Winter Texan Times - Activities & Entertainment: Parks Calendar

Valley Star Awards honors Valleys top Wintertainers™

Dave & Daphne named Entertainers of the Year

Music, comedy and an afternoon of entertainment by six of the Valley’s best entertainers highlighted the 2019 Valley Star Awards, presented by the Winter Texan Times and Robert and Billie Ferguson at Mission Bell Resort.

Winter Texans voted for entertainers in 11 different categories and the entertainer of the year awards were announced a la Oscar style in front of a full house of Winter Texans from across the Rio Grande Valley.

Valley Star Awards Show is Feb. 20

2019 Williamson Branch 1 The 2019 Valley Star Awards Show will feature a lineup of six of the top entertainers who are performing this season in the Rio Grande Valley parks and resorts. This year’s show features performances by Rusty Rierson, Helen Russell & Company, Tavie Spivey & Shake Rattle & Roll, Kai, Gene Turner (aka Mr. Pickpocket) and the Williamson Branch. All six performers are nominees for this year’s Valley Star Awards selections.

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.