Winter Texan Times - Activities & Entertainment: Parks Calendar

Valley Star Awards deadline nears

Rusty Rierson 2 You have just six more days to cast your vote for your favorite entertainers as your votes determine the winners of the Valley Star Awards. The deadline to turn in your ballot is Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Each year we ask Winter Texans to help us choose the top entertainers who perform in the Winter Texan resorts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Now is your chance to decide who will receive the top awards at the annual Valley Star Awards Show, hosted by the Winter Texan Times and Robert and Billie Ferguson.

We will tally your votes and announce the winners at this year’s Valley Star Awards Show. The show will be held Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort.

Who will be Entertainer of the Year?

Many of our Winter Texan readers enjoy the shows and dances hosted by the mobile home and RV parks and resorts where their favorite bands and entertainers perform. Each year the Valley Star Awards, hosted by Robert Ferguson and the Winter Texan Times, presents awards to the Rio Grande Valley’s top Winter Texan entertainers – or as we call them, “Wintertainers™.”

This year’s Valley Star Awards Show will be held Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort. So now it’s time for you to vote for your favorite entertainers – and Entertainer of the Year for 2019.

There are some new names on this year’s list of nominees for the Valley Star Awards, which includes Entertainer or Group of the Year overall, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and eight other awards. The ballot appears in the Jan. 23 edition of the Winter Texan Times, or simply click here to see the ballot online. Some of the newer nominees include the Kody Norris Band, Rusty Rierson, Rick McEwen, Shake Rattle & Roll, Texas Wheels, Sweetwater, Kelli Marie and more.

Valley Star Award winner Helen Russell returns

20190102 Helen Russell promo12 The 2018 winner of the Valley Star Awards “Best Small Band Variety Show,” Helen Russell and Company, is in demand with a very full schedule of shows at the RV resorts in the Rio Grande Valley this season.

From country to bluegrass to classic rock to gospel, Helen Russell said she strives to make sure the audience enjoys their show. She said they pride themselves in “giving 100 percent, whether there are 50 people in the audience or 300.”

Regarding being voted “Best Small Band Variety Show” last season, Russell said, “That was only our second year and we didn't think we had a following big enough to win that award. We felt really honored, especially since we had only been here one season prior. It has been awesome. It's more and more like coming home every year.”

Valley’s Top Entertainers named at Valley Star Awards

20180222 ValleyStarAwards GU IMG 8415 If the goal of entertainers is to make an audience laugh, cry, ponder or feel emotion and become fully engaged, then the Valley Star Awards achieved its goal in spades.

Each year, Winter Texans vote for their favorite entertainers in several categories leading up to the overall Entertainer of the Year. The event is organized by producer Robert Ferguson along with the Winter Texan Times.

Top entertainers to perform at Valley Star Awards Saturday

20160220 Valley Star Awards LG WEB Those attending the 2018 Valley Star Awards Show are in store for a delightful evening of entertainment by some of the Rio Grande Valley’s best performers. Performing at this year’s Valley Star Awards are Dave & Daphne, Lindley Creek, Jason Whorlow, 4 His Glory, Kellie Marie, and Vance Greek.

This year’s Valley Star Awards is being held at a new location and a new time. The show will held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17 at Casa Del Valle in Alamo.

Entertainers of the Year named at Valley Star Awards Show

20170223 WTT Valley Star Awards LG 54 Those who attended this year’s Valley Star Awards Show last weekend at Mission Bell Resort were richly rewarded with an evening packed with outstanding entertainment, from beginning to end.

Five top-notch performers put on a show that surely must have been one of the best shows ever performed in the Valley.

Not having seen them perform previously, I wasn’t sure what to expect of the Edinburg Folkloric Dancers, but I was very pleasantly surprised with their outstanding performance of a native Indian dance that was comparable to the Polynesian dancers I have seen perform in Hawaii. Very impressive.

Great entertainment planned for Valley Star Awards Saturday

20170216 Leslie Blassing KO DSC 0075 The Valley Star Awards Show has some of the Valley’s top entertainers lined up to perform as awards are presented for Entertainer of the Year and other top entertainer awards.

Competition for the awards has been exciting and Winter Texans requested their ballots earlier this year so they could be sure to vote for their favorites.

On Saturday, Feb. 18 the Valley Star Awards Show, the Winter Texan version of the Academy Awards, will be announced in a show starting at 6 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort, 1711 E. Bus. 83, Mission. Tickets are $15 and are available at Mission Bell Resort, the Winter Texan Times and can be ordered by phone at (865) 253-2514.

Valley Star Awards Coming Feb. 18

Anticipation is growing as entertainers in the Rio Grande Valley await this year’s selections for the prestigious Valley Star Awards. Winter Texans across the Rio Grande Valley are already asking for the ballots to vote for their favorite performers. The ballot is inside today’s edition of the Winter Texan Times.

Nominees for this year’s Male Vocalist of the Year include Mario Rosales, who has made a name for himself in the Valley in a few short years as a comedian and singer. John Sager, Branson entertainer, has been named Male Vocalist of the Year several times and was also named Entertainer of the year twice. Bill Chrastil was named Male Vocalist of the Year in 2016. The fourth nominee for male vocalist is Rolando Reyes, who is always a popular performer known for his beautiful voice.

Nominations sought for Valley Star Awards

The following list of names of entertainers has been composed for possible nominations for the upcoming Valley Star Awards in February. If your favorite star’s name is not on the list and he or she is returning this season, call Robert or Billie Ferguson at (574) 361-2947 by Dec. 8 and they will add the name to the list.

Once the list is complete it will be given to the activity directors at their December meeting. The activity directors will vote for their top four favorites in each category. The top four names in each category will be the final nominees appearing on the ballot in the Winter Texan Times in January.

Great entertainment planned for Valley Star Awards

Winter Texans have been mailing their Valley Star Award ballots and using the online ballot at www.wttrgv.com to vote for their favorite entertainers. The ballots have been coming in at a stead rate, and are being counted now as the cut-off date was Tuesday.

Saturday night a large crowd is expected to gather at Mission Bell Resort where the winners will be announced. But in addition to announcing the winners, there will be some great entertainment from new entertainers to the Valley and from some entertainers who have previously won the honors. It promises to be a great event.

Vote for 2016 Valley Star Awards

It is time again to select Winter Texans’ favorite entertainers for the 2016 Valley Star Awards. This year’s ballot is in this week’s edition of the Winter Texan Times on page 8. Choose to use the ballot in today’s paper and mail it to 1217 N. Conway, Mission TX 78572, or, vote online at www.wttrgv.com. Ballots must be received by Feb. 16 to be counted.

Nominees for Male Vocalist of the Year are John Sager, Mario, Bill Chrastil and J.C. Harrisson. Female Vocalist of the Year nominees are Susan Hudson Carman, Leslie Blasing, Ruthi and Maggie Mae.

Family Musical Group nominees are Lindley Creek, CrossStrung, Southern Anthem and Goldwing Express. Non-related Musical Group of the Year nominees include Razz Ma Tazz, Men of A-Chord, Sweet Adelines and Senior Ambassadors.