On the road with Jo

McAllen forging ahead

Hats off to McAllen! - one of the ed in the traditional way.After months most progressive cities in the Rio of inactivity, when most other venues Grande Valley. They seem to always have cancelled, McAllen decided to have something big and wonderful plan a “together again” festival mixplanned for us to enjoy...from the ing virtual and social distancing. You huge Christmas Parade to the upcom- can attend in person on the first night ing Fiesta de Palmas, formerly called for $40 which will allow eight people Palm Fest. Not only is McAllen pro- to actually experience the featured gressive, but they are also the largest live entertainment. That is just $5 per city in Hidalgo County and according person. Check their Facebook page tothelastcensus,McAllenisthe22nd for more information. most populous city in Texas. This “new normal” event has found

McAllen is really fairly young - it new ways to celebrate by combining began to grow after the railroad came virtual, social distancing, curbside in 2004. By 2011, McAllen was an and drive thru. All activities will be incorporated city. In 1940, the city outside on the grounds of the McAltook as its motto “The City of Palms”. len Convention Center located at 700 Actually, the native shrubs and trees Convention Boulevard. Hours for the were thorny, evergreen Rio Grande festival on November 7 are 5 p.m. – 9 ash, cedar elm and honey mesquite p.m. and on November 8 from 12 p.m. mixed with a lot of cactus. Early land – 8 p.m. promoters saw the possibility and If you have a hankering for festival brought palm trees in from all over food, just drive by and pick up your the world to transplant and transform festival type food at curb side. There our sub-tropical area into the tropical will be food trucks from all over the paradise of today. Rio Grande Valley offering delicious

That attitude of “making a silk local cuisine. The McAllen Rotary purse out of a sow’s ear” has carried Club will have “Beer Boxes” for $35. over from the early settlers to McAl- This will also be a “pick up” offer fealen’s leaders and citizens of today. If turing the best of international beers. one were to classify the personality of The beer box will also include $55 in McAllen - one might say that the city vouchers to business establishments is a dreamer - a BIG dreamer. They in McAllen plus a lottery. dream big and then they work dili- What a challenge it must have been gently to make that dream come true. to plan such an event! What a show of That is exactly what they have done as determination and cooperation from they “reimagined” the Fiesta de Pal- the citizens of McAllen to stage such mas. a festival. Thanks, McAllen for forg-

The reimagined Fiesta de Palmas ing ahead. You have set an example took some real dreaming and real for all of us. If Plan A doesn’t work imagination to organize a virtual fes- - then let’s go to Plan B. tival that had formerly been celebrat-

WEATHER

From pg. 1 has been really nice lately. It has been perfect for outdoors activities. I hope this becomes the norm for a while because I truly enjoy being outdoors without having to worry about sweating.

Again, as we travel back and forth betweenSanAntonioandMission,we are seeing our Winter visitors making there way down here. This time we saw two Winter Texan vehicles at the Live Oak County Rest Area. We saw another one at the Brooks County Rest Area. We enjoy seeing you coming down here.

We are seeing a lot of conversation about entertainment and activities happening in the Valley. As things are opening, more activities are being held and outdoor activities are becoming the ‘thing.’Thankfully, the weather has been cooperating so far.

WintertainersTM are ready to visit the Valley and put on their shows and we are looking forward to those shows.

It’s all going to be different this year, but be rest assured, there will be activities to go to, there will be some fun had. I know many of us are getting tired of being cooped up and any socializing helps the soul – even if we have to wear a mask and take other social distancing precautions.

We hope you all stay safe – whether traveling, socializing, or just enjoying the weather.

Carina