Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Buck Days organizers outline expanded programming, economic impact and scholarship payouts
Loading...
Summary
Buck Days organizers told the council the 88th Buck Days (April 30–May 10) will include rodeos, parades, concerts and a regional STEM expo; organizers reported a recent economic impact study and scholarship distributions to local students.
Johnny Filippillo, president and CEO of the Buck Days Commission, briefed the City Council on the 88th annual Buck Days festival, which the commission said will run April 30 through May 10 and draw tens of thousands of visitors from across the Coastal Bend and beyond.
Filippillo highlighted recipient programs and economic impacts: the commission reported roughly 112,000 unique visitors last year (about 20,000 from outside the market) and estimated about $10 million in economic impact attributable to out‑of‑market visitors. He said scholarships totaling about $364,000 were awarded at the end of last year's event and that since 1996 the Buck Days Commission has awarded about $2.6 million in scholarships to local students.
Programming details: the festival schedule includes rodeos, concerts (51 bands across the event, many local), a carnival, STEM/robotics competitions (Steam Expo, VEXU university competition), agriculture and industry awareness days for students, and a new Habitat for Humanity "Buck Days Build" fundraising house built onsite. Filippillo encouraged council participation and said more information is available at buckdays.com.
The council received the presentation, thanked organizers and asked staff to circulate the economic‑impact slides to council members.
