The Municipal Government of Rio Bravo invites Winter Texans to the 49th anniversary of Tourist Day in Nuevo Progreso. The event will be held on Friday, March 21 at 10 a.m. on Main St.
The event will be filled with live entertainment, Mr. Tourist Tom Torkelson, and King and Queen David Wayne and Gina Marie. There will also be food, drinks, and many more surprises.
In Variations on a Theme, Joey will take us on a journey beyond the Rio Grande Valley to see how related plants in the same genera and families have evolved in dramatically different environments across the globe. Discover the unexpected connections between our local flora and their distant relatives and gain a deeper appreciation for the incredible diversity of plant life.
From Outside magazine about Joey: “An ex-punk and former train engineer who is self-taught in the sciences, Joey Santore does not fit the mold of the stereotypical botanist. He has lots of tattoos and no college degree... Joey’s YouTube channel, Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t, has more than a quarter-million subscribers … he’s getting … many different kinds of people to geek out on plants.”
Read more: Relatives of RGV natives from around the world presented by Joey Santore
The Valley Symphony Orchestra (VSO) brings its 2024-25 Masterworks season to a grand finale with Romantic Reflections on Friday, April 4, at 8 p.m. at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. This enchanting program will feature some of the most passionate and timeless orchestral works, promising an unforgettable evening of music and artistry.
Exciting programs are taking place at Bentsen-RGV State Park next month. For bird lovers, Hawk Watch continues, as does the weekend bird walks. For the healthy minded, there are the Wild Wellness classes.
There are fun and informative programs for all ages. Scheduled programs are free with park admission. Reservations are required for some programs. All programs meet at the tram turnaround at the park headquarters unless otherwise specified.
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the City of McAllen and Visit McAllen, launched the McAllen Foodie Tour—a month-long celebration of the city’s vibrant culinary scene. The tour kicked off on Friday, March 7, bringing together restaurant owners, city officials and food lovers to highlight the importance of McAllen’s restaurants.
Recognized by travel magazines and critics for its equally diverse and delicious cuisine, the City of McAllen is showcasing everything from homegrown favorites to renowned restaurant groups, giving the community and visitors a taste of the best the city has to offer.
Throughout March, McAllen residents and visitors will explore new restaurants, uncover secret menu items and participate in exciting social media challenges. By following Visit McAllen’s social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook, food lovers can discover new featured restaurants and earn chances to win prizes, including thousands of dollars in gift cards, hotel stays and discounts.
Spring has definitely sprung. When I check the temperature in New York and Boston I am so, so glad that I live in South Texas. And thanks for the refreshing wind that seems to greet us each day. We would surely feel the heat more if we did not have the gentle wind to keep us comfortable.
The weather has created a desire for people to travel and many are hoping to be able to travel out of the United States.
That should sound like music to a tour operator but actually what happens is with so many traveling many hotels are often booked well in advance and charter bus companies are short on qualified drivers and equipment and often unable to serve the many requests being made for transportation services. So actually, arranging lodging and transportation becomes a real challenge.
Since I live in the country and grew up on a farm, I am constantly reminded as I drive into town of one of my favorite tours - the one-day farm tour. How beautiful it is to see the well-manicured fields boasting the nice straight rows of their recently planted crop.
Spring has definitely sprung. When I check the temperature in New York and Boston I am so, so glad that I live in South Texas. And thanks for the refreshing wind that seems to greet us each day. We would surely feel the heat more if we did not have the gentle wind to keep us comfortable.
The weather has created a desire for people to travel and many are hoping to be able to travel out of the United States.
That should sound like music to a tour operator but actually what happens is with so many traveling many hotels are often booked well in advance and charter bus companies are short on qualified drivers and equipment and often unable to serve the many requests being made for transportation services. So actually, arranging lodging and transportation becomes a real challenge.
Since I live in the country and grew up on a farm, I am constantly reminded as I drive into town of one of my favorite tours - the one-day farm tour. How beautiful it is to see the well-manicured fields boasting the nice straight rows of their recently planted crop.
Now ladies, I know that most of you don't agree with my comments. All too often I have heard you say that you have had all the farming you want. I did not have to raise my children on a farm. I was just twelve years old when we moved to the big city of Houston and did I ever miss the farm, playing on the creek bank and slipping away to enjoy the swimming hole every chance I had. So, I remember the fun times - not the hard times. Farming is hard but it is what made the Rio Grande Valley what it is today.
Even so the history of farming in the Rio Grande Valley is very interesting. The lure of the rich alluvial soil built up by the millions of years of flooding from the Rio Grande River and the price of the land back in the early 1900's is what brought so many settlers to our area.
Even so, the lack of water was a real challenge. Before long, irrigation districts were formed and water from the Rio Grande soon revived the wilting crops. This wonderful weather that we have is great not just for outdoor enjoyment but for the production of insects that devour our crops. Next came the crop dusters who to this day must spray the fields to protect the crops from those predators. It is interesting that those very ladies who said they had had enough of farming are the first to want to climb up and sit in the passenger seat of the duster plane.
You will hear all about the farming industry and how it developed in the Rio Grande Valley. Most interesting of all will be the visit with a present-day farmer whose father was an immigrant from Mexico. His dedication to farming was instilled in his son and his grandson. Today that son of an immigrant owns over 1,500 acres of farmland due to good management and hard work. He also follows the harvest into North Texas with the three cotton pickers he owns.
This is a full day tour with lunch included. Come learn about farming in South Texas.
I can’t believe the season is almost over. The last few months seem to have gone way too fast. I have enjoyed seeing all the activities you have been participating in around town and in your parks. I am going to miss seeing those smiling faces and the fun photos.
We still have a few exciting things happening just before the majority of you start packing up and heading back north. You will see some of those events in this week’s paper.
One that seems to be enjoyed by many is the Texas Onion Festival held in Weslaco, where the 1015 onion was developed. They celebrate the success of the onion with a huge celebration.
The other big event is Tourist Day that will be held on March 21. This event is also held yearly to thank the many tourists that cross the border. Progreso and Rio Bravo throw out the red carpet for their winter visitors each year with entertainment and tons of fun.
Like I said, we enjoy seeing the things you do while in the Valley. You will see a couple of things featured in this issue too. You still have one more issue to share what you have done while visiting the Valley. We would love to share your photos with our readers. It lets them see all the fun they can have in the Valley.
You can send photos and information to news@wintertexantimes.com.
We love having you here and hope that you have had a great time and plan to visit again. Let us know what brings you here, what you enjoy the most about the Valley, your park, or anything else. We would love to hear from you.
~ Rina
Time and again, Winter Texans list friendliness as big a reason to live here. Not only does that include their neighbors in the park or other parks, but also the people in the community who are happy to have Winter Texans because they appreciate the economic and other benefits they bring to the Valley.
Alan Johnston remembers coming to the Rio Grande Valley from Minnesota over 30 years ago.
One of the first things Johnston saw were signs that said, “Welcome Back Winter Texans.”
The beautiful subtropical weather of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley is definitely one of the biggest attractions for Winter Texans. There could be as much as a 100-degree difference between South Texas and places like Northern Minnesota or South Dakota.
The Rio Grande Valley is definitely a joy to live in, especially if the other option includes snow, ice and all things frozen. The average high between December and February runs from 70-74 degrees (but can reach into the 80s) and lows are generally between 49 and 54 – with the token warning once or twice a year that a frost is on its way, sending full-time residents scurrying to cover their outdoor plants.
