A Festival with a Purpose
Feria de las Flores 1945 to Present
It was not by accident that the leadership of San Antonio’s LULAC Council No. 2 realized that by helping others achieve a higher education, LULAC Council No. 2 would provide the opportunities to make a difference for our area youth. Successful in many community and civil rights issues, the leadership of LULAC Council No. 2 realized that the lack of an education kept many youths from making their dreams a reality. In early 1945, the membership of LULAC Council No. 2 joined by their families, friends, and the local business community, worked together to raise funds for college scholarships for deserving high school graduates.
The membership of LULAC Council No. 2 has always been a mixture of people from various vocations and educational backgrounds; it was this combination which encouraged the Council to help those who have a desire for higher education. Although the prospect of raising funds for college scholarships while our country was still at war was difficult, the members were committed to make a difference.
At first, the members made personal contributions toward scholarship funds. Eventually social events became the means of raising scholarship funds. In fact, in late 1945, the scholarship committee members and supporters decided to develop a local fund raiser patterned after the oldest of Mexican Fairs (Mexican Ferias,) La Feria de San Marcos, held annually in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The LULAC Council No. 2 Scholarship Committee created La Feria de las Flores (The Fair of the Flowers) with “La Reina” (The Queens) Contest.
La Feria de las Flores was very successful. In 1947, the scholarship committee added a Kings contest. The king would be named “El Rey Feo” (The Ugly King,) which symbolized “the People’s King.” In the first contest, Rey Feo candidates would raise funds for scholarships by asking supporters to donate a penny for a vote. The candidate with the most votes, raising the most funds, would be the winner and reign as El Rey Feo during the following year.
From the very first Rey Feo, Joe Ortiz, each Rey Feo candidate has raised funds for scholarships for the youth of our great community. In other cities, LULAC Councils have adopted the concept of Feria de las Flores with various queen contests; however the title of “El Rey Feo” remains as San Antonio’s recognition of a local businessman who accepts the challenge to raise funds for scholarships.
Traditionally, after the Rey Feo is crowned, he is presented with a “cabrito” (“goat”) by his loyal subjects as his main prize. The Rey Feo and La Reina, together with their “Royal Court” represent the City of San Antonio throughout the year all over the State of Texas and the United States in various activities and parades. The King and Queen visit many schools in the San Antonio area urging students to stay in school, go to college and achieve their dreams through a higher education.
In 1975, the LULAC Council No. 2 Scholarship Committee was incorporated into LULAC Council No. 2 Scholarship Committee, Inc. Today the scholarship program operates as the Rey Feo Scholarship, Inc., a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization under the auspices of LULAC Council No. 2. El Rey Feo de Bexar and La Reina de la Feria de las Flores are registered at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. to LULAC Council No. 2 Rey Feo Scholarship Committee, Inc.