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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.
Read more: Chabad RGV hosts Annual Chanukah Concert & Festival
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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.
Read more: RGV Concert Band presents Christmas Concert
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Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 14:14
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.
Read more: IMAS celebrates local talent
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Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 14:01
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.
Read more: Unique vending machines coming to McAllen
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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.
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Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 13:13
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.
Read more: Annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count dates set
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Published: Wednesday, 10 December 2025 12:11
By Joey Gomez, STC
South Texas College students are helping to transform a developing 30-acre camp for children with Type 1 diabetes by utilizing their skills to build furniture, recreational features and sensory stations for the South Texas Juvenile Diabetes Association (STJDA).
For more than a year, STC faculty and students from multiple programs have partnered with STJDA to support its vision of creating a residential camp for children with chronic illnesses and special needs. Since then, STC programs including Construction Supervision, Architecture, Culinary Arts and Welding have contributed to the camp’s development on the outskirts of Willacy and Hidalgo counties.
Read more: STC students use skills to support Valley children living with diabetes
If you love mariachi music, you will fall in love with the sounds of the all-female mariachi, Mariachi Mariposas.
The McAllen Public Library (MPL) is kicking off its Youth Winter Drive to help keep children and teens in our community warm this season. The effort calls for collecting winter essentials for local youth, with donations supporting the Teen Essential Shelves at the Lark, Palm View, and Main branches.
