The South Texas Performing Arts presents their 15th annual production of The Nutcracker on Saturday, December 6. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the performance slated to begin at 6 p.m. The performance features dancers from the Palomas Limas and Company dance studio. The event will take place at the Valley View ISD Performing Arts Center at 600 Jackson Rd. in Hidalgo. For more information, call (956) 270-3856. There will be a Winter Texan discount of $7.
The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) is inviting the community to be part of one of the Valley’s favorite holiday traditions, the annual IMAS Guild Christmas Tree Forest.
This year’s theme, “Christmas in a Science Lab,” puts a creative spin on the season, inspiring participants to combine the magic of the holidays with the wonder of science. From hand-made ornaments to imaginative tree designs, the Christmas Tree Forest is a showcase of local creativity, teamwork, and holiday spirit.
Read more: IMAS Christmas Tree Forest opens December 3
We had a low-key Christmas, and it was really nice to just relax and take our time with things. We have all been a little sick around here, so as soon as my two visiting children got here, I put one of them to work helping the youngest prepare dinner. They did a great job working together and we had a great Christmas dinner. We forgot to include the pie and the citrus salad – but that means it was available for snacking later and more for breakfast the next day.
One tradition that we try to keep each year, for Thanksgiving and Christmas, is a citrus salad. Something that makes me very thankful for the variety of citrus we have in the Valley. I remember my grandfather peeling citrus and separating the meat from the membranes for the salad. He would spend many hours preparing that salad.
We have sped up the process by sectioning the fruit – cutting off the top, the bottom, and the cutting off the rest of the rind before using a small knife to section the meat of the fruit out – and then throwing it in a bowl. We try to use a few types of grapefruit, Maars and Cara Cara Oranges, and we usually throw in some navel oranges and mandarins and tangerines, depending on what is available.
When the citrus industry is at its best, we can do five different types of grapefruit and three or four different types of oranges. Unfortunately, the citrus industry in the Valley is still recovering from the freeze a few years ago – so I just do more ruby red grapefruit. I think we managed to get three types of grapefruit this year.
We top this off with a 12–16-ounce jar of cherries – including the juice. It’s a beautiful bowl full of color, sweetness with some tang. And we can’t forget the 50/50 juice from Earthborn (it’s where we get our citrus varieties as well).
What are your traditions you have to have each year for the holidays – Christmas and New Year’s? We don’t have anything specific for New Year’s – we sometimes do the Black-eyed peas and grapes, but it isn’t something that has to be there.
Let us know what your traditions are for the holidays. Share photos with us. Is there something you can’t NOT have this time of year? You can send your stories of traditions and photos to news@wintertexantimes.com.
2025 Valley Star Awards Nominations Link:
https://form.jotform.com/jsform/243454266919163
Activity Directors:
Thank you for helping us select nominations for the 2025 Valley Star Awards ballot. Simply follow the link to the form and select four nominations in each category.
• Nominations close 5 p.m. Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Thank you for all you do in your communities!
Dan & Carina Brunson
Winter Texan Times | Valley Star Awards
Nature is the daily pill we all need to live healthier lives, and Texas A&M University is laying the groundwork to lead the nation toward its healing powers. Studies show that greenspaces like parks or trails in urban environments can improve mental and physical health in powerful ways.
