NOVEMBER 15, 2023 www.wintertexantimes.com 10 WINTER TEXAN TIMES McAllen Holiday Parade organizers recently announced details of road closures and the McAllen Holiday Parade Polar Express, the daylong free park and ride shuttle that is being provided by Metro McAllen on parade day, to help ensure the safety of the anticipated 265,000plus parade attendees, as well as the 1,200 parade participants and volunteers. Getting the family to the parade will not be difficult, as the City of McAllen, in partnership with South Texas College, will offer a free McAllen Holiday Parade Park and Ride Polar Express Shuttle from the STC campus on Pecan Boulevard and 29th St. to the Quince Avenue and 23rd Street parade Drop-Off/ Pick-Up point. Starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, Metro McAllen trolleys and buses will make a continuous loop approximately every 15 minutes, from the pick-up point at STC to the parade Drop-Off/Pick-Up point. The Park & Ride Polar Express Shuttle will run until 12 a.m. Wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers are welcome, as are service dogs. Both parking and the ride are free for everyone throughout the day. Organizers are reminding parade attendees that there will be multiple road closures around McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, the site of the parade step-off, beginning at noon the day of the parade. These road closures are designed to help parade participants arrive to the staging area safely and to avoid traffic congestion or accidents as hundreds of thousands of spectators make their way to the parade viewing area. “As the largest single day attendance event in the Rio Grande Valley, it is our priority to make sure that everyone arrives safely and on time to see the McAllen Holiday Parade,” said Joe Vera, McAllen AsMcAllen Holiday Parade talks safety for events sistant City Manager and Executive Producer of the event. “We ask everyone to take note of the road closures, pay attention to barriers and pedestrians and to take advantage of the free Polar Express that will get everyone to the parade site quickly and safely. Thanks to the many law enforcement partners who will be assisting with traffic control and other security details, we want to make sure that everyone has a fun and safe time at the parade,” concluded Vera. Anyone wishing to participate in the parade as a volunteer still has time to sign up as balloon handlers or banner carriers. Balloon handler volunteers must be 18 years or over, while banner carriers must be 16 years or over. All volunteers must go through a background check and will receive gloves, t-shirt, and snacks. Learn more at www.volunteersotx.org, by visiting Las Palmas Community Center located at 1921 N 25th Street, or calling Las Palmas at (956) 681-3350. Organizers are also reminding anyone throughout the Rio Grande Valley that the call for entries for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade is open and the deadline to enter was extended but is fast approaching. Entries must be on a shoebox, and can include any type of arts and crafts, toys, holiday decorations, lights, or countless elements to celebrate “South Pole Dream Land,” the theme of both the shoebox and the big parade. The winning shoebox float entry will be made into an actual float for the 2024 edition of the McAllen Holiday Parade. Entries are due no later than Monday, November 20, by 5 p.m. to the City of McAllen Office of Communications, McAllen City Hall, 1300 W. Houston Ave., 3rd Floor. For more information, visit www.mcallen.net. Everyone is invited to enter the 2023 McAllen Holiday Parade sweepstakes, where participants have a chance to win a bevy of prizes, including an iPhone 15; PS5; Nintendo Switch; Apple Pro Max Headphones; a Dyson Airwrap; VIP Parade tickets and much more. In fact, Bert Ogden is providing the grand prize for the 2023 McAllen Holiday Parade sweepstakes, which will include four VIP Stadium tickets; four meet and greet tickets; and one parking pass. Anyone can register by simply texting the word SOUTHPOLE to (956) 474-6767 to get registered to win. Photo by Herb Moering Photo by Herb Moering
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