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Celebrate the magic of the season in Weslaco

Details: Published: Thursday, 11 December 2025 14:38

588425094 1219545383554041 7330186111175866251 n web The most wonderful time of the year is here, and the City of Weslaco and the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce invite you to celebrate the holidays at one of our community’s most beloved traditions, the 2025 Weslaco Lighted Christmas Parade & Santa Dash 5K Fun Run!

Join us on Saturday, December 13, as the excitement kicks off with the Santa Dash 5K Fun Run at 5 p.m., followed immediately by the Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m., proudly presented by South Texas Health Systems.

BSPA presents annual Christmas concert

Details: Published: Thursday, 11 December 2025 11:28

The Brownsville Society for Performing Arts presents their annual Christmas concert on Thursday, December 18. The concert, featuring Alium Spiritum and over 100 more musicians, will be performing Handel’s Messiah collections and more.  

The concert will be held at 7 p.m. at the TSC Performing Arts Center, 90 Taylor Ave. in Brownsville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. 

Valley Museums share the spirit of the season

Details: Published: Thursday, 11 December 2025 08:58

20191205 Harlingen Harlingen Museum Christmas Trees CAB 0679 web Our Rio Grande Valley museums supply arts, history and culture to their visitors throughout the year. But during the Christmas season, they also share creativity and bright lights.

Several museums have Christmas tree exhibits. They get the community to bring and decorate a tree, usually to a certain theme. You can be sure to see lots of colors and lights as organizations pick a theme that represents them, the city, or their heritage.

Chabad RGV hosts Annual Chanukah Concert & Festival 

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 17:17

The RGV Annual Chanukah Concert and Festival will be held on Sunday, December 14 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Archer Park, 101 N. Main St. Open to all and free for the entire family.

Enjoy carnival rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, games and more. There will be live music and a concert featuring Israeli rock star Barak Grossberg. You can also enjoy hearing from local dignitaries and having Sufganiot (jelly donuts) and kosher hot dogs.

RGV Concert Band presents Christmas Concert

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 17:16

Enjoy some wonderful Christmas music by attending the RGV Concert Band’s Christmas Concert. The concert will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1107 Fern (McAllen), on Sunday, December 14, at 3 p.m.

The RGV Concert Band is made up of local and Winter Texans. The group started in 1996 and some of their members are in their 80s and 90s. The current band director, a retired school band director, Gene Goede, is 91.

During the last 25 years the group has grown to as many as 65 members but usually stays at around 45 to 50 members. The membership includes Winter Texans from throughout the States and Canada. Most of the members have been with the group for several years, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of it.

IMAS celebrates local talent

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 14:14

20251210 IMAS juried art show web McAllen, TX — The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) celebrated local creativity at the opening reception and awards ceremony for its 5th Annual Members’ Juried Art Show on November 22. The exhibition, featuring the work of IMAS members, runs through February 15, 2026.

Unique vending machines coming to McAllen

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 14:01

20251125 100800 web Light the World Giving Machines make giving easy and fun this Christmas.

Have you ever bought a goat from a vending machine? How about warm clothing for a child, groceries for a family, or job training for the underemployed?

From December 10th through January 1st, visitors at McAllen Food Park (10 N. Broadway St.) can purchase essential items like these from a Light the World Giving Machine to help those in need here in McAllen or throughout the world. This is the first time a Giving Machine will be hosted in McAllen.

Are you ready for Christmas

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 13:49

Christmas is coming and the geese are getting fat. Please do put a penny in an old man's hat.

If not a penny, a half penny will do. If not a half penny, God bless you.

By the time you read this it will be approximately two weeks until Christmas. Have you finished your Christmas shopping? I always have a hard time shopping for the immediate family members. Will they like what I choose for them? And then the other problem is that what I would like to give them is never within my budget.

High on my list every year are two items that always seem to hit the spot. How about some Valley citrus fruit and some delicious tamales. Both of those items represent our wonderful Rio Grande Valley. And what could be better? Plus, in our family we have Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve means we all sit down together and a chosen one reads aloud Dickens Christmas Carol, or we all watch the movie. Then one - and only one gift - can be opened early on Christmas Eve. Dinner on Christmas Eve is always tamales and homemade chili.

In a previous story, probably last year, I made a mistake. I encouraged you to visit the Gelman stained glass museum and suggested you plan to spend plenty of time viewing the seventy-four stained glass windows all taken from churches in the northern Mid-West and Northern United States. Be prepared. There are not seventy-four beautiful stained-glass windows, there are a total of one hundred seventy-four windows. Allow at least two hours. Hopefully you will all be able to identify what scripture from the Bible is depicted in each window.

We have a multitude of first-class museums scattered across the Rio Grande Valley. Most of these fabulous museums tell the story of the history of the Rio Grande Valley from the pirates who raided the ships off the coast of South Padre to the cannibalistic Indians who made life miserable for the settlers from Europe who wanted to find a new home in this vast, fertile country in which we live. You can find plenty to entertain your guests that may be visiting our magical Rio Grande Valley not just in museums but at the Beach, a drive by of Space X or the flavors of nearby Mexico.

Have a BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS as you celebrate Christ's birthday.

Join UTRGV for a Merry-Posa Christmas

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 13:23

UTRGV Mariposa IMG 1987 web If you love mariachi music, you will fall in love with the sounds of the all-female mariachi, Mariachi Mariposas.

Mariachi Mariposas began their musical journey in the summer of 2012 in the Rio Grande valley as a 12-member mariachi. The group launched to provide musical opportunities to talented female musicians who shared the same common goal of supporting, promoting and safeguarding the art of mariachi music.

Annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count dates set

Details: Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 13:13

Hooded Oriole Photo by Anita Westervelt web Valley residents, Winter Texans, visitors, birders and those just getting interested in birding are invited to join a team in the count areas for the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. Novice or pro, come join the count!

The CBC is a one-day event per area within established count circles. This year’s count will be held from December 14 through January 5, 2026. Local counts are listed below with contact information for those interested in joining a team.