Our Rio Grande Valley museums supply arts, history and culture to their visitors throughout the year. But during the Christmas season, they also share creativity and bright lights.

Several museums have Christmas tree exhibits. They get the community to bring and decorate a tree, usually to a certain theme. You can be sure to see lots of color and lights as organizations pick a theme that represents them, the city, or their heritage.

Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum has their Christmas Tree Extravaganza on display through December 31. They will also have the Lon C. Hill Home, Paso Real Stagecoach Inn, and the old Harlingen Hospital decked out in Christmas décor.

Their regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 2425 Boxwood Street. You can find out more information about their exhibits online at https://www.facebook.com/harlingenmuseum or by calling (956) 216-4901.

The IMAS Guild invites community members to visit this year’s Christmas Tree Forest themed Celebrating the Arts. This year participating foresters were asked to choose a particular artist, artistic movement, fiber arts sculpture, architecture, etc. to celebrate the various arts. It is a long-standing tradition for all ornaments to be hand-made. The exhibit showcases the creativity and ingenuity of the community from preschoolers through adult groups.

The Christmas Tree Forest will be on display through January 2. The hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. IMAS is located at 1900 W. Nolana Ave. in McAllen.

Weslaco Museum presents their Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree Forest through December 28. Step into a world of nostalgia and wonder with this year’s theme “Santa’s Toyland.” Each tree will be desked out in holly jolly style, bringing favorite childhood memories to life – from Monopoly boards and Super Mario adventures to the timeless creativity of Legos.

The museums hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Weslaco Museum is located at 500 S. Texas Blvd. For more information, visit their website at weslacomuseum.org, find them on Facebook, or call (956) 968-9142.

Brownville Historical Association will present its Department 56 Miniature Holiday Village collection at the Historic Brownsville Museum. Founded in 1976, the Department 56 Company captures the spirit of Christmas through various themed collections that can be seen through the display.

Donated by the Gloor family in memory of collector, June Gloor, the exhibit contains over 500 ceramic pieces including figurines, animals and lit structures.

The Historic Brownsville Museum is located at 641 E. Madison St. They are open from Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (956) 541-5560 for more information. A $6 fee, $4 for seniors, gets you into both of their museums.

The Alamo Museum has a couple of exhibits on display and are great to take in during this time of year. The museum has 300 Nativities Scenes on display. They have also have 220 Madonna and Child figurines from around the world on exhibit. These exhibits and pieces have been donated to the museum.

You will also see approximately 1,800 angel figures that were collected by Shirl Pfeiffer over a period of 30 years. Shirl and her husband are from Wisconsin and were Winter Texans for some time before moving permanently to Alamo.

The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed during lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. They are also open on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is located at 130 S. 8th St.