Things to Do in the RGV

Looking for things to do in the Rio Grande Valley — events this week in McAllen, Brownsville, Harlingen, Edinburg and across the RGV? This is a curated guide to the Valley’s recurring markets and series, its annual festivals, and the major venues — plus the latest event news below. From Charro Days and BorderFest to weekend market days and concerts at Payne Arena and Bert Ogden Arena.

GuideThings to Do in the Rio Grande Valley

73 ways to enjoy the Valley — what’s coming up, recurring markets & series, annual festivals by month, and the major venues, each linked to its official source. A curated, fact-checked guide.

Last updated: October 26, 2026

Coming up

Festivals with a confirmed date in the next 90 days, soonest first. Check the organizer’s page before you go.

• November 6–7 · Brownsville Latin Music Festival (Brownsville)The oldest Latin-jazz event in Texas, launched by Tito Puente (since 1997)
• November 7 · Port Isabel Shrimp Cook-Off & Seafood Festival (Port Isabel)Gulf-shrimp cook-off & seafood festival with live music & vendors
• November 7 · Pan de Campo Cook-Off (Edinburg)Pan de campo cook-off at Promenade Park Amphitheater (49th year)
• November 7 · Edinburg Veterans Day Parade (Edinburg)Veterans Day parade along Closner Blvd. (20th year)
• November 7–10 · Texas Butterfly Festival (Mission)Guided field trips at peak butterfly season at the National Butterfly Center
• November 11–15 · RGV Birding Festival (Harlingen)Major birding festival — field trips, guides & seminars (30+ years)
• November 19–21 · Edinburg UFO Festival (Edinburg)Speakers, stories & vendors at Promenade Park Amphitheater, inspired by the 1966 Edinburg UFO sighting (15th year)
• December 4 · Edinburg Night of Lights Parade (Edinburg)Night of Lights holiday parade along Closner Blvd.
• December 5 · McAllen Holiday Parade (McAllen)The largest illuminated holiday parade in Texas
• December 5 · Brownsville Christmas Parade (Brownsville)Downtown Brownsville Christmas parade (74th year)

Recurring markets & series

• Downtown Art Walk (McAllen) — 1st Friday monthly (Sep–May)Self-guided downtown art & live-music walk on Main St
• Grow’n Growers Farmers Market (McAllen) — Saturdays (seasonal)Certified local-grower farmers market at Firemen’s Park
• McAllen Farmers Market (McAllen) — Saturdays, 10am–1pmTDA-certified market at the McAllen Public Library — produce, eggs, honey & crafts
• First Friday Downtown (Brownsville) — 1st Friday monthlyMusic, art & vendors at Market Square
• Brownsville Farmers’ Market (Brownsville) — Saturdays, 9am–12pmLocal produce, free fitness classes & live music at Linear Park
• CycloBia Brownsville (Brownsville) — Several editions a year (dates & days vary)Open-streets day: two miles of downtown car-free for biking, walking & skating
• Market Days on Jackson Street (Harlingen) — 1st Saturday monthly, 9am–3pmDowntown market: live music, food, antiques & crafts
• Harlingen Art Night (Harlingen) — Last Friday monthly, 7–10pmFree downtown art walk: exhibits, live music & artisan vendors in Downtown Harlingen & 'A' Street
• Downtown at Sundown (Harlingen) — 3rd Saturday monthly (Mar–Aug), 7–10pmEvening music & market night at Lozano Plaza and A Street
• Harlingen Farmers Market (Harlingen) — Saturdays, 3–4:30pm (mid-Oct–mid-June)Nonprofit market by City Hall — everything grown within 50 miles
• Alfresco Weslaco (Weslaco) — 3rd Thursday monthly (Aug–Feb), 6–9:30pmFree downtown street festival: 100+ vendors, music & food
• Edinburg Summer Concert Series (Edinburg) — Summer (free)Free city concerts at Promenade Park Amphitheater
• Heart of the Valley Farmers Market (Donna) — 3rd Saturday monthly, 2–5pmMonthly farmers market with local produce & artisanal goods at Donna Square Park
• The Farmers Market in Pharr (Pharr) — Saturdays, 9am–12pm (year-round)Farm-fresh produce, artisan jams, honey & baked goods
• Market Days (Rio Grande City) — 3rd Saturday monthly, 6–10pmFood, art & crafts at the historic Quiosco bandstand
• Market on Robertson (San Benito) — 2nd Saturday monthly, 6–10pmDowntown vendors, live music & food
• Mercedes Monthly Market (Mercedes) — MonthlyLive music, food & local shopping at The Crown Food Truck Park
• Port Isabel Antique & Flea Market (Port Isabel) — 1st Sunday monthly (except December), 9am–4pmAntique & flea market at Beulah Lee Park
• SPI Farmers Market (South Padre Island) — Sundays, 11am–1pmProduce, Gulf seafood & artisan goods at The Shores

Annual festivals

October

• Anime Fiesta (McAllen) — Early OctoberAnime, cosplay & pop-culture convention at the McAllen Convention Center
• Sandcastle Days (South Padre Island) — Early OctoberOne of the nation’s largest sandcastle-sculpting festivals (since 1987)
• Brownsville Beerfest (Brownsville) — Early October (no 2026 edition announced)Annual craft-beer festival with local breweries, live music & food (since 2013)
• Pharr Avocado Festival (Pharr) — Early OctoberDowntown festival marking the start of produce season — live music & food; 70% of U.S. avocados cross at Pharr
• Narciso Martínez Conjunto Festival (Los Fresnos) — Early OctoberThe RGV’s longest-running music festival; conjunto heritage
• Día de los Muertos Festival (McAllen) — Early OctoberDay of the Dead celebration & market at IMAS
• Jackson Street Classic Car Show (Harlingen) — OctoberDowntown classic-car show with 250+ vehicles
• PalmFest / Fiesta de Palmas (McAllen) — Mid-OctoberInternational folklife festival at the Convention Center
• Wild in Willacy Nature & Heritage Festival (Raymondville) — OctoberRanch tours, birding, cook-offs & live music — Willacy County’s eco-tourism festival (20+ years)
• South Texas International Book Festival (McAllen) — Late October (2026: Oct 24)Author talks, panels & a children’s trail at the McAllen Main Library (13th year)
• Los Muertos Bailan (Edinburg) — Late October (2026: Oct 24)Free Día de los Muertos festival at Promenade Park Amphitheater: community altar, folklórico & chalk art (12th year)

November

• Brownsville Latin Music Festival (Brownsville) — Early November (2026: Nov 6–7)The oldest Latin-jazz event in Texas, launched by Tito Puente (since 1997)
• Port Isabel Shrimp Cook-Off & Seafood Festival (Port Isabel) — Early November (2026: Nov 7)Gulf-shrimp cook-off & seafood festival with live music & vendors
• Pan de Campo Cook-Off (Edinburg) — Early November (2026: Nov 7)Pan de campo cook-off at Promenade Park Amphitheater (49th year)
• Edinburg Veterans Day Parade (Edinburg) — Early November (2026: Nov 7)Veterans Day parade along Closner Blvd. (20th year)
• Texas Butterfly Festival (Mission) — Early November (2026: Nov 7–10)Guided field trips at peak butterfly season at the National Butterfly Center
• RGV Birding Festival (Harlingen) — Mid-November (2026: Nov 11–15)Major birding festival — field trips, guides & seminars (30+ years)
• Edinburg UFO Festival (Edinburg) — Mid-November (2026: Nov 19–21)Speakers, stories & vendors at Promenade Park Amphitheater, inspired by the 1966 Edinburg UFO sighting (15th year)
• South Pole Illuminated Festival (McAllen) — Late November–DecemberTicketed holiday light festival at the McAllen Convention Center, with a 100-ft digital tree at Oval Park

December

• Edinburg Night of Lights Parade (Edinburg) — Early December (2026: Dec 4)Night of Lights holiday parade along Closner Blvd.
• Harlingen Downtown Christmas Parade (Harlingen) — First Friday of DecemberDowntown Christmas parade along Jackson Avenue
• McAllen Holiday Parade (McAllen) — First Saturday of December (2026: Dec 5)The largest illuminated holiday parade in Texas
• Brownsville Christmas Parade (Brownsville) — Early December (2026: Dec 5)Downtown Brownsville Christmas parade (74th year)
• Hidalgo Festival of Lights (Hidalgo) — DecemberOver 5 million lights on a 2.5-mile illuminated trail; drive through or explore the festival grounds

January

• Texas Citrus Fiesta (Mission) — Late JanuaryCitrus-heritage festival with the Parade of Oranges (since 1932)
• McAllen International CarFest (McAllen) — Late January–early FebruaryAuto show with 200+ exotic, muscle & classic cars, vendors & food trucks at the Convention Center

February

• SPI Kite Fest (South Padre Island) — Early FebruaryIndoor & outdoor kite-flying festival at the Convention Centre
• Winter Outdoor Wildlife Expo (South Padre Island) — Early FebruaryWinter nature expo: talks, exhibits & guided field trips at the SPI Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary
• UTRGV FESTIBA (Edinburg) — FebruaryUTRGV’s Festival of International Books & Arts — literacy, mariachi & arts events across the Valley (since 2006)
• Starr County Youth Fair (Rio Grande City) — February–early MarchCounty youth livestock fair, parade, carnival & music
• Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo (Los Fresnos) — FebruaryThree days of PRCA rodeo with concerts, carnival & cowboy cook-off
• Charro Days Fiesta (Brownsville) — Late FebruaryBinational fiesta: parades, street dances & charro culture (since 1937)

March

• MXLAN (McAllen) — Early MarchThree-day Latino music, art & culture festival at the Convention Center
• Hidalgo BorderFest (Hidalgo) — Mid-MarchSouth Texas’s largest music & culture festival (since 1976)
• RGV Livestock Show & Rodeo (Mercedes) — MarchLivestock show, PRCA rodeo, parade, carnival & concerts (since 1939)
• Fiesta Edinburg (Edinburg) — MarchFour-day live music, carnival & family festival
• Texas Onion Fest (Weslaco) — MarchFestival celebrating the Texas 1015 sweet onion

April

• South Texas Comic Con (McAllen) — AprilThe RGV’s largest pop-culture convention at the Convention Center
• Agave Fest (Brownsville) — Mid-AprilTequila & agave-spirits tasting festival with live music at Market Square
• RGV International Poetry Festival (McAllen) — Late April (2027: Apr 22–25)Binational poetry festival & Poetry Pachanga (since 2008)

June

• Summer Beach Fireworks (South Padre Island) — June–July weekly, plus holiday displaysRecurring summer fireworks shows over the Gulf

July

• Texas Cook’Em High Steaks (Edinburg) — Early JulyFourth-of-July BBQ cook-off with fireworks, music & 5K
• ResacaFest (San Benito) — Early July (around July 4)Music & food festival with fireworks over the Resaca
• Texas International Fishing Tournament (South Padre Island) — Late July–early AugustTexas’s largest saltwater fishing tournament — bay, offshore & tarpon divisions

August

• Ladies Kingfish Tournament (South Padre Island) — Mid-August (2027: Aug 13–15)Women’s bay & offshore fishing tournament at the SPI Convention Centre (45th year in 2026)

September

• South Texas International Film Festival (Edinburg) — Mid-SeptemberFilm screenings, panels & filmmaker events across Edinburg venues
• Fiesta de Piñatas (Harlingen) — SeptemberHispanic Heritage Month festival downtown: live music, food & piñatas

Major venues — official calendars

• Payne Arena (Hidalgo)Arena
• Bert Ogden Arena (Edinburg)Arena
• McAllen Performing Arts Center (McAllen)Performing arts
• Pharr Events Center (Pharr)Event center
• SPI Convention Centre (South Padre Island)Convention center
• Harlingen Convention Center (Harlingen)Convention center
• RGV Livestock Showgrounds (Mercedes)Fairgrounds & arena

TicketsBig Shows & Concerts

• Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)October 29, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)October 30, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Music of the Greats - Valley Symphony Orchestra (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)October 30, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)October 31, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)November 1, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Black Flag - The Box Theater (Payne Arena, Hidalgo)November 1, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Adelitas Way - Home School Valedictorian (Payne Arena, Hidalgo)November 5, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Rio Grande Valley Vipers vs. Austin Spurs (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)November 6, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• SIN BANDERA - ESCENAS US TOUR (Payne Arena, Hidalgo)November 6, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Una Noche De Leyendas - Conjunto Primavera, La Firma, Banda Machos,Cadetes de Linares (Bert Ogden Arena, Edinburg)November 7, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Adrián Uribe: 50 y Pico Tour (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)November 7, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Got the Moves (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)November 12, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Midland - Stages Tour (Payne Arena, Hidalgo)November 13, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Los Horoscopos De Durango - El Cierre de la Gira de Oro (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)November 13, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Banda Corona Del Rey (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)November 13, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster
• Jose Madero - USA Tour 2026 (McAllen Performing Arts Center, McAllen)November 14, 2026 · Tickets via Ticketmaster

EventsThis Week’s RGV Events

Community events across the Rio Grande Valley have drawn residents together in recent weeks. A jobs fair in Brownsville drew significant attendance, while a drainage fee fair informed the community about Brownsville's efforts to address flooding through a new utility program. The Next Generation X Fright or Fight boxing event took place in Brownsville, and McAllen unveiled new attractions and giveaways planned for its 2026 holiday parade. Meanwhile, South Texas High School is set to honor Rio Grande Valley veterans with a concert and community fair.

Entertainment options continue with Disney On Ice: Magic in the Stars at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg on October 29, October 30, October 31, and November 1, offering family-friendly performances throughout the extended weekend.

Summary generated with AI assistance from recent headlines and excerpts. Read the original sources for the full reporting. Report an error.

• Huge turnout for Brownsville jobs fairRio Grande Guardian · October 23, 2026
• Next Generation X Fright or Fight boxing event happening in BrownsvilleValleyCentral · October 22, 2026
• Drainage fee fair slated as Brownsville wants to reduce flooding via new utilityMyRGV.com · October 21, 2026
• McAllen Unveils New Attractions and Giveaways for 2026 Holiday ParadeTexas Border Business · October 21, 2026

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