The citrus industry in the Rio Grande Valley was still young when Paul Ord and the Young Men’s Business League introduced the first Texas Citrus Fiesta in Mission in December 1932. They envisioned the celebration as a way to promote the bountiful winter harvest of grapefruits and oranges from the lush, subtropical Rio Grande Valley. The theme of that first fiesta, held outdoors amidst the citrus-bearing trees, was “Coronation and Pageant of Citrus.” John H. Shary, considered the father of the Texas citrus industry, presided over the one-day celebration, which began with a half-hour concert and concluded with the coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna. This established a tradition of “royalty,” where a leader from the citrus industry was chosen as king, and a queen was selected from the “duchesses” of the Rio Grande Valley, each representing a community and its respective product or industry.

The second fiesta did not occur until 1934 due to damage caused by a hurricane in 1933. Aside from interruptions during World War II, the fiesta has been held annually since then. In the 1930s, Fox Movietone News showcased the Valley’s lovely ladies in bathing suits in a pool filled with floating grapefruits, providing a contrast to the cold weather experienced across the nation. The fiesta still enjoys highlighting beautiful women and handsome young men during the coronation of King Citrus and Queen Citrianna. Today, the coronation is held indoors, accompanied by the flourish of herald trumpets during the last week of January.

Since 1932, the fiesta has hosted its Product Costume Style Show, in which exquisite costumes made from citrus and other local Valley products are displayed. Over the years, and with advancements in technology, these costumes have evolved into intricate works of art, utilizing Valley citrus, fruits, vegetables, and foliage that have been pulverized, dehydrated, blended, and microwaved. These stunning costumes have been featured in National Geographic, Southern Living, and Texas Monthly magazines, as well as in shows from Kansas City to Washington, D.C.