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Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 09:22
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you have a pleasant one with your family and friends. As we all know, especially here in Texas, our friends become family, especially during the holidays.
For us, our family is spread in many directions, so it’s often that we celebrate Thanksgiving with our close friends. We truly are truly thankful for them, and our families, when we can get together. The holidays just make those moments all the merrier.
When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the past and getting together with my grandparents on the farm. Having fresh veggies and fruit, my aunt’s Italian crème cake, and other goodies. My go to was always my grandfather’s wonderful citrus salad. I usually try to have a citrus salad for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I fix my salad just a little different nowadays and I take shortcuts in sectioning the citrus as well. My grandfather would spend all morning working on his – peeling the fruit and then getting the membrane off the citrus. Today, I cut the tops and bottoms off the citrus, round the sides, and then use a small sharp knife to pull out the citrus. I try to waste as little of the fruit as possible.
Read more: November 26, 2025 - Rina's Ramblings
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Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 09:00
Celebrate the season’s most magical holiday light experience. Experience the magic of the holidays like never before – where twinkling lights, towering lanterns, and joyful moments come together to celebrate the season. Step into McAllen’s most dazzling tradition and make memories that shine all winter long.
The South Pole Illuminated Festival, presented by H-E-B Helping Here, brings the community together to celebrate the joy of Christmas with spectacular lights, festive entertainment, and exciting new attractions for 2025.
The festival’s signature Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday will once again mark the start of the holiday season in McAllen, officially transforming the city into the South Pole of Texas.
Read more: Celebrate the Magic of the Season at the South Pole Illuminated Festival
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Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 08:44
AUSTIN, Texas — With winter holidays on the horizon, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) announces family-friendly events hosted at historic sites statewide. The holiday events will meld modern traditions with historical customs.
The Texas Historical Commission celebrates the rich tapestry of Texas history by adding a nostalgic touch to winter festivities.
Read more: Statewide historic sites ring in holidays with Texas flair
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Published: Wednesday, 26 November 2025 08:42
AUSTIN, Texas—With holiday shopping in full swing, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) has launched its online store TexasHistoryGifts.com featuring unique offerings available for purchase online and at historic sites across the state.
The highlight of the season is “A Culinary Journey Through Texas History: A State Historic Sites Cookbook.” Edited by Hal Simon, the THC’s chief interpretive specialist, the cookbook takes professional and home chefs alike on a culinary journey that will inspire them to cook with passion, experiment with flavor, and taste the history of Texas.
Read more: Give a piece of historic Texas this holiday season
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Published: Friday, 21 November 2025 14:00
The beautifully decorated cottages that adorn Dean Porter Park in Brownsville every holiday season are back. They have been preparing the park for the last few weeks for the 16th season of its Holiday Village in Brownsville. The Holiday Village officially opens on November 24. Each year one or two new ones might be added, so you never know what you might see. Currently there are over 30 fully decorated cottages lining the sidewalks at the park.
For those that are new to the village, Holiday Village is a collection of miniature cottages, each one measuring about 10’ wide x 8’ deep and over 11’ tall. Each one is adorned inside and out with the most whimsical and adorable holiday trimmings. Best viewing is just after the sun sets so you can see the full displays all lit up – although the lights come on at 6 p.m. every evening.
Read more: Brownsville Holiday Village opening November 24
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Published: Wednesday, 19 November 2025 13:45
This past week many parks celebrated the Veterans in their parks. Tropic Winds and Sunshine RV were just two of the many parks that held events to honor Veterans for their service and sacrifice.
The Veterans Day Celebration at Tropic Winds was held to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of the veterans in the community. To start the ceremony, the Harlingen High School Color Guard presented the colors. Then each branch was called forward, and their respective armed forces medley was played as everyone sang along. As a token of appreciation, a coin was presented to each Veteran in attendance, as well as a complimentary meal following the ceremony. There were around 75 people in attendance, with around 26 Veterans honored. During the event, the spouses of the military members were also acknowledged.
Read more: Parks celebrate their Veterans
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Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 13:45
Volunteers across Texas are joining the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) to prepare for National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, December 13.
This year, 453 participating locations across the state will participate in the annual event, which honors every interred American veteran with a live balsam wreath. This December, 744 local WAA Sponsorship Groups have registered. They are working to raise the funds needed to place wreaths on the graves of the more than 574,600 service members resting in these participating cemeteries.
Read more: National Wreaths Across America events planned
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Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 13:42
The City of Port Isabel will kick off the 2025 holiday season with their 17th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Hometown Christmas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 6. The community celebration will be held in the heart of coastal Port Isabel.
Mayor Cantu Jr. and the Port Isabel City Commissioners invite the community to attend and participate in a Port Isabel holiday tradition. Hometown Holiday Parade starts at 6 p.m. and the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree in Beulah Lee Park starts at 7 p.m. The tree lighting will feature performances, vendors, Santa Claus and a bigger and brighter Christmas tree.
Read more: Port Isabel announces tree lighting, holiday parade
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Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:30
We talk about this every year – how the food pantries kick up their game during the holidays. They put out their need to help their communities for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The food pantries try to give the families they support a traditional meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Martin Valley Ranch parks in Penitas are known to support the Penitas Food Pantry throughout the year, and especially during the holidays. In previous years, the community parks have not only helped keep the pantry stocked, but they also helped build their new building and help with stockings for the children for Christmas.
This year has been a little different because the need is so big. One of the gentlemen that helps at the pantry put a call out less than two weeks ago for help. Here is a little bit of Jeff Reardon’s original post on the Enchanted Valley Ranch Facebook Page:
Read more: Enchanted Valley Ranch resident thanks his Turkey Angels
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Published: Monday, 17 November 2025 14:26
When talking about Brownsville museums, you can’t talk about just one. Brownsville has the Heritage Museum, Stillman House Museum, the Historic Brownsville Museum, Costumes of the Americas Museum, and the Laureles Ranch House Museum.
The Brownsville Historical Association has a wonderful fold out map of the City of Brownsville. Through visiting areas on the map, you will learn its history and the importance of many buildings in the city. You can discover a lot of Brownsville’s history, heritage and culture that the Brownsville Historical Association is preserving in downtown Brownsville.
Read more: Brownsville is rich with history
