The cottages of Holiday Village Brownsville have moved back to Dean Porter Park and have been prepared for the 14th annual yuletide event. With five new and updated displays, this year there will be a total of 34 fully decorated cottages lining the sidewalks.

For those who may not know, the Holiday Village at Dean Porter Park in Brownsville is a collection of miniature cottages, each one measuring about 10’ wide x 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.

This family-friendly attraction is funded by grants and sponsors and organized entirely by volunteers.

“We look forward to returning to the park every year, with the goal of making each year better than the last,” said Laurie Ray, Holiday Village Chair. This year’s sponsors include Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau, H-E-B Helping Here, Beth and Pat Pace Jr., State Farm Agent Rick Armendariz, Brownsville Dance Center, the City of Brownsville, Brownsville Parks & Recreation, and the founder, Mellena Conner.

“Along with four remodels, we have one cottage that’s brand new from the ground up,” said Ray. “We are already seeing a great deal of interest from potential sponsors for our 2024 season. We’re anticipating that sponsorships will soon be waitlisted. The community really enjoys and looks forward to the Holiday Village, and we are all very proud to be part of the project.”

Also returning to the park this year is Fritter, the Holiday Village elf. Through Christmas Eve, join in the fun of finding Fritter and enter to win daily and weekly prizes from H-E-B and the Children’s Museum of Brownsville.

Patrons can also enjoy delicious treats from a variety of food vendors, as well as performances by many local dance groups, choirs, school groups and more, throughout the nearly six-week long event. Admission is free all day every day, and the cottages are lit at 6 p.m. each evening. Santa Claus will be in the gazebo and available for free pictures every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night through December 23.

More information, entertainment schedules, and Elf on the Shelf contest rules can be found at www.HolidayVillageBrownsville.com. Happy Holidays!