The Texas Citrus Fiesta Parade of Oranges has grown to become one of the largest parades in South Texas, an annual tradition that attracts about 100,000 people. In addition to its signature floats made of citrus fruit, the parade features spirited marching bands, exciting dance performances, stunning citrus-themed pageant gowns, and a royal court.
The spectacular event is scheduled for Saturday Jan. 25, 2020 at 3 p.m. The Texas A&M Parsons Cavalry, a horse combat unit consisting of cavalry, artillery and quartermaster elements will highlight this year’s parade. Texas State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) will serve as parade marshal.
The parade begins at Griffin Parkway and runs south on Conway Avenue and ends at 1st Street. Mission Police will close all streets along the parade route in phases, beginning at 9 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade. Spectators are advised to exercise caution along Conway Ave., and to stay clear of any marked and coned-off areas.
Read more: TCF Parade this weekend
January 23rd has been named Cook Your Catch Day by the avid anglers and cuisine fans of South Padre Island. The Island is celebrating their first-ever Cook Your Catch Day with a VIP fishing trip and Chef’s table dinner for local and regional influencers, tips from fishing guides on techniques for catching different species, ideas from SPI chefs on how to make the most of every catch, and a call for the best fish stories on social media.
Enjoying freshly caught fish is a tradition on this tropical Texas island. With Island restaurants renowned for their fish recipes and great Redfish and Drum in the bay, SPI is the perfect Gulf-to-Table experience.
Read more: SPI CVB names January 23rd Cook Your Catch Day
While there were a lot of familiar names at the first Showcase, I was not familiar with more than half of the Wintertainers™ on the list to perform at the second Showcase. The activity director’s association and Robert and Billie Ferguson put on two showcase events every year to help activity directors book entertainment for next year. The Showcase allows the activity directors to get a sampling of what the Wintertainers™ can offer.
Even though I was not able to stay for this Showcase, I enjoyed every minute I was there. Only recognizing about six of the performers on the list, I was eager to see what the others had to offer.
The room was full of laughter and clapping – as just about every Wintertainers™ had a joke to tell.
Read more: Second showcase did not disappoint
Shows and dances hosted by mobile home and RV parks and resorts are attended in numbers by the Winter Texans that spend their winters here in the Rio Grande Valley. The parks and resorts spend a lot of effort getting popular wintertainers to perform at their venues. Each year, the Valley Star Awards, hosted by Robert Ferguson and the Winter Texan Times, presents awards to the Rio Grande Valley’s top Winter Texan entertainers – are as we call them, “Wintertainers™.”
This year’s Valley Star Awards will be held on Wednesday, February 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort. Lunch will be available from 12 to 1 p.m.
So now it’s time to vote for your favorite Wintertainers™ - and the Entertainer of the Year for 2020.
Read more: It’s time to vote for your favorite entertainers
Welcome to the Rio Grande Valley, home of what seems to be the new NASCAR world of remote-control racing.
Possibly the hottest thing to come to the hottest part of the nation in years, RC racing has done more than taken the Winter Texan world by storm. It has consumed it.
The latest and newest development of the craze was celebrated last week as Ranchero Village in Weslaco as the park cut the ribbon on the Valley's first cement racetrack.
Just as in NASCAR, where there are shot tracks, flat tracks, high-banked tracks and more, with the addition of cement to its repertoire of track choices, RC drivers can do more than just go race.
Now they can learn how to set up their cars to maneuver the varying tracks, banks and surfaces.
Read more: New track at Ranchero Village officially opens
It’s that time of year so get ready bull riding fans as the “Hottest 8 Seconds of 2020” will be returning to Mercedes again. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat as the NPBR will bring some of the nations top bull riders for a two-day event to be held at the Payne Auto Group Arena in the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Complex in Mercedes, on January 25 and 26.
Thirty-five of the top cowboys will compete for an average of $14,000 in money and prizes. This includes a chance to win one of three $550 Champion Monsoon Silver Trophy Buckles to be given away at this event. This is your chance to be up close and personal with the bulls and the bull riders. You will experience the thrills and spills of each one.
The race is tight for the top spot this year and less than one hundred dollars separates the top three in the standings. Leading the pack from Fort Worth, is one of our young guns, Kyle McDaniel. He was a CPRA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has consistently won money in the NPBR. As one of our young bull riders, Kyle has left his mark across the state and is on his way to making a name for himself not only in the NPBR but also at many other professional bull ridings.
Read more: NPBR present the Hottest Eight Seconds of 2020
The National Quilt Museum has once again provided the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum with a beautiful quilt exhibit. The exhibit will be on display starting January 18. There will be a gallery talk on January 21 and February 21 that will provide a guided tour that will give a more in-depth description and analysis of each quilt.
This year’s quiltmakers were challenged by The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky to create original quilts based on classic Oak Leaf and Reel block patterns. Twenty-eight quilters from 15 U.S. states and Taiwan, Germany, and Israel modified Oak Leaf and Reel block designs in imaginative ways, providing a wonderful look at the skills, techniques, and creativity of today's quiltmakers. Support for the contest was provided by MODA Fabrics and Janome America, Incorporated.
Read more: Harlingen Museum to display national quilt winners
Leslie Blasing has been singing for over 30 years and has grown into a sensation of her own – and very rightfully earned. She sings with a heart of gold, putting her voice and talent in everything she sings.
You can always find Leslie swaying and dancing as she sings, walking through the crowd and trying to get audience members to sing with her. She stays active in feeding off the audience, performing requests, and loving the oldies – but goodies.
Originally starting her singing career in San Antonio, Leslie transferred to South Padre Island in 1994, first singing at hotels. During her career in the Valley, she was a regular at Schlitterbahn’s Shrimp Haus Restaurant for 10 years. Now she can be found singing at the Island’s main hotspots year-round at places like Louie’s Backyard, Boomerang Billy’s Beach Bar & Grill, the Whiskey Room (in Daddy’s Cajun Seafood Restaurant), The Coral Reef and Isla Grand Beach Resort.
Read more: Leslie Blasing sings with heart
It was 51 years ago – 1969 to be precise – that Bob Hupp and his band, The Smoke Ring, performed on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
Hupp, self-proclaimed as “Nebraska’s most dangerous one-man band” is back in South Texas for a fourth season, still rockin’ and rollin’ like no other.
Hupp, who mainly plays keyboard, but will also program his electronic drums, is a musical encyclopedia, performing songs from the heyday of rock including top songs from artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Ricky Nelson and, just, oh so more.
“I’ll also do some country like Hank Sr. or Hank Jr.,” Hupp said. “I really like the old rock and country and really like to do parties – I’ll really get after it at parties and shows. I’ll throw in some music history and throw out a gazillion little one liners, a little comedy.”
Read more: Bob Hupp is ready to entertain you
The Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at UTRGV and Luby’s have partnered to help you kick start 2020 on a Healthy Eating and Wellness note. Dine out at Luby’s for a good cause.
Your participation will help support student scholars and a healthy lifestyle for you and your family in 2020.
Dine at any Luby’s in the Valley on Sunday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Luby’s has made it easy for you, and UTRGV – 15% of all proceeds from sales on that day will go toward the UTRGV Hospitality and Tourism Management program student scholarships.
