McALLEN – As the year comes to a close, The Salvation Army invites the community to Give With Joy and make a lasting impact on neighbors in need. Your generosity helps provide food, shelter, emergency assistance and hope, not just during the holidays, but all year long.
The City of McAllen’s Public Works Department encourages residents to keep the holidays clean and green by recycling properly and taking advantage of convenient local recycling services. By following a few simple guidelines, residents can help reduce contamination, protect local resources, save landfill space, and support the creation of new products from recycled materials.
Read more: Reduce holiday waste and make recycling easy, convenient, and impactful
The Valley is full of the festive holiday spirit during the Christmas and December holidays. While I am sure you have enjoyed many events at your park, other parks, or maybe around town somewhere, there are still a few activities that you can visit to partake in the Christmas spirit.
In Brownsville you will find the Holiday Village. The Holiday Village is in its 16th season at Dean Porter Park. For those who may not know, the Holiday Village at Dean Porter Park in Brownsville is a collection of cottages, each one measuring about 10’ wide, 8’ deep and over 11’ tall, which are adorned inside and out with the most whimsical and adorable holiday trimmings. The Village is set up in the park every November, free and open to the public, and runs from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the first of the year.
Read more: Many Christmas activities are still ongoing in the Valley
By Herb Moering
Winter Texans Bill and Nancee Fisher and David and Margie Jones picked a very good time to come see their first Alamo Christmas Parade on Friday, December 12.
First, the weather was in the balmy 70s range all evening, which helped them to forget the cold and snow of Ohio. In fact, the Fishers had just arrived in Alamo four days ago, leaving behind a couple inches of snow.
On the evening of December 13, parking lots were full, and crowds lined both sides of Texas Blvd. to attend the Weslaco Lighted Christmas Parade. There were those that opted for the reserved seating, and plenty more that found opportune spots to sit or stand with friends and family. With a seemingly endless line of festive floats and vehicles, Weslaco had an atmosphere of Christmas cheer.
Thankfully, the weather was nice, too. No rain and a gentle breeze made it easy to enjoy being outdoors for the entirety of the event. During the parade there were some vendors along the route offering food and beverages just in case you found yourself needing something tasty or refreshing.
Read more: Weslaco’s parade was only part of the Christmas fun
The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) proudly announces its upcoming Annual Community Health and Wellness Fair, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13 and 14, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Mission Event Center, 200 N. Shary Rd., Mission.
Proudly sponsored by the City of Mission and Mission Regional Medical Center, this two-day wellness fair brings together healthcare providers, wellness experts, and local organizations to offer free health services and education to the community.
Read more: Mission Chamber to host Annual Health & Wellness Fair
The Mission Historical Museum is excited to announce the 20th Annual Quilt Show and is now accepting entries for this beloved community tradition. Quilt enthusiasts are invited to participate by submitting their best work in three categories: Bed Quilts, Wall Hangings, and Decorative Art.
Entry forms and quilts will be accepted through Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Entries can be delivered between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. The Museum advises early registration, as space is limited and entries will be capped if capacity is reached before the deadline.
Read more: MHM accepting submissions for the 20th Annual Quilt Show
Going to the Old Hidalgo Pumphouse is a little like having the winning ticket to the past. Not only do you get to visit one of the nine World Birding sites, but there’s the intriguing story and history surrounding the Pumphouse’s importance to agriculture. Also, during this time of year, you’ll get to see it dressed up for the holidays. The last time I visited was around Halloween and they had the entire front of the area decorated with spiders, monsters and clowns.
The center features a 4.5-mile round trip biking and walking trail. On this trail, bikers are likely to see a variety of birds such as Kiskadees, Kingfishers, cardinals, hummingbirds, pelicans, and others. You can take the trail east to the wetlands, or west underneath the border crossing. Visitors can also take their time and walk around, viewing butterfly gardens and the luscious landscape, or make reservations for a tour.
The annual Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides Christmas gifts for children in need throughout the McAllen community each year. This year, more than 2,800 children were registered, and all have been adopted by generous individuals, families, and businesses. The gifts are ready for families to collect this week, and The Salvation Army is in desperate need of volunteers to help with distribution.
Read more: Volunteers needed for Angel Tree Toy distribution
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Read more: MPL launches Youth Winter Drive to help keep local kids warm
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
