scholarships to incoming freshmen based on academics and community service.