Late Singer Selena Honored At Austin-Area Events

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Now a cultural icon in death, the late singer Selena would have turned 48 today had she not been fatally shot by a crazed fan in Corpus Christi 24 years ago. But rather than mourn her death, fans across the state — and worldwide — will be celebrating her musical legacy, including in the Austin area.

The Tejano superstar is beloved the world over despite the passage of time since her death, occurring on the verge of her crossover success into mainstream music. There's a statue of her overlooking the coast in her hometown of Corpus Christi, and a bill has been proposed in the state Legislature that would make her birthday a state holiday.

A trio of events to celebrate Selena were scheduled for Tuesday, April 16:

• Alamo Drafthouse theaters have planned “Selena” movie parties and screenings at their South Lamar, Mueller, Ritz, Lakeline and Village locations. Would-be attendees are urged to arrive early for a pre-screening show featuring Selena music videos and interviews. Props and lyric sheets also will be provided to help attendees sing along to her music, even though most die-hard fans know her songs by heart. Check out drafthouse.com for more details.

• TuezGayz Selena Night at Barbarella at 611 Red River St. will stage tributes every hour starting at 10 p.m. Tuesday. A $5 cover will be charged after 11 p.m. An events announcement details the likely crowd: “If you aren’t queer or a respectful ally, this event is not for you.”

• Fans of Selena extend into Round Rock, where Painting with a Twist, 1401 S. IH-35, Suite 140, will stage a painting party. This once costs a bit of money, at $35 per seat. Kids ages 10 and up will create a canvas painting of the late "Queen of Tejano" during a painting party scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the direction of instructor Nora Blevins. Find more information by clicking here.