By Herb Moering

Hundreds of Winter Texans turned out Friday under picture perfect weather for the 49th annual Tourist Day in Nuevo Progreso.

The event to say “thanks” to all those who come to shop, eat, purchase medicines and have dental work done in Progreso began with a brief welcome in the Bridge Authority Building from Samuel Robert Sparks Jr., the private bridge co-owner, to various area government officials and spouses and special friends.

In the special friend’s category was Mr. Tourist, Tom Torkelson, and his family. Torkelson, originally from Ohio, came to the Valley in 1987 and a year later in Donna founded the first IDEA charter school. Currently, he said there are 120 IDEA schools in four states. Most of them are in Texas, including 40 in the RGV. While most students are Americans there is a strong contingent from Mexico including from Rio Bravo, Mexico who cross the border weekdays to attend school.

A king and a queen were selected to reign over the festivities and were among the delegation to walk to the center of the bridge to meet a delegation of Mexican officials and others and exchange greetings along with gifts of flowers. King David Wayne Evans and his wife, Queen Gina Marie, from the Los Fresnos area, had been nominated for the royal task by the Red Snapper, a restaurant the couple frequently go to in Progreso. David, a Texan from Austin, met Gina, from Florida, in the capitol city and they moved to the Valley in 2011.

With the bridge ceremonies completed the mix of Americans and Mexicans, along with a mariachi band headed for the stage area in Progreso, where there were more introductions of all the officials from both sides of the border and where the queen was given a crown and a sash. The king exchanged his hat for a large sombrero and also received a sash noting his position for 2025.

The entertainment took over the stage featuring singers and dancers. There was also a band, which drew spectators out of the audience to dance to the music in front of the stage.

Down the street were a lot of Winter Texans enjoying food and drink, receiving small tokens of appreciation from merchants and listening to different recorded music. Among those on the blocked off Main Street were Gene and Mary Scott, from Iowa, who have been in the Valley for 29 years. The pair are into music, attending various jam sessions where they both sing and Gene plays guitar. In fact, they were going to a jam that evening, which would probably be the last one of the season for them this spring.

The couple enjoy being busy. Mary said, “I don’t let any grass grow under my feet.” She is both a quilter and crochets hats for Mexican children. They have come often for the annual Tourist Day and in the fall for the welcome back event also hosted by Progreso.

Five residents of the Snow to Sun RV and MH Park in Weslaco came to the event. Bob Thelen, who is originally from Nebraska, is in his second year in the Valley. “I hate snow.” was his comment as to why he lives here year-round.

Tami Roesch is also a full-time resident. She came from Illinois to live and care for her parents. She devotes most of her time to being a full-time caregiver now. She has found people to be “awesome and friendly,” which is important to her.

The other three in the group included Tom and Shirley Rice from Minnesota and Donna Lester from Washington State. They were enjoying the fellowship of the day around some refreshments.