McALLEN – It’s bigger and it’s better. The City of McAllen held a news conference Oct. 26 to announce changes to the McAllen Holiday Parade presented by La Plaza Mall. The parade is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2015. This year’s theme will be “Movies on Parade.” The parade route will now begin at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium and head south on Bicentennial Blvd. to Business 83.
“What that does is enable us to have a big name performer at the stadium before the parade starts,” said Mayor Jim Darling. “We will announce that concert and information about the tickets sometime in November.”
Last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 200,000 people and this year City officials plan to build on that momentum.
“We learned a lot of things, I’m happy to report that the problems we dealt with had to do with the enormous success of the event,” said Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “This is very possibly the biggest one-day attendance to any event in the history of this region.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Hilda Escochea Salinas invited residents to participate in the new Giant Christmas card contest.
“The Christmas cards will actually be showcased at our Christmas in the Park on Dec. 4 and 5 so attendees can use them to take pictures of themselves and share that on social media,” she said.
For more information regarding the contest, please visit mcallenholidayparade.com.This year, the parade will coincide with the two-day Christmas in the Park celebration, which includes Tamale Fest and Candlelight Posada.
“So after you’re finished watching the phenomenal parade you can come to the park, eat tamales, pan dulce and enjoy the artisans and Santa Clause,” said Commissioner Veronica Whitacre. “There will be so much taking place.”
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