Entravision to air the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade on Christmas Day
Texas Border Business
Thanks to its partnership with Entravision, the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B, the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas, will help bring the McAllen Christmas spirit to a South Texas audience on Christmas Day. The McAllen Holiday Parade will air on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Univision Valle del Rio Grande in Corpus Christi, Laredo and throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Additionally, the international award-winning parade will also air that day on FOX South Texas at 9:00 p.m. in Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley.
“The McAllen Holiday Parade brought smiles to the over a quarter of a million people who sat in the stadium and lined the parade route to see the dazzling illuminated floats, larger-than-life character balloons, international celebrities and marching bands,” said City of McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “The young, and the young at heart, flocked to see McAllen celebrate the theme and it’s official designation by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as the ‘South Pole of Texas‘, brought to life in this year’s parade.”
Echoing that sentiment was Mark Garcia, General Manager of Entravision, parent company for the two networks located in McAllen, Texas, who said, “The McAllen Holiday Parade is truly something special that should be celebrated and experienced not only in the Rio Grande Valley, but also, by the entire South Texas community. In fact, Entravision considers the McAllen Holiday Parade something that will always have a home on Univision and FOX so that we can continue to celebrate this event with our viewers and their families.”
Anchoring the broadcast on Univision will be news reporters Perla Montemayor and Reyna Rodriguez, while FOX will broadcast with McAllen Cable Network reporters Roy Cantu and Mary Avila providing the color commentary. Additionally, celebrity guests making an appearance in this year’s parade included: Pedro Rojas, Univision News national correspondent; and Eddie Moreno, “El Flaco,” host of the nationally syndicated “El Flaco y Su Pandilla,” both appearing courtesy of Entravision.
The parade’s theme, “South Pole of Texas,” was expressed through one-of-a-kind animated, illuminated floats that included Santa Claus and his elves in various tropical activities, including fishing, golfing and farming, all of which can be enjoyed in McAllen’s Rio Grande Valley in South Texas year-round. Additionally, Mexican cultural icons such as calaveras, and piñatas, as well as, aliens, the Elf on a Shelf, a traditional Christmas nativity manger scene and even a local Hanukah dreidel were all part of the 55 lighted floats that traveled down the one and half mile parade route.
While the floats featured a wattage power of 153,000 watts from just under five miles of rope light, the 39 giant inflated fan-favorite character balloons included the Grinch, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, a T-Rex dinosaur and holiday balloons including ornaments, presents, and nutcracker, while the Macy’s Gold Star balloon made its McAllen Holiday Parade debut that evening, all utilizing 34,000 cubic feet of helium to keep them flying high throughout the parade.
However, the attraction for many of the parade attendees are the celebrity guests who are invited to be part of the parade, who join local elected officials on the various floats. International luminaries of TV and film, as well as former and current star athletes, make up the star-studded line-up that had an appeal for everyone in the community. This year’s McAllen Holiday Parade Grand Marshal was the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s president Dr. Guy Bailey, chosen for his efforts to increase educational opportunities at the school for students from the region, as well as northern Mexico.
This year’s star wattage for the McAllen Holiday Parade was dazzling as international acting and music sensation Mane de la Parra appeared not only in the parade, but also part of a holiday musical extravaganza that featured a 500 member choir of 4th and 5th grade students from the McAllen Independent School District, who all accompanied Mane as they sang traditional Spanish-language holiday songs.
The Rio Grande Valley is definitely Dallas Cowboys Country, so to add to that overwhelming appeal, current stand-outs linebacker Jaylon Smith, corner back Byron Jones and safety Kevon Frazor joined their legendary former team members, four-time Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl Champion and former wide receiver Tony Hill, as well as five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champion Charles Haley, and Pro-Bowl and Super Bowl Champion Ed “Too Tall” Jones who all appeared in the parade also. Rounding out the silver and blue enticement were four Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and the team mascot Rowdy.
Other celebrity guests included Matias Novoa, Isabella Castillo and Alejandro Lopez, stars from the top-rated series, “El Señor de los Cielos,” as well as co-hosts Jorge Bernal and Carolina Sandoval “la venenosa” from the entertainment show “Suelta la Sopa,” both airing on Telemundo, appeared in the parade; as well as Raul Brindis, host of his own morning show, “El Show de Raul Brindis,” which airs on Univision Radio; and local celebrity, super bantamweight boxing champion Brandon Figueroa.
“We are excited to yet again transmit through our Univision and FOX affiliates the biggest parade in South Texas, ” said Angel Covarrubias, South Texas News Director with Entravision. “We hope our audience enjoys the holidays and tunes in to celebrate the season with us and with this amazing presentation of an internationally recognized and world class parade. ”
Check local listings for those channels in each market to view the McAllen Holiday Parade on Wednesday, Dec. 25. The McAllen Holiday Parade has been named the Best Parade in the World and the Best Parade in Texas three years in a row by international and state event industry organizations.
