Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – In celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) hosted it’s 24th Tri-City Red Ribbon Parade on Saturday, October 18, 2025, in collaboration with the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo.
The parade kicked off PSJA ISD’s weeklong Red Ribbon Week activities, an annual national campaign held each October designed to bring communities together, educate youth, and promote drug-free lifestyle choices.
This year’s parade, hosted in Pharr, TX celebrated the 2025 National Red Ribbon Week theme: “Life Is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free.” Through decorative floats, students from across PSJA ISD showcased their commitment to living drug-free and making positive choices.
Organized in partnership with the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo, as well as local law enforcement agencies and community organizations, the parade featured school marching bands, cheer squads, dance teams, and student organizations all working together to send a message about wellness and prevention.
“Every year we have this parade to emphasize the message that PSJA is drug-free,” said PSJA ISD Police Chief Rolando Garcia. “We’re incredibly proud of every float here today sharing powerful messages with our community. We also would like to thank our three municipalities for their continued partnership and support.”
At the end of the parade route, representatives from the three cities judged the creativity and message behind each float to select the winners of the 2025 PSJA Red Ribbon Parade Float Contest. In addition, the PSJA ISD Counseling & Guidance Department also held a Red Ribbon Poster Contest, where one student from each campus was selected to showcase their creativity by designing an anti-drug message on a poster. The top three district winners were invited to join their campus on their parade float.
Congratulations to the following PSJA ISD Campuses and Poster Contest Winners:
| Parade Float Elementary Winners: 1st – Carmen Anaya Elementary |
| 2nd – Graciela Garcia Elementary |
| 3rd – Vida N. Clover Elementary |
| Parade Float Secondary Winners: 1st – LBJ Middle School |
| 2nd – Austin Middle School |
| 3rd – Raul Yzaguirre Middle School |
| Poster Contest Winners: Daniel Ramirez Elementary – Diego Gutierrez, 4th Grade |
| LBJ Middle School – Antonio Ortiz, 7th Grade |
| PSJA Collegiate School of Health Professions – Camila Granado, 9th Grade |
Thanks to a committee of district leaders, local law enforcement, and tri-city partners, the PSJA Community came together to celebrate saying no to drugs and emphasize the importance of making the right choices event at a young age.
In addition to the parade, PSJA ISD will host its 3rd Annual PSJA Trunk or Treat on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the PSJA Stadium North Parking Lot, giving families and community members a safe space to collect Halloween candy while continuing to raise awareness about living drug-free.
PSJA ISD thanks the City of Pharr for hosting this year’s parade, and to all schools, city partners, and community organizations whose continued support makes this event possible. Stay tuned for next year’s parade taking place in San Juan.
