For over four decades, MN Masons have been spending their winters in South Texas and gathering with their fellow Masons from all over the country.
The 43rd Annual MN/TX Masonic Reunion will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Rio Grande Valley Shrine Club, 13415 E Expressway 83 in La Feria, Texas. The social hour will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $15.00.
The Sandcastle Village at South Padre Island is always changing, but this time of year, you can find a big sand chair to take selfies on while visiting the Holiday Sandcastle Village. The village showcases the incredible talent of some of the best sand sculptors in the world.
The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) is proud to partner with the UTRGV Community Historical Archeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) to host its traveling exhibition “Ancient Landscapes of South Texas: Hiding in Plain Sight”.
This exhibition explores 50 million years of geological history and 15,000 years of cultural history in South Texas. Residents and visitors of the Rio Grande Valley may step over millions of years of history that included volcanic eruptions, 27-million-year-old petrified logs, 42-million-year-old giant oyster shells, and projectile points used by humans for over 12,000 years. “Ancient Landscapes of South Texas: Hiding in Plain Sight” illuminates the unique landscape and helps curious minds to understand the natural processes that formed South Texas.
Bentsen State Park has programs for all ages. Scheduled programs are free with park admission. Reservations are required for some of the programs. All programs will meet at the tram turnaround at park headquarters unless otherwise specified.
Please call ahead to confirm the program schedule and details at (956) 584-9156. Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is located at 2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission.
Delta Air Lines has started its ticket sales to provide three daily nonstop service from McAllen International Airport (MFE) to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) beginning April 22, 2024.
In Delta’s recent announcement, Joe Esposito, Delta’s S.V.P. – Network Planning, states, "This expansion not only creates an access point to diverse opportunities for business, leisure, and cultural exploration spanning Texas and beyond but also solidifies Delta’s commitment to being a key player in Austin’s evolving landscape. Austin is growing rapidly, and this 20% increase in capacity mirrors that growth as we look to provide our customers with unparalleled convenience in the region.”
The McAllen Wind Ensemble is excited to announce its 50th anniversary season. The annual music celebration of the holidays is Friday, December 15, 7:30 p.m. at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. Christmas with a Twist presents familiar holiday songs packaged in new ways to create a fresh experience for audience members. The music both travels around the world, weaves in some of our favorite seasonal movies, and constantly crosses compositional styles. The band will also feature the talented Colibri Children’s Choir for a special arrangement of Christmas movies.
Read more: McAllen Wind Ensemble shares holiday memories through their music
By Herb Moering
“Alamo has a nice little parade,” said converted Texan Charlie Akins, before the start of the city’s lighted Christmas parade on Friday. But he and his friends with him from Alamo Rec-Veh Park were in for a surprise as the city had its largest parade ever with more than 50 entries according to Alamo City Manager Robert Salinas.
Akins, who grew up in Happy, Texas, said he and his wife, Bev, have been full time RVers for 18 years with the latest winters at Alamo Rec-Veh. And many of those years they have been at the parade.
Winter Texans joined thousands of people along the street in anticipation of the 2023 Weslaco Lighted Christmas Parade.
Near perfect weather made it even more exciting for those in attendance. Knowing what one of the alternatives is around the country made it even more special.
“This is the type of weather to watch a Christmas parade,” said Chris Clark, who along with his wife and a group of five others all hailing from Wisconsin and one rabble-rouser from Arkansas. “This is my first time at this parade.”
The Museum of South Texas History (MOSTH) will feature the “Bishop Emeritus Raymundo Peña Nativity Scene Collection,” a spotlight exhibit displaying 120 nativity scenes until Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Born in 1934 and ordained as a Catholic priest in 1957, Father Raymundo Peña was named Bishop in Diocese of Brownsville in 1976. On his passing in September 2021, the Bishop willed his collection of nativity scenes to the Museum of South Texas History and to the Historic Brownsville Museum.
Read more: Nativity scene collection on exhibit this holiday season
Experience the spirit of the season at the “Holiday Night Shopping” with music and local artists selling their works inspired by nature on Thursday, December 14, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Quinta Mazatlan.
The one-night free event features the award-winning South Texas artist, Jessica Monroe, known for her oil paintings inspired by the natural world. Her paintings bring awareness of environmental issues and celebrate the beauty of nature. Monroe holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southwestern University and studied painting at New York University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
