Texas Border Business
The Texas Festivals and Events Association inducted Elva M. Cerda into their Hall of Honor at the state conference held at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 22, 2016. The association receives nominations for outstanding volunteer service from throughout the state.
Elva was honored for her work and dedication towards the creation and development of the annual PalmFest Folklife Celebration which made its debut October 2006 at the McAllen Civic Center grounds and completed 10 years in operation last year at the McAllen Convention Center. The festival maintains art, history and culture as their core mission but has added many fun family elements throughout their history thus providing an entertainment venue with something for everyone.
Upon accepting the recognition at the conference, Elva acknowledged that the volunteer team built for the festival was key to the success of the event. She noted that the event grew so significantly that the original board members asked the City of McAllen to include the event in their signature line up of family events in 2012. The City has managed and produced the event since that time, however Elva, along with several key founding board members have continued to serve in an advisory capacity which will help preserve the festival’s history and mission.
Elva, a McAllen native, has served in various organizations and enjoys taking on challenges for the betterment of the community. She is currently a founding board member of the McAllen Heritage Center museum of history and culture, on the board of the McAllen Housing Authority and is active in the Government affairs committee for the Rio Grande Valley Builder’s Association among others.
She is married to Pablo Cerda Jr. and they have one daughter, Christina A. Hoke and son in law, Bryan Hoke.
For more information about the upcoming 2016 festival which will take place October 1 and 2, 2016 at the McAllen Convention Center, please call 681-3880 or visit the website: palmfest.com, twitter or facebook.
Pictured at the conference L – R, Olga Gabriel, Elva M. Cerda and Martha V. Hinojosa former PalmFest Inc. board members.
