by Pat Trevino | October 9, 2025
CUERO, TX – Before the turkey legs sizzle and the parade rolls through town, Cuero teens mark their own rite of passage: “Suicide Night.” It’s the Thursday evening before Turkeyfest officially begins, when the carnival lights flicker on and the rides start spinning—sometimes before final inspections are complete.
The name, passed down through generations of high schoolers, isn’t about harm. It’s about thrill, rebellion, and local legend. Students joke that they’re the “test dummies” for the weekend crowd, daring each other to ride the sketchiest contraptions before the grown-ups show up.
“It’s kind of a badge of honor,” said one senior. “You ride the Zipper on Thursday night, you’ve earned your Turkeyfest stripes.”
While the term may raise eyebrows, it reflects a deeper truth: Cuero’s youth have carved out their own space in a beloved tradition, claiming the night before the crowds as theirs. It’s a mix of adrenaline, laughter, and small-town pride—where every spin of the Ferris wheel feels like a rite of passage.
Organizers don’t officially recognize “Suicide Night,” and some community members prefer softer names like “Carnival Kickoff.” But for the teens who gather under the neon glow, it’s a tradition that lives on in stories, dares, and dizzy memories.
