The annual Frontier Fiesta holds its legacy of captivating students’ school spirit from Thursday to Saturday in Lot 20A and Lot 20C. Past headliners include Lights, Cobra Starship and The Clipse. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

Lines of students maze through the annual Frontier Fiesta for food, performances, concerts, carnival games and more. 

Established in 1939 and revived in 1991, Frontier Fiesta has become a yearly student-run, student-led tradition that the UH community looks forward to for a weekend of celebrating its Cougar spirit.

This year, Fiesta City opens at 4 p.m. today in Lot 20A and Lot 20C.

During the opening reception, a Mr. and Mrs. Fiesta will be crowned to recognize the hard efforts and service in the community for two incoming freshmen who have shown academic achievements. Scholarships from the Frontier Fiesta Association are given to students to reward community service.

Students also anticipate performances from headliners A Great Big World on Thursday, B.o.B. on Friday and Love and Theft on Saturday. Other artists — including Young Mammals, The Suffers, Kydd Jones, Chiddy Bang and Brant Croucher — will also hype the crowd during their performances.

The concert series begins at 7 p.m. each night.

The Greek community will showcase Broadway-style variety shows throughout the weekend that reflect its school spirit, some of which reach back to the founding days of Frontier Fiesta.

Among the six shows, the Texas Delta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is performing its annual “Golden Nugget,” at which audience members enter the venue going through a Disney castle front.

“‘Golden Nugget’ was the name that Frontier Fiesta gave to us back when it just started,” said economics sophomore and vice president of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s communications Ryan Ngo. “‘Golden Nugget’ has stuck with us ever since, and we take a lot of pride into that name.”

Delta Zeta and Pi Kappa Phi will present “French Quarter.” Delta Zeta President Anum Hussan feels that both organizations were driven toward putting on a great show and having fun.

“The purpose of Frontier Fiesta is to instill and show the pride we have for the University and a way to keep the students involved,” Hussan said. “I know the Greek community is such a big part of Fiesta, and we love it.”

Other organizations are hosting face painting, laser tag, temporary tattoos, old time photos, obstacle courses and more.

What draws the community together is the cook-off that ropes in 40 teams from alumni and other organizations. The teams compete in six categories of tasty rodeo foods, including briskets, chili, chicken, pork ribs, pinto beans and fajitas. Cash prizes up to $1000 and trophies are given during the awards ceremony Saturday evening.

On Saturday the Frontier Fiesta 5K for the Brave will kick off at 9 a.m. The run will honor the bravery of Texas patients and their everyday battles with disease. The proceeds will go toward patients dealing with bone marrow failure diseases, and Be The Match will be on-site to register donors.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“Students show spirit in Fiesta’s lasting traditions” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar