Holiday Village on Display at Brownsville’s Dean Porter Park

by Tony Vindell/LFN

Many cities is the Lone Star State get into the holiday spirit hosting their own events that light the people’s spirits.

And the Rio Grande Valley has its share of that as most cities have their own events, tree lighting ceremonies and other happenings this time of year.

McAllen’s annual holiday parade, held Dec. 1, has garnered the reputation of being one of the state’s largest illuminated parades.

The City of Pharr as its Christmas Posada, also held Saturday.

Hidalgo’s Festival of Lights, which makes it way throughout the small city, lasts the whole month of December.

And in Brownsville there is Holiday Village, or a collection of cottages with Christmas motifs going on until Jan. 1 at Dean Porter Park.

The free of charge event features food vendors offering ricos elotes, spiro papas, hamburgers, tacos, funnel cakes and other meals.

The park turned-holiday village is quite a sight.

Families, couples, retirees and residents from the neighboring Mexican border city of Matamoros have been stopping by to look and admire the set of villages built for this occasion.

Each building has a sponsor such as banks, restaurants, and public entities and from local residents with a long history in the city.

Mabele Hernandez, who has relatives in both cities, said they really enjoyed walking along the village.

“This is neat,” she said. “It provides an alternative for any day of the week.”

Ricardo Selva said this year’s Holiday Village has more cottages than last year’s.

He said he and his wife like to bring the family to enjoy the display.

Vendor Tony Medrano said they go all over the state making and selling spiro fried potatoes.

“We go to many medium and small towns,” he said. “We go to the Texas Onion Fest (in Weslaco).”