Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The City of Brownsville (COB), its Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Office of Space Commerce, in collaboration with its Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), are set to host the 2nd Annual Brownsville Space Festival. The community event is scheduled for Friday, May 30, 2025, from 6:00 PM to10:00 PM in downtown Brownsville, spanning more than four blocks from E. 10th Street and E. Washington Street, including the Brownsville George Ramirez Performing Arts Academy – Revival of Cultural Arts (ROCA).
This dynamic event celebrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through the lens of space exploration and innovation. It coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week, underscoring Brownsville’s rising profile as a destination for aerospace, culture, and community.
“The Brownsville Space Festival is a celebration of our City’s role in shaping the future of aerospace and STEMeducation,” said Mayor John Cowen, Jr., City of Brownsville. “As we continue to expand our relationship with the space industry, now is the perfect time to highlight the opportunities and innovation taking root in Brownsville.”
More than 120 vendors and exhibitors will bring an incredible celebration to downtown, including major players such as SpaceX and NASA, in addition to local businesses, educators, and artists. Attendees will enjoy a wide range ofeducational booths, panel
discussions, art contests, exhibitions, a feature film screening, free giveaways, a live concert, and food trucks (food and beverages available for purchase). Downtown restaurants will also be open to welcome guests.
“Our Space Festival is an invitation to our residents, downtown businesses, and tourists to take part in our City’sgrowth story,” said Helen Ramirez, ICMA-CM, AICP, Brownsville City Manager. “Embracing and partnering in thisfestival ensures that we move forward together culturally, economically, and educationally.”
The City’s Convention and Visitors Bureau is partnered with local hotels to offer discounted hotel rates to those travelling into Brownsville to attend the Space Festival. Partner hotels and rates may be found at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ92PmqPYHn/.
“Our first ever Brownsville Space Symposium is designed to provide a glimpse into the space industry, its ancillary space businesses and space education, all of which have a significant economic impact in our region. By sharing thenarratives of different leaders and influencers in this industry, we continue on our mission of developing the pipeline of talent and expanding the local supplier base in the space sector, which has become a huge part of the fabric of theBrownsville area,” said Gilberto Salinas, CEO of the GBIC, the economic development arm of the City. “Most importantly, we’re developing our future leaders in Brownsville’s rapidly evolving space economy.”
The Space Festival and all its events are FREE and open to the public. Entry locations are at E. 10th Street and E. Adams Street and 11th Street and E. Elizabeth Street. There will be free shuttle rides provided by BTX Connect andBrownsville Pedicabs across downtown to the event site. Please note that all attendees will be subject to securityscreenings. Clear bags are required for entry.
| Calendar of Events: |
| Tuesday, May 27 | Launch window opens at 6:30 PM CST |
| SpaceX Starship Flight Test 9 |
| Starbase, TX / Boca Chica Beach (Remote Viewing Options Available) |
| Launch event is subject to time/date changes |
| Wednesday, May 28 | 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| GBIC Space Symposium |
| Texas Southmost College – SETB Auditorium | 80 Fort Brown, Brownsville, TX |
| Panel discussion to highlight the cutting-edge advancements and investments in the aerospace industry. Event will include keynote speaker Tim Dodd, also known as |
| “Everyday Astronaut.” Mr. Dodd is a former aerospace engineer now known for his YouTube channel and Instagram account, where he discusses space exploration, rocketry, and technology. His videos are produced for general consumption and are accessible and entertaining. |
| More information here: https://www.facebook.com/greaterbrownsville/posts/exciting-news-gbic-in-collaboration- with-the-city-of-brownsville-tx-municipal-go/1098350075650403/ |
| Friday, May 30 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| City of Brownsville Space Festival |
| Downtown Brownsville | E. 10th Street & E. Washington Street to ROCA |
| Featuring NASA, SpaceX, STEM booths, live music, art contests, and more. Event will open with a panel discussion featuring Texas Space Commission Executive Director, Norman Garza; Brownsville City Mayor, John Cowen, Jr., Brownsville Youth Advisory Board Member and Space Enthusiast, Rayyan Farooqui; and moderator Brownsville City Manager, Helen Ramirez. It will feature live robotic demonstrations and more than 100-exhbitors and vendors. An art contest will be hosted for children and adult divisions at the ROCA. Art contest participants can view the rules and register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/spacefestartcontest. The event will be headlined by a live music concert featuring recording artist AB Quintanilla. |
| Saturday, May 31 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Titans of Space Day |
| Children’s Museum of Brownsville | 501 E. Ringgold Street |
| STEM activities, space exhibits, family-friendly programming; experience the incredible VR journey, drones, robotics, and a planetarium – fun for kids of allages! |
| More information here: https://www.facebook.com/visitbrownsvilletx/posts/-were-gearing-up-for-space-fest-2025-and-youre-invited-get-ready-for-two-epic-da/710190678050643/ |
