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Life & Arts

Frontier Fiesta returns to University grounds

Annual three-day event begins today; 
variety of entertainment is included for visitors' pleasures

by DANTE EGLIN 
The Daily Cougar 

An assortment of cultural, educational and historical components will be on display this weekend as the one of the University's most storied traditions begins today.

The 2007 installment of Frontier Fiesta gets started when the doors to Fiesta City, located on the west side of Robertson Stadium, officially open at 5 p.m. Cook-offs, carnival booths, variety shows, concerts and performances are some of the various offerings available to patrons throughout the three-day free event.

Fiesta officials have made a concerted effort to emphasize the UH community, highlighted by this year's theme, "Your University, your tradition." 

Frontier Fiesta Chairman Matt Cooper said the committee chose the theme so that the groups participating in the carnival booths and variety shows would have more creative control over their content. 

"This event wouldn't happen without the help of my directors and assistant directors, as well as the students in the many organizations participating in Frontier Fiesta," Cooper said. 

Frontier Fiesta Director of Marketing Keisha Curtis said that students and the University community were the main focus of marketing efforts this year.

"This year, we really made a concerted effort to have a mix of various styles in the performers and have something that appeals to everybody," Curtis said. "We wanted to make it as easy as possible for everyone from all backgrounds to come out and enjoy one of the greatest traditions in our city." 

A diverse array of performers and recording artists will be on hand to handle evening entertainment duties.

Thursday's concert will have a distinct hip-hop vibe in the air, with 3rd FLO (formerly The Heizman Boiz), Dallas-based emcee Tum-Tum and Houston's own Trae set to perform. A reggaeton flavor takes over Friday, with N.O.R.E., PLD and DJ Kane scheduled to appear. Austin-based group Honeybrowne and Houston native Cory Morrow are set to bring a country groove to Saturday's performances.

Frontier Fiesta's popular barbecue cook-off will feature teams comprised of alumni associations, colleges and outside organizations competing for the top culinary spot in eight categories. 

Since 1994, Frontier Fiesta's scholarship program has utilized event revenues to reward incoming freshmen and current students for academic achievement and community service efforts. Over $70,000 has been awarded to excelling students, with over $10,000 allocated last year.

For more information, visit www.uh.edu/fiesta or contact the Frontier Fiesta Association via e-mail at fiesta@uh.edu or by phone at 713-743-5181.

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