Turkey or Ticket
The McAllen Police Department alongside Mayor Villalobos and City Commissioners demonstrated goodwill during the holiday season through their Ticket or Turkey event. Rather than issuing traffic violation tickers, motorists received a Thanksgiving turkey donated by the McAllen Crime Stoppers Board and the City of McAllen.
Dia de los Muertos Airport Exhibit
Dia de los Muertos Exhibit Honors COVID-19 victims
The City of McAllen and the Mexican Consul hosted a Dia de Los Muertos ceremony at the McAllen International Airport. The remembrance event was dedicated to those who lost their battle to COVID-19.
South Texas Book Festival
The McAllen Public Library won 20 Texas Festivals and Events Association Awards for the South Texas Book Fair Festival (2021), including the prestigious Best in Texas Award.
Quinta Mazatlan
Quinta Mazatlan launched The Back Porch series, featuring authors, artists, poets and activists to share their knowledge, expertise, and talents. Jennifer Bristol, author for the Parking Lot Birding, hosted a book presentation and signing to kick off the event.
Residents and visitors of McAllen experienced a glimpse of how the world celebrates with lights across various continents through ILLUMINA Fest 2021. The five-night event featured an enchantment of magical light displays set along the outdoor illuminated path through Quinta Mazatlan. Over 2,000 luminarias and unique light installations honored Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Lunar, New Year, Diwali, Native American Traditions, and Nature at Night. To help spread the holiday spirit, patrons were encouraged to dress in lights!
Quinta Mazatlan held their 2nd annual "Sticks & Bones" trail with a Halloween Day Party in the Park event. Featuring over 30 art skeleton installations on the quarter-mile trail, live music, food, and crafts, there was fun for all ages.
Through Quinta Mazatlan's summer series, families and children added science and nature to their summer fun. This summer series featured various events like Flashlight Nights, Yoga Evenings, Family Fun Nights, Nature Nuggets, and weekly Discovery Camps.
Hospital heroes were seen walking Quinta Mazatlan’s newest Superhero trail. The Superhero trail paid a special tribute to well-known comic and movie superheroes along with real-life COVID-19 superheroes of today.
It’s Time Texas
The City of McAllen won the It’s Time Texas Community Challenge, a statewide community health competition for the fourth time in a row. The city also maintained its top spot as lead point-getter for the third year in a row.
Black History Month Bethel Gardens
The historic Bethel Garden, a sacred part of American history in the Rio Grande Valley, underwent an artistic transformation. Located in the heart of McAllen, the Bethel Gardens showcase art murals by local artists, native plants, and historic storytelling signs of the location’s history.
Keep McAllen Beautiful
Keep McAllen Beautiful celebrated its 10th anniversary of the Arbor Day Celebration with a virtual event. The event’s 5K and 10K run and 225-mile and 100-kilometer bike tours were held virtually, allowing participants to set their own date, place, and time to fulfill the miles.
Fiesta de Palmas Gives Back
The Fiesta del Palmas returned to McAllen for the 15th year with some changes and additions due to the COVID pandemic. The three-day event was held indoors and outdoors and featured a cashless payment for food and activities. This year the event welcomed two events with 100% of proceeds donated to the community. The “Fiesta Fun Pumpkin Patch” offered attendees opportunities to take photos, purchase a pumpkin and contribute to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition, the McAllen Rotary celebrated this year with Octubrefest, a Mexica-spin on the traditional German beer drinking and food festival that took place inside Fiesta de Palmas.
Kid's Maker Market
