Elvis Festival, Little Graceland in Los Fresnos,
early January with Elvis impersonators and memorabilia, (956) 233-9740. Longest
Causeway Run and Fitness Walk, through Port Isabel and over the 2.6 mile
Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge to South Padre Island; (956) 943-2262. Texas
Citrus Fiesta, Mission, late January and early February for the coronation
of Queen Citrianna, the Product Costume Show, a carnival, a barbecue, the Parade
of Oranges and more. (956) 585-9724. McAllen International
Travel Show, early January, McAllen Civic Center. (956) 682- 2871. Winter
Texan Expos, late January, at the McAllen Civic Center, Pharr International
Convention Center, and Valley Race Park in Harlingen, 2601 S. Ed Carey. Charro Days, Brownsville / Matamoros,
International sister cities throw a party with parades, mariachi bands, folkloric
dancing and Mexican cuisine. Don't miss the famous "grito" (cry) that marks the
opening of the festivities. (956) 542-4245. PRCA Rodeo,
first weekend in February, Los Fresnos, with a pro rodeo, food, carnival, arts
and crats, and stock show. (956) 233-4488. Fiesta Edinburg,
in late February with a parade, rodeo, live music and exhibits in celebration
of the city's founding. (956) 383- 4974. Fine Arts Show
& Sale, in early February, at the Pharr International Convention Center.
(956) 787-1481. RGV Music Festival, mid-February,
at the Mercedes Livestock Show, features dozens of bands on five stages. Bring
your own lawn chairs and musical instruments and join along! (956) 373-0130 or
www.rgvmf.com. Brownsville
International Birding Festival, The Festival showcases the Rio Grande Valley's
birding opportunities and is Texas' only offshore birding festival. There are
a variety of field trips and seminars as well as an info share marketplace, youth
programs and evening activities. Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, (956)
546- 3721. Jalepeno 100, Harlingen. A century
cycling race for the avid and amateur with distances of 25, 50, 62.5, and 100
miles for all age brackets. (800) 531-7346. Ocelot Conservation
Festival, showcasing this endangered wild cat with programs and activities
for adults and children. (956) 748- 3607. Wild Game
Dinner, last weekend in February, Rio Grande City, with food, beverage,
and music provided by local organizations. (956) 487-0672. Borderfest, Hidalgo, four days featuring
over 100 bands and entertainers, a colorful parade, beauty pageant and folkloric
dancers as well as "crafts in action," mariachis and food. (956) 843-2734.
Starr County Youth Fair, early March, Rio Grande
City, with carnival, rodeo, and dancing. (956) 488-0122 Rio
Grande Valley Livestock Show, Mercedes, held in mid-March is one of the
Valley's most popular events with an average attendance of 160,000. Supports 4-H
and Future Farmers of America high school students as they show their wares. Rodeo,
carnival, nightly dances, games, contests and other family-oriented entertainment.
(956) 565-2456. Wings Over the Valley Air Fiesta,
with the Commemorative Air Force in Brownsville, fills the sky with historic planes.
(956) 541-8585 Taste of the Valley!, with displays and samples from local restaurants,
at the Pharr International Convention Center. (956) 787- 1481. Dia
del Tourista (Tourist Appreciation Day), mid-March, Nuevo Progreso, Mexico,
featuring street festival with food, entertainment, and great shopping. (956)
968-2102. Onion Festival,
Weslaco, If it can be done with an onion, it's here. Watch or enter onion-clipping
and onion recipe contests. Food booths, games, storytellers, bands and entertainment.
(956) 968-2102. Riofest, Harlingen, celebrates
culture with arts and crafts, art exhibits, art contests, food and music. Artists
of every age can show their work or just look and learn by taking lessons at no
extra charge. A make believe Western town for kids, complete with a jail, is a
favorite attraction. Dozens of musical acts, both amateur and professional, are
featured. Third week of April. (956) 425- 2705. Texas
Tropics Nature Festival, McAllen, early April, celebrates one of the richest
areas for birding on the continent. Field trips introduce festival-goers to the
natural and cultural delights of the Valley. Includes seminars, evening keynote
speakers, an all day photography workshop, a children's program and a full trade
show. (956) 682-2871 or (800) 250-2591. Sabor Tropical
International Latin Music Festival, at the Club at Cimarron in Mission,
promises an evening of the electrifying sounds of the tropics. (956) 585-2727 Dragonfly Days, at Weslaco's Valley Nature
Center. Lectures, programs and exhibits tell all you want to know about dragonflies,
with three days of nature events, field trips, and fellowship with other nature
lovers. (956) 969-2475. Blues on the Hill, a
summer series at McKelvey Park in Harlingen, features several blues bands. Lawn
chairs and beach towels welcome. (956) 427-8870 Hall
of Fame Big Bass Tournament & Cook- Off, Zapata. (956) 765-4871. Fourth of July Community Celebrations, often
with parades and fireworks, from South Padre Island to Roma. Port Mansfield Fishing
Tournament, mid-July. Fishing takes the spotlight in July and August with this
annual tournament. (956) 944- 2354. Gulf Shrimp Fiesta,
late July, Brownsville. (956) 546-3721 Texas
International Fishing Tournament, South Padre Island, first weekend in
August. This legendary contest draws anglers from all over the continent. Non-fishermen
can come down to the docks for the weigh-in at the end of each day. (956) 943-8438.
Ladies Kingfish Tournament, South Padre Island,
second weekend in August. This "women's only" tournament draws over 200 participants
yearly from all over the country. One of the largest all women's tournaments in
Texas, it has been around more than 25 years. (956) 761-4412. CineSol Film Festival, beginning in
mid- September, features premieres, screenings, and workshops with local and national
talent at venues Valleywide. www.cinesol.com Kayak Fishing Tournament, early October,
Zapata. (512) 879-3743. Texas Butterfly Festival,
Mission, mid- October.Workshops, garden tours, youth and adult seminars, nature
trade show. Mission Chamber, (956) 585-2727. Latin Jazz
Festival, Brownsville, features nightly dance concerts and a Sunday afternoon
street party with national headliners. (956) 831-9590. Roar by the Shore, Bikefest
on South Padre Island. (956) 668-7484. Classic Car Cruise-In,
Harlingen. (956) 423- 5440. Wild in Willacy and Boot
Fest, Raymondville, is a nature and heritage festival with field trips,
ranch tours, cook-offs, and other family activities. (956) 689-3171 Day
of the Dead Celebration, last weekend in October, Port Isabel and Brownsville,
featuring traditional altar displays and haunted history tours. (956) 943-7602
and (956) 541-5560. Rio
Grande Valley Birding Festival, Harlingen, early November, attracts birders
from all over North America. Field trips, tours, seminars by several of the country's
top birding authorities, a children's program and a trade show which includes
art, optics, birding supplies and gear, crafts, clothing and more. (956) 423-5440
or (800) 531-7346. World's Championship Shrimp Cookoff,
Port Isabel, first Sunday in November, takes place on one-and-one-half city blocks.
Help judge world class shrimp dishes. Street dances, folk art festival, food booths.
(800) 527-6102. Veteran's Day Parade, Iwo Jima
Monument, Harlingen, starring cadets from the Marine Military Academy. (956) 421-9235. Candlelight Posada, Archer Park, McAllen,
first Friday and Saturday nights in December. Christmas entertainment with a South
Texas flair...food booths, luminarias, twinkling lights, caroling and a live Nativity
scene. (956) 682-2871. Christmas Boat Parade,
Port Isabel, early December. Don't miss this spectacular parade as boats make
their way from Port Isabel along the causeway and along the bay at South Padre
Island. (956) 943-2262. Night of Lights, Edinburg,
second Saturday in December, celebrates the season with mariachis, dancers, a
crafts fair and Las Posadas production. (956) 383-4974. Festival
of Lights, Hidalgo and Rio Grande City, homes and businesses decorate in
a theme. (956) 843-2734 and (956)487-9984. Christmas
Street Parade, South Padre Island, early December. Grab your favorite parking
spot on Padre Blvd. for the enchanting Christmas Street Parade. (956) 761-3000.
Christmas at the Basilica, in early December the
Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorale perform holiday favorites at the national
shrine in San Juan. (956) 393-2293.  Winter
Vegetable Show, Pharr, early December, showcases the Valley's many vegetables
shown by 4-H and Future Farmers of America members. (956) 787-1481. Zoo
Nights and Lights, a holiday event for the whole family at the Gladys Porter
Zoo, with more than 800 luminaria bags and 135 lighted figurines. (956) 546-7187.
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