Texas Border Business

Earlier today, Parade organizers for the Mcallen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, hit the beach at South Padre Island and unveiled exciting features of the international-award winning Christmas event, including unveiling the iconic float design for the SPI float, announced the return of the giant helium balloon, Ridley the Turtle and revealing the details of the South Padre Island Vuelta Zone along the parade route.

“This December 3rd, we are taking the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, to where it’s never been before when Santa returns to his winter home away from home,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “We are especially proud to be celebrating  Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year, South Padre Island-style in McAllen, the Official South Pole of Texas.”

Also echoing the spirit of the island was City of South Padre Island City Manager Randy Smith, who highlighted SPI’s own winter tradition: each year, endangered sea turtles return to the island to nest. Smith pointed out that Sea Turtles Inc., located on the island is a huge contributor to the safety and welfare of these sea turtles, especially the endangered Kemp’s Ridley.

“This year, we are thrilled to announce the return of South Padre Island’s featured giant helium balloon to the McAllen Holiday Parade- Ridley the Sea Turtle,” said Smith. 

Also unveiled was the design for this year’s SPI illuminated float, the South Padre Island Escape.  With a nod to Sandcastle days, Ridley the sea turtle, and the iconic SPI tri-color beach chairs & umbrellas, will not only be a part of the McAllen Holiday Parade, but will also premier the night before in the island’s own Christmas Downtown Street Parade.

Finally, to enhance the SPI Experience, a dedicated portion of the 1.5-mile parade route will be dedicated as the SPI Vuelta Zone, a high energy broadcast and celebration zone along the parade route that will feature the famed Vuelta. The McAllen Holiday Parade is the only place  in the world where giant helium balloons are twirled along the parade route to the “Vuelta!”chants of parade goers. The SPI Vuelta Zone will be modeled   after the famed NewYork Countdown Ball Drop stage and will feature a celebrity host, full SPI branding interactive activities and anelectric crowd experience. McAllen Holiday Parade goers will see supersized SPI Vuelta Zone street signs, giganticdigital screens, and a D.J. to pump up the crowd before and in between floats.  

The cost for the 1,000-seat section is $10, and every attendee will receive an SPI Vuelta Zone t-shirt and noise makers. Tickets can be purchased at www.mcallenholidayparade.com. 

The parade will step off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2001 N. Bicentennial Blvd. Buy VIP Stadium tickets for the parade at www.ticketmaster.com or at the McAllen Convention Center Box Office.   Ticket prices start at $10, plus service fees.  

The McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B , is the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas and uses 15 miles of rope light, which generates 1,875,000 lumens of light to properly illuminate the parade and 44,500 cubic feet of helium to keep those giant balloons afloat and is powered by 12,000 horsepower by over 50 trucks from Bert Ogden & Fiesta Dealerships.  

The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group and proudly sponsored by Reliant, McAllen International Airport and South Padre Island CVB. Other sponsors for the 2022 presentation of the McAllen Holiday Parade include Budweiser, McAllen I.S.D.; McAllen International Bridge System; McAllen Public Utility; Matt’s Building Materials; Metro McAllen; University of Texas-RGV; Peña Eye Institute; Linebarger Attorneys at Law; McAllen Chamber of Commerce/MXLAN; PepsiCo.; McAllen Public Works; Mike Rhodes – Tres Lagos; AEP Texas; McAllen Economic Development Corp.; Lacks; Doña Lula; Hermes; Cigna Health Care; Taco Palenque; Carollo Engineers; South Texas College; KSA Engineers; MedCare EMS; Halff Associates; Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc.; S&B Infrastructure; AMR; Cigna; IBC; AEP; South Texas Vo-Tech; McDonald’s; JP Morgan Chase; Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley; PND Bank; Rise & Shine with Manny; General Mills; O’Reilly Auto  Parts.

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