The South Texas Ecotourism Center (STEC) Laguna Vista will hold a Christmas celebration next week. The celebration will be held on Thursday, December 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature Santa, food and craft vendors, and holiday performances. Admission to the event is free.

STEC will also be holding their Fall Speaker Series this coming month. The series is held every first and third Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments are free, and the center will stay open until 8:30 p.m.

December 7 speaker series will be a screening of the film “Deep in the Heart.” The film is a visually stunning celebration of Texas’ diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife found nowhere else. The film aims to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize the importance of conservation on a continental scale.

While “Deep in the Heart” focuses on the wildlife of one region, the message is universal – restoring wildlife island habitats is an essential part of our environmental mission. The film spotlights inspirational solutions that are sure to be embraced by naturalists, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature lovers and students.

On December 21, Texas Master Naturalist and SPI Birding Center Educator Javier Gonzalez will present SPI Birding Center: Christmas Bird Count. The Christmas Bird Count is the nation’s longest-running community science bird project.

Bird counts are done from December 14 through January 5 each year by thousands of volunteers throughout America. The National Audubon, and other organizations, use data collected to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation actions. For more information, visit https://www.audubon.org/conservation/history-christmas-bird-count, or call your local state park.

STEC is located at 501 W. State Hwy. 100 in Laguna Vista. For more information about these events, and others, call (956) 772-0212