Texas Border Business
Earlier today, McAllen city officials announced that returning to serve as celebrity host for the rebroadcast of the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, is popular television personality, producer, actor and three-time MHP veteran Mario Lopez, on both general market and the top 31 U.S. Latino markets throughout the country. Lopez will also be joined on the broadcast by Linda Tovar of H-E-B.
“So much fun, it’s become a bit of a tradition now, so please join me at the Official South Pole of Texas to give Santa a Texas-size welcome in his warm weather home away from home in beautiful McAllen,” said Lopez. “I’m going to be see you and Santa there this December 3. Looking forward to it.”
Lopez has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is best known for his portrayal of A.C. Slater on “Saved By The Bell” and is well known for hosting the syndicated entertainment news magazine show “Extra,” “America’s Best Dance Crew” for MTV, the American version of “The X Factor,” “The Ellen Show,” and “On with Mario Lopez,” a four-hour music program featuring a unique blend of entertainment stories and celebrity interviews. Most recently, Mario hosted the live stream for the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and appeared in the McAllen Holiday Parade in 2014, as well as hosting both the virtual and in-person presentations of the parade in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Joining McAllen Holiday Parade officials was Tovar, Senior Manager for Public Affairs for H-E-B, highlighting the grocery chain’s longstanding partnership with the famed holiday event, stating “Here Texas Holidays are Better.” Aside from the return of everyone’s favorite balloon, H-E-Buddy, as well as their 10-foot tall floating ornament balloons and their giant illuminated float featuring Texas-sized H-E-B products, H-E-B will be hosting a tamale masa spreading contest; nightly give-aways, samplings of their Mi Tienda tamales, buñuelos and other distinct products at Christmas in the Park, the free, family-friend festival that is held the night before the parade.
Organizers also invited the community to be a part of this year’s festivities in various ways, including, a call for entries for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade, volunteer banner carriers and balloon handlers and high school bands throughout the region to perform in the holiday tradition.
“This year, even more people across the county will be able enjoy the McAllen Holiday Parade at home as we continue to grow our re-broadcast during Christmas time across top Latino markets in the United States,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “We are proud to share McAllen’s holiday culture and traditions with the world and the spirit of giving that makes it all possible.”
The community is invited to sign up to be one of hundreds of balloon handlers throughout the 1.5-mile parade route. Additionally, volunteers can light up the parade by holding one of over 100 lighted banners that walk just in front of the floats, balloons or bands.
Balloon handler volunteers must be 18 years or over, while banner carriers must be 16 years or over. All volunteers must go through a background check and will receive gloves, t-shirt and snacks. All volunteers are required to have a volunteer badge a scheduled event. Learn more at www.volunteersotx.org or send questions or to sign up at pardvolunteers@mcallen.net.
A call out to all high school bands in the region to participate in the McAllen Holiday Parade was announced, with participating bands receiving a $1,000 scholarship to assist with expenses related to appearing in the parade, or just any other band expenses. Contact the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department to apply to participate in the parade.
Organizers are also reminding anyone throughout the Rio Grande Valley that the call for entries for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade is opens still and the deadline to enter is fast approaching. Entries must be on a shoebox, and can include any type of arts & crafts, toys, holiday decorations, lights or countless elements to celebrate “South Pole & Beyond,” the theme of both the shoebox and the big parade. The winning shoebox float entry will be made into an actual float for the 2023 edition of the McAllen Holiday Parade. Entries are due no later than Wednesday, November 23, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. to the City of McAllen Office of Communications, McAllen City Hall, 1300 W. Houston Ave., 3rd Floor. For more information, visit www.mcallenholidayparade.com.
The parade will step off at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2001 N. Bicentennial Blvd. Ticket prices start at $10, plus service fees for stadium or Vuelta Zone seating for the parade and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or at the McAllen Performing Arts Center Box Office, 801Convention Center Blvd. There is also plenty of free seating along the parade route, on a first come basis.
For the past four years, the McAllen Holiday Parade has been named the Best Parade in the World, and this year, earned the Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and Events Organization. The McAllen Holiday Parade has also been named the Best Parade in Texas for the past five years by international and state event industry organizations.
The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group and proudly sponsored by Reliant, McAllen International Airport and South Padre Island CVB. Other sponsors for the 2022 presentation of the McAllen Holiday Parade include Budweiser, McAllen I.S.D.; McAllen International Bridge System; McAllen Public Utility; Matt’s Building Materials; Metro McAllen; University of Texas-RGV; Peña Eye Institute; Linebarger Attorneys at Law; McAllen Chamber of Commerce/MXLAN; PepsiCo.; McAllen Public Works; Tres Lagos Master Planned Community; AEP Texas; McAllen Economic Development Corp.; Lacks; Doña Lula; Hermes; Cigna; Taco Palenque; Carollo Engineers; South Texas College; KSA Engineers; Halff Associates; Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc.; S&B Infrastructure; AMR; Cigna; IBC; South Texas Vo-Tech; McDonald’s; JP Morgan Chase; Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley; PNC Bank; Rise & Shine with Manny; General Mills; O’Reilly Auto Parts; Windfield Communities, Explore McAllen, Plains Capital Bank, Valley Aids Council.
