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Statewide historic sites ring in holidays with Texas flair

Details: Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 08:44

AUSTIN, Texas — With winter holidays on the horizon, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) announces family-friendly events hosted at historic sites statewide. The holiday events will meld modern traditions with historical customs.  

The Texas Historical Commission celebrates the rich tapestry of Texas history by adding a nostalgic touch to winter festivities. 

Give a piece of historic Texas this holiday season

Details: Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 08:42

THC Cookbook web AUSTIN, Texas—With holiday shopping in full swing, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) has launched its online store TexasHistoryGifts.com featuring unique offerings available for purchase online and at historic sites across the state.  

The highlight of the season is “A Culinary Journey Through Texas History: A State Historic Sites Cookbook.” Edited by Hal Simon, the THC’s chief interpretive specialist, the cookbook takes professional and home chefs alike on a culinary journey that will inspire them to cook with passion, experiment with flavor, and taste the history of Texas. 

Brownsville Holiday Village opening November 24

Details: Published: Friday, 21 November 2025 14:00

20231202 Brownsville Holiday Village 0013 web The beautifully decorated cottages that adorn Dean Porter Park in Brownsville every holiday season are back. They have been preparing the park for the last few weeks for the 16th season of its Holiday Village in Brownsville. The Holiday Village officially opens on November 24. Each year one or two new ones might be added, so you never know what you might see. Currently there are over 30 fully decorated cottages lining the sidewalks at the park.

For those that are new to the village, Holiday Village is a collection of miniature cottages, each one measuring about 10’ wide x 8’ deep and over 11’ tall. Each one is adorned inside and out with the most whimsical and adorable holiday trimmings. Best viewing is just after the sun sets so you can see the full displays all lit up – although the lights come on at 6 p.m. every evening.

Parks celebrate their Veterans

Details: Published: Wednesday, 19 November 2025 13:45

Veterans Wall web This past week many parks celebrated the Veterans in their parks. Tropic Winds and Sunshine RV were just two of the many parks that held events to honor Veterans for their service and sacrifice.

The Veterans Day Celebration at Tropic Winds was held to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of the veterans in the community. To start the ceremony, the Harlingen High School Color Guard presented the colors. Then each branch was called forward, and their respective armed forces medley was played as everyone sang along. As a token of appreciation, a coin was presented to each Veteran in attendance, as well as a complimentary meal following the ceremony. There were around 75 people in attendance, with around 26 Veterans honored. During the event, the spouses of the military members were also acknowledged.

National Wreaths Across America events planned

Details: Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 13:45

20220614 Rio Grande Valley Veterans Cemetary CAB 0013 web Volunteers across Texas are joining the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) to prepare for National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, December 13.

This year, 453 participating locations across the state will participate in the annual event, which honors every interred American veteran with a live balsam wreath. This December, 744 local WAA Sponsorship Groups have registered. They are working to raise the funds needed to place wreaths on the graves of the more than 574,600 service members resting in these participating cemeteries.

Port Isabel announces tree lighting, holiday parade

Details: Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 13:42

20231202 Port Isabel Tree Lighting ALB 0010 web The City of Port Isabel will kick off the 2025 holiday season with their 17th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Hometown Christmas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 6. The community celebration will be held in the heart of coastal Port Isabel.

Mayor Cantu Jr. and the Port Isabel City Commissioners invite the community to attend and participate in a Port Isabel holiday tradition. Hometown Holiday Parade starts at 6 p.m. and the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree in Beulah Lee Park starts at 7 p.m. The tree lighting will feature performances, vendors, Santa Claus and a bigger and brighter Christmas tree.

Victoria Palms Restaurant: Thanksgiving Buffet – Always A Crowd Pleaser

Details: Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:32

Thanksgiving web We always enjoy pulling into the parking lot at Victoria Palms Restaurant, and they are always happy to see you. They have wonderful food options, friendly staff, and a warm atmosphere. They’re always glad you come – whether for breakfast for omelets, lunch, or dinner. Over the years we have enjoyed the omelet station, pasta night, and other dinners as well – all worth the visit.

There is always a regular crowd, staff greeting the familiar faces, asking where the missing person is, and happily getting to know the new faces.

This Thanksgiving Victoria Palms Restaurant offers an All You Can Eat Thanksgiving Buffet. This buffet features herb roasted turkey, roast beef, pineapple glazed ham, and all the many trimmings you can think of – sides, salads, and desserts – all in one place. They’ll even have some sugar free dessert options.

You do have to purchase tickets ahead of time, as they usually see about 400 guests. Tickets are $29.50 plus tax and are available in the hotel lobby. The event will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Art Kalifa, of Victoria Palms, says everyone looks forward to serving the needs of their guests year after year. He knows how much of a laborious task it can be for Winter Texans to prepare their own Thanksgiving meals, even for a small group. “There’s nothing like it,” he said about the buffet event, even adding that everyone is always 100% satisfied with their Thanksgiving meal offerings.

Keep up with the latest by following Victoria Palms Restaurant on Facebook or chat in real time with staff by texting (956) 782-3200. Victoria Palms Restaurant is currently open for breakfast Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. They are located at 3309 E. IH-2 in Donna.

Enchanted Valley Ranch resident thanks his Turkey Angels

Details: Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:30

1000002763 web We talk about this every year – how the food pantries kick up their game during the holidays. They put out their need to help their communities for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The food pantries try to give the families they support a traditional meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Martin Valley Ranch parks in Penitas are known to support the Penitas Food Pantry throughout the year, and especially during the holidays. In previous years, the community parks have not only helped keep the pantry stocked, but they also helped build their new building and help with stockings for the children for Christmas.

This year has been a little different because the need is so big. One of the gentlemen that helps at the pantry put a call out less than two weeks ago for help. Here is a little bit of Jeff Reardon’s original post on the Enchanted Valley Ranch Facebook Page:

Brownsville is rich with history

Details: Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:26

20201111 Brownsville Fort Brown CAB 4113 web When talking about Brownsville museums, you can’t talk about just one. Brownsville has the Heritage Museum, Stillman House Museum, the Historic Brownsville Museum, Costumes of the Americas Museum, and the Laureles Ranch House Museum.

The Brownsville Historical Association has a wonderful fold out map of the City of Brownsville. Through visiting areas on the map, you will learn its history and the importance of many buildings in the city. You can discover a lot of Brownsville’s history, heritage and culture that the Brownsville Historical Association is preserving in downtown Brownsville.

Let’s learn some Spanish rules

Details: Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:07

Good day to all of you. Thanksgiving is here and I am preparing for company. My grandnephew and his twelve-year-old son are coming to spend Thanksgiving with me. That will be a special treat as my nephew is a champion cook when it comes to cooking on an outdoor grill. Seriously he has won many competitions all over the state of Texas. So, all I will do is buy the turkey and set the table. He will even cook the potatoes on the grill. And of course, I will need to buy an extra supply of ice cream for the younger visitor.

I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, skilled nephew. Every time he comes to visit, he finds all those little things that need doing. He is a jack of all trades and since I can't even drive a nail, he is a real blessing. He loves our tropical plants and since I have an extra supply of plants in bloom I can share with him. One of my favorite things to do is to work in the yard so there is always a plant or bush that is in full bloom to share with him.

Last publication we had a mini lesson in Spanish. Are you ready for the second lesson? Well here goes. Certain syllables in a word will receive an accent when spoken. As you divide the words into syllables, generally the second syllable receives the accent. But not always.

First of all, let's see how we divide any word into syllables. The consonant will go with the next vowel so let's divide a word into syllables … how about cerveza - that's beer in Spanish. So, to divide it is cer-ve-za. NOTE that the r and the v got divided. And that is the general rule. Except when you have a double ‘l’ in a word. A double ‘l’ will sound like a ‘y’.

So, the word for yellow in Spanish is pronounced a ma ri yo (amarillo).

If a word ends in a consonant, then the accent is on the last syllable. So, the word for heart in Spanish is corazon. Now to pronounce it is co ra zon. The strongest syllable is the last one with the accent on the zon.

Now, just to confuse us - the Spanish language has some words that will carry an accent mark, and those words don't go by the rules. One of the words that I hear mispronounced over and over is the name of one of the states in Mexico. The capital of the state has the same name. Have you guessed the name of the city? It is San Luis Potosi and many of the tours into Mexico go right through that city. The pronunciation breaks all the above rules because there is a written accent on the last syllable. So now we have San Lu is Po to si. NEVER IS IT PRONOUNCED SAN LUIS PO TO SI.

Over and over, I hear this word mispronounced with the speaker putting the accent on the second syllable. I can understand why since unless your computer or typewriter prints or speaks Spanish the rule of the second syllable getting the accent will lead you astray.

Please don't label me as a fluent Spanish speaker. I am not. I just keep trying to get better. When I was in college I would spend many hours reading and speaking Spanish out loud. Try filling the bathtub with warm water, propping your Spanish grammar book behind the water faucets and reading out loud. That's how I learned most of my Spanish. And of course, I made and still make many mistakes conversing in Spanish. Just don't give up. Our friends in Mexico are so gracious and appreciative of our attempts to speak their language that they will forgive us of our mistakes. Have fun as you learn more and more Spanish. I promise no more lessons.

Have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving. We are truly blessed.