Festival de la Lotería raises more than $14,000 for KKB
Keep Kingsville Beautiful representatives were presented with a check from sponsors of Festival de la Loteria on Tuesday morning. (Photos by Frank Cardenas)
The most successful Festival de la Loteria since its inception in Kingsville was celebrated by officials and sponsors on Tuesday morning with a check presentation to Keep Kingsville Beautiful.
The 4th annual event was held to help raise proceeds for KKB to provide aid for freeze recovery efforts in Kingsville.
The event included games, drinks, and food, with prizes for those who were fortunate enough to have their cards called through the event.
Janine Reyes, City of Kingsville Tourism Services Director, said this year’s event “has been our best year yet.”
“We've been saying that this year made about $4,000 more than two years ago, of course, last year we had to go virtual for COVID, but in reality it made about $5,000 more (this year),” Reyes said. “So, what a success. What an indicator of the potential for this event because, I'll tell you guys, Mother Nature was not on our side. This year we had quite a rainy day, but the public still showed up, our partners still helped make it happen. And we're excited to see what the years ahead will bring with this event.”
On top of the proceeds for the event, Reyes said Ol’ Girls Kitchen sold out of food during the event, and other downtown merchants, like the King Ranch Saddle Shop and Cherry Tree Tea Room, saw an uptick in revenue during the event.
“Eve's heavenly delights saw a 30-percent (increase) than they would usually see, and Cactus Flower shared with us they had a 10-percent increase,” she added.
Overall, after expenses, the event tallied $14,360.52 for Keep Kingsville Beautiful.
Susan Ivy, Director of the City of Kingsville Park and Recreation Department, said the funds will go toward fixing the xeriscape garden located in Downtown Kingsville.
“(The garden) suffered drastically during the freeze this year so we dedicated the funds from the (festival) this year to freeze recovery at that garden, and several other areas in town, because there's a quite a bit of damage there,” Ivy said.
The event was made possible thanks to co-presenting sponsors Neessen Automotive and Stef & Bec’s Boutique, with help from Kingsville Rotary, Sparklight, and HEB Helping Here.
South Texas Community News, Fugate Law Firm, The Silver Spur, Elizondo Medical Group, Always Faithful Dog Training, S&S Kingsville Construction, LLC, Margaritaville Drive Thru Party Barn, Country Luau, Coldwell Banker Homestead Properties, Inc., Big House Burgers, Big House Burgers & BBQ, Finder’s Keepers Village, Baffin Bay Seafood Co, Bray’s Smokehouse, The Ranch House on Baffin Bay, Paradise Guide Services, and Twisted Mesquite Lodge on Baffin Bay were all sponsors of the event.