NOVEMBER 19, 2025 www.wintertexantimes.com 4 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Call or Email ads@wintertexantimes.com BRING US ALONG, & THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO SEE, MORE TO DO Thanks for coming to Texas! Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Vol. 38, No. 24 © 2025 www.wintertexantimes.com Wednesday, March 26, 2025 INDEX Events Calendar p 4 Reunions p 6 Parks Calendar p 8 WintertainersTM p 8 On The Road p 12 Taste of the Valley p 17 Coupon Index p 20 Classifieds p 21 Business Guide p 21 Rina’s Ramblings See RAMBLINGS pg. 17 This season is ending, and I hate to see it go. We always enjoy your time with us, and our time with you, and we sure are going to miss it while you are gone. We know you are coming to the Valley for the community, the weather, lower prices, and more. We also know you are coming because of the culture and the warm welcomes you receive. But it is also your warmness that makes us love seeing you each year. Speaking of that warmness, you do so much for the communities you live in – whether it is for See THANK YOU pg. 18 Thank you for coming, safe travels, see you next season 2025 Winter Texan Fiesta. Photo by William Brunson By Herb Moering Hundreds of Winter Texans turned out Friday under picture perfect weather for the 49th annual Tourist Day in Nuevo Progreso. The event to say “thanks” to all those who come to shop, eat, purchase medicines and have dental work done in Progreso began with a brief welcome in the Bridge Authority Building from Samuel Robert Sparks Jr., the private bridge co-owner, to various area government officials and spouses and special friends. See PROGRESO pg. 20 Tourists enjoy refreshments and entertainment in Progreso Members of both delegations and honored guests took a moment out to exchange greetings and have some photos taken to commemorate the 49th Annual Tourist Day 2025. Photo by Herb Moering This season has, once again, been a blast. We have a lot of fun when we are out and about with you, sharing your news, and hearing your stories. I had the opportunity to hear many stories this year. What you see in the paper is sometimes just a bit of what is shared. I keep learning how eager you are to help others, to be there for your friends, and to teach others how to do the same. It’s amazing to see the strength you have and watch you use your experiences to help the community you live in through service, teaching, and more. We always enjoy sharing the stories of community service you do for your park, and for organizations, schools, and churches in your community. We get to see how thankful and how full of gratitude everyone is for your service – whether it be through volunteer work, making something, donating food, or any of the other multitude of ways you find to fulfill the need. We, and so many IN PRINT, ONLINE ON ANY DEVICE YOU WILL WANT TO TAKE IT WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO 956.580.7800 1217 N CONWAY, MISSION Follow us on Facebook.com/ wintertexantimes www.WinterTexanTimes.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES a long way as well and doesn’t cost a thing. --------- I was emotionally overwhelmed by a post I saw this past week that showed just why the Rio Grande Valley is so very special. Not only do people love coming to the Valley because of its weather, but a huge part is because of its people. In this case, it was because of the love of our Wintertainers™. Our Wintertainers™ have a true love, not only for what they do, but also for the people they serve and the people that love them. A gentleman shared his recent experience with some of those Wintertainers™. He shared how his mother had been sick and how these entertainers ask about her and know when she is absent. He also shared the service they were giving him and his mother – by an impromptu haircut, and best of all, a personal concert. This, my friends, is why our Winter Texans love the Valley so much. We get to know each other. We become friends. We recognize when others are missing, when they are hurting, when they need something. We love and care for each other. I hope that while you are here, you get a chance to find a special friend, find an entertainer you love, find some great friends that you will look forward to seeing year after year. I know we have our own connections with some of you and some of our Wintertainers™. It’s a highlight to our year when we see certain people return, and sad when we find out someone can’t return. So go out and have fun. Make some friends. Learn why we love the Valley and why the Winter Texans call it their second home. RAMBLINGS From pg. 1 VILLAGE From pg. 2 be live entertainment provided by local schools and organizations. A full calendar of events and entertainment can be found on their website. Santa will be available for pictures every Friday and Saturday night. Patrons can also enjoy delicious treats from a variety of food vendors, as well as performances by many local dance groups, choirs, school groups and more, throughout the nearly six-week long event. And direct from the North Pole is Fritter the Elf who will be returning to the Holiday Village. From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, join in the fun of finding Fritter and enter to win daily and weekly prizes from H-E-B and the Children’s Museum. Please know there are many elves in the Holiday Village, but there is only one Fritter, and he is dressed in a Children’s Museum T-shirt. All you have to do is find Fritter, take a picture in front of the cottage where he is hiding, and post on your Facebook or Instagram and tag Holiday Village. Full rules can be found online. There is also an opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt. You can find a Scavenger Hunt checklist online and take it with you when you visit the Village. You can race your friends or family or take your time finding all 40 items on the list. Regular Village hours are Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. This family-friendly attraction is funded by grants and sponsors and organized entirely by volunteers. You can visit their home page at https://holidayvillagebrownsville. com/ for all the details. Go stroll through the Holiday Village and be magically transported to the North Pole. Admission is free and the memories are priceless.
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