McAllen Holiday Parade organizers are encouraging the community to get the best seat in the house to watch the Best Parade in Texas and the World step off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, from DQ Fan Field at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium (2001 N. Bicentennial Blvd.), where aside from seeing over 50 floats, 35 giant balloons, and more than a dozen of the best high school marching bands up close and personal, attendees will get to see some exciting new elements before the parade begins.
Thanks the partnership with McAllen Independent School District, the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, takes a turn around the impressive stadium before heading out on Bicentennial Blvd. down the 1.5-mile parade route.
“Together with McAllen ISD, and all of our amazing sponsors, led by H-E-B and Bert Ogden Auto Group, the City of McAllen has created this tradition that defines our community, that residents and visitors alike share and celebrate together, as we continue to bring the McAllen Holiday Parade to not just to the streets of McAllen, but also, to the entire Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, Northern Mexico and beyond, as we continue to celebrate Christmas like nowhere else, right here, in the official South Pole of Texas,” McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E., said. “Right here, inside this amazing stadium is where you can see hundreds of McAllen ISD students kick off the Christmas celebration with a holiday musical extravaganza, complete with fireworks, right before the colorful, animated and illuminated floats, the larger-than-life character balloons and of course, hear the amazing sounds of the best high school marching bands in South Texas, especially the great high school bands of McHi, Memorial and Nikki Rowe, along with their cheerleaders, drill teams and mascots. All illuminated and excited, enjoying the thrill of being an integral part of such a magical tradition in our city.”
Debbie Crane Aliseda, president of the McAllen ISD School Board of Trustees, echoed the comments expressed by Rodriguez, also highlighting the relationship that exists between the two entities.
“Over the past decade, our collaboration has exemplified the power of unity, community, and shared values," she said. "The spirit of the holiday season has always been about coming together and spreading joy, and this collaboration embodies those ideals perfectly. As partners, we have woven the threads of togetherness and support into the very fabric of our city's traditions.”
Speaking of traditions, some old and new ones are going to be a part of this year’s 10th anniversary of the Christmas parade. The entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond is invited to once again submit a shoebox parade float entry for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade.
Open to children, adults, families, schools, non-profits and civic organizations, all creativity and imagination is invited to build a parade float entry – on a shoebox. Once again, the grand prize for the winning entry will be getting to see their float design being made into a life-size float for the following year’s presentation of the parade. MHP tickets and swag and a $50 VISA gift card are 2nd and 3rd place prizes. Businesses may enter, as well, but they are not eligible for the grand-prize, only tickets and a $100 VISA gift card. The deadline to enter is Monday, October 30, by 5 p.m. at McAllen City Hall, Office of Communications. The winning entries will be premiered in a televised production in stadium, on McAllen Cable Network (MCN) and on all streaming platforms on Saturday, December 2, right before the McAllen Holiday Parade steps off.
New to this year’s pre-parade festivities in stadium is the Vuelta Spin-Off Contest, a competition between The Christmas Snowman and Ridley the Sea Turtle, to see which balloon handlers can give their balloon the best vuelta, a unique parade experience that only happens at the McAllen Holiday Parade.
In order to enjoy all of the exciting festivities and the parade up close and personal, make sure to head to www.mcallenholidayparade.com to purchase stadium seating, starting at $8, with $18 and $33 tickets available, as well. Starting now, one lucky family can win stadium seating tickets by heading to the McAllen Holiday Parade social media pages for share and win opportunities. Additional seating along the parade route, including ticketed and free, on a first-come, first-serve basis, will also be available.
The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group and proudly sponsored by McAllen International Airport, South Padre Island CVB and Reliant.