Texas Border Business
For the past six years, the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B, has delighted audiences in McAllen and television viewers throughout the United States and Mexico with its creative and dazzling magical floats, soaring and captivating balloons, elite marching bands, an international roster of celebrities, stars and athletes who appear in the parade and new exciting additions each year that have not only helped the parade earn its Best Parade in the World, Best Parade in Texas and Best Event in Texas distinctions, but also, set the event apart from every other parade in Texas.
“One of the elements that really separates the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B, from other parades in the region is the participation of celebrities,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “When we announced the virtual 2020 McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B, the City of McAllen reassured our community that our Christmas traditions would continue safely, by bringing the holiday magic to our South Texas families with a first-class interactive experience for millions of viewers on broadcast television and digital platforms throughout the region, Texas and the country. This year, we will include celebrity hosts which will allow everyone at home an up-close and personal look at them, as they will be coming into their homes on the television broadcast.”
Yajaira Flores, director of the McAllen Convention Center Facilities, announced this year’s celebrity hosts will include popular television personality, producer, actor, and best-selling author Mario Lopez and McAllen’s very own Lorena Abreu, professional parkour athlete, actress, and stuntwoman, known as the Atomic Ant” professional tagger throughout the first season of J.J. Watt’s “Ultimate Tag!” on FOX.
“We are so proud to have these amazing celebrities, which such a special connection to not only the McAllen Holiday Parade but to McAllen, as well, to help make our parade that much more special and exciting as it is broadcast on multiple television channels and streaming sites.”
“The McAllen Holiday Parade is a McAllen tradition I’m proud to share with the world- as the local host of the 2020 McAllen Holiday Parade,” said Abreu. “I can’t wait to show the world how we celebrate the holidays- with original floats, South Texas music, and the VUELTA- the McAllen Holiday Parade’s famous spinning giant character balloons. And just as the McAllen Holiday Parade is personally meaningful to me, so are the Frontline Heroes of 2020.”
Abreu talked about her father who serves the community as a pulmonologist at a local area hospital and is asking the community to nominate their frontline heroes via the McAllen Holiday Parade website, to be selected as this year’s grand marshals of the parade.
According to Carina Jimenez of the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department, there is still time for the community to nominate essential workers from throughout the Rio Grande Valley to become this year’s parade grand marshals. Just head to www.mcallenholidayparade.com before midnight on Monday, November 30, and nominate those heroes. “Frontline Heroes don’t just come from our community; they ARE our community,” stressed Jimenez.
Organizers also want to remind the community that they can still play the McAllen Holiday Parade Sweepstakes, presented by H-E-B, today to win lots of prizes. Just text the word “SouthPole” to the number 474747 for a chance to win. No purchase necessary.
Prizes will be given away each Friday leading up to the parade and then watch the parade live on television and streaming outlets to win grand prizes, which include the PS5, Xbox Series X, $1,000 Holiday Cash, Yeezy’s, iPhone 12 and more!
The McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B, will air live on Saturday, December 5, 2020, starting at 6:00 p.m. Viewers can watch the parade on a number of television channels, including: Telemundo 40; KVEO NBC 23; UniMas; Azteca Valle 5.2; KAZH-LP McAllen 57.1(antenna channel only); and on Spectrum Cable MCN 1300.
Additionally, the parade will be streamed live to multiple outlets, including: www.mcallen.net/mcnlive; the City of McAllen 3-1-1 mobile app; Valleymorningstar.com; Brownsvilleherald.com; Themonitor.com; Mcallenholidayparade.com; and Valleycentral.com. Viewers can also catch the parade on multiple Facebook pages, including: Telemundo 40; KVEO@kveotv23; CBS 4 News Rio Grande Valley; KRGV 5; Azteca Valley; Entravision Univision 48; Valley Morning Star; Brownsville Herald; The Monitor; McAllen Holiday Parade; City of McAllen; McAllen Convention Center; and McAllen Performing Arts Center.
The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden & Fiesta Dealerships, Budweiser, Reliant and Driscoll Health System/Driscoll Health Plan. Other sponsors include: McAllen Public Utility; McAllen International Bridge System; McAllen Recycling; Metro McAllen; McAllen International Airport; McAllen Chamber of Commerce; Peña Eye Institute; McAllen Economic Development Corp.; Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson; AEP Texas; PepsiCo.; Tres Lagos; Lacks; University of Texas-RGV; McAllen I.S.D.; Hermes; Laredo Taco Company/Stripes; Taco Palenque Group; South Texas College; Plains Capital Bank; KSA Engineers; Carollo Engineers; S&B Infrastructure; MedCare EMS; BBVA; O’Reilly’s Auto Parts; Matt’s Building Materials; Martinez Fine Furniture; Halff Associates; Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc; and Juanita’s Foods.
Media partners for the event include: CBS-Ch. 4/KVEO-Local 23 & Nexstar Digital; KRGV-Ch.5 and Azteca Valle; Entravision TV and radio stations; R Communications radio stations; IHeartRadio; Univision Radio; Más Music Radio; Advance News-Journal; El Periódico, U.S.A.; Revista Expresión; Welcome Home RGV; Social Life; and The Monitor.
