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The Best Parade in Texas steps off from McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, December 3 at 6 PM, MHP organizers unveiled the last round of celebrities who will be making an appearance at this year’s presentation of McAllen’s annual Christmas parade. International celebrities who will be bringing their star power to the event this year include telenovela, film and musical star Ariadne Diaz and telenovela actor, model and singer David Zepeda. Other stars announced for the McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group, included a few of the balloons that will be featured in the production, as well as the list of high school marching bands that will also entertain everyone along the parade route. Parade organizers are still seeking volunteers and shoebox float entries and tickets are still available for the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas that will step off from McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 6 PM.
“Our first celebrity is as beautiful as she is talented and hard-working. She is also a true activist and animal lover,” said Dist. 5 Comm. Victor “Seby” Haddad. “Ariadne Diaz is a classically trained ballerina, has been in a telenovela, play, musical or movie every year since 2007 and has been actively involved in PETA Latin America, successfully getting cosmetic testing on animals banned in Mexico.”
Comm. Haddad continued with the next announcement, saying “Our next star is a triple threat and a genuine Mexican star. David Zepeda is a Mexican actor, model and singer. Since 2007, he has appeared in countless telenovelas, winning Best Lead Antagonist and Best Lead Male Actor in the TV y Novelas Awards. He has competed in countless international modeling competitions, various films including Jeepers Creepers 2, Desbudos and Two of a Kind (2008), has released two albums and, in his most daring artistic move yet, appeared in a couple of productions where he was completely nude. Much to the dismay of many of his female fans here in the Rio Grande Valley, he will be appropriately and completely dressed when he makes his debut at our parade here in December.”
One of the wonderful aspects of the parade are the amazing giant helium balloons that are carried by hundreds of volunteers during the parade. Fan favorites returning include of course H-E-Buddy and the H-E-B ornaments; as well as South Padre Island’s Ridley the Sea Turtle; McAllen Public Work’s Curby Recycling Bin; and the UTRGV Vaquero. Some new ones we’ll be seeing include a giant robot and spaceship, a nod to the McAllen Holiday Parade theme, while traditional holiday balloons will also be a part of the festive atmosphere.
And many, many more, all making that famous and unique Vuelta, that only happens here, at the McAllen Holiday Parade, the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas.
In the Rio Grande Valley, residents love their high school bands and they are as important to the parade fun as the floats and balloons. For parade organizers, the inclusion of the high school bands in more than just entertainment; it is to promote music education and the opportunities that performances like the McAllen Holiday Parade bring.
This year features award-winning powerhouse programs from throughout Hidalgo County, including McAllen I.S.D. bands from McAllen High School, Memorial High School, and Nikki Rowe High School; Edinburg Consolidated I.S.D including Economedes High School and Robert Vela High School; Pharr-San Juan-Alamo I.S.D. including PSJA North High School, PSJA Memorial High School and PSJA Southwest High School; La Joya I.S.D., including La Joya High School; and Palmview High School; Sharyland I.S.D. with Sharyland High School and Sharyland Pioneer High School; and Valley View I.S.D. with Valley View High School who will all be performing.
As a reminder, anyone wishing to be a part of this year’s parade can do so in a variety of ways, including, submitting an entry for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade; or volunteering as a banner carrier or balloon handlers.
Shoebox parade entries must be on a shoebox, and can include any type of arts & crafts, toys, holiday decorations, lights or countless elements to celebrate “South Pole & Beyond,” the theme of both the shoebox and the big parade. The winning shoebox float entry will be made into an actual float for the 2023 edition of the McAllen Holiday Parade.
Entries are due no later than Wednesday, November 23, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. to the City of McAllen Office of Communications, McAllen City Hall, 1300 W. Houston Ave., 3rd Floor. For more information, visit www.mcallen.net.
Balloon handler volunteers must be 18 years or over, while banner carriers must be 16 years or over. All volunteers must go through a background check and will receive gloves, t-shirt and snacks. Call 956-681-3350 for more information or sign up at [email protected].
The parade will step off at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2001 N. Bicentennial Blvd. Ticket prices start at $10, plus service fees for stadium; SPI Vuelta Zone; Skybox Fan Experience; or any of the community group chair seating for the parade and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com; at the McAllen Performing Arts Center Box Office, 801Convention Center Blvd or from any of the community groups. There is also plenty of free seating along the parade route, on a first come basis.
For the past four years, the McAllen Holiday Parade has been named the Best Parade in the World, and this year, earned the Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and Events Organization. The McAllen Holiday Parade has also been named the Best Parade in Texas for the past five years by international and state event industry organizations.
The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group and proudly sponsored by McAllen International Airport, South Padre Island CVB and Reliant. Other sponsors for the 2022 presentation of the McAllen Holiday Parade include Budweiser, McAllen International Bridge System; McAllen Public Utility; Metro McAllen; South Texas Vo-Tech; Matt’s Building Materials; PepsiCo.; Winfield Communities; South Texas College; McDonald’s; Valley Aids Council; Driscoll Children’s Hospital; Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley; American Electric Power Foundation; McAllen Public Works Recycling; Peña Eye Institute; IBC; Lacks; McAllen Chamber of Commerce; Hermes; McAllen I.S.D.; Linebarger Attorneys at Law; General Mills; PNC Bank; O’Reilly Auto Parts; University of Texas-RGV; McAllen Economic Development Corp.; Chase; Doña Lula; Tres Lagos Master Planned Community; Pollux Castor Creative; Explore McAllen; Plains Capital Bank; KSA Engineers; Cigna; Marco’s Pizza; Taco Palenque; Halff Associates; Carollo Engineers; B2Z Engineering; S&B Infrastructure; Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc.
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