Your RGV Weekend Starts Here | Oct 10–12 Events & Local Wins
PRESENTED BY
Willow Hospice Care LLC
Providing compassionate care across the Rio Grande Valley — because every moment matters.
Editor's Note
Hey RGV fam,
Fall’s finally flirting with us! Iced lattes in one hand, pumpkin spice in the other. 🍂
Between IKEA’s first weekend crowd and SPI’s rainbow flags, it’s one of those weeks that reminds you the 956 never stays quiet for long. This edition, presented by Willow Hospice Care LLC, 💚 rounds up the best of the Valley so you can skip the scrolling and start the weekend.
Let’s dive in. ☀️
Quick Poll
What’s your go-to fall weekend vibe?
🏕️ Camping & cookouts
🎶 Live music & night markets
🏈 Football & tailgates
Vote Over Here
Chezile Live @ Cine El Rey (McAllen)— Oct 10 | 7 PM
Local indie with vintage soul in a historic venue that never loses its charm.
SPI Pride Festival 2025— Oct 10–12
Beachside celebration with music, parade, and drag brunches.
Pharr Avocado Fest 2025— Oct 11 | 2–11 PM
Street food, vendors, and the Guac-Off competition — yes, golden pit trophy included.
Monster Jam @ Bert Ogden Arena— Oct 10–12
Roaring engines, crushed cars, and family adrenaline.
Kayak, fish & camp right in the city.
Upper Valley (Mission • McAllen • Edinburg)
Chezile Live @ Cine El Rey | Oct 10 | 7 PM | Historic Cine El Rey
RGV Sexy Speed Dating | Oct 10 | 8 PM | LUMA Cocktail Lounge
Symphony in the Park – Art of Video Game Music | Oct 11 | 4 PM | McAllen Oval Park 🎟️ Free
Phoenix Rising Writers Workshop | Oct 11 | 9 AM | Holiday Inn Express
Pharr Avocado Fest 2025 | Oct 11 | 2–11 PM | Downtown Pharr
Texas Archeological Society Annual Meeting | Oct 10-12 | Embassy Suites McAllen
Monster Jam | Oct 10–12 | Bert Ogden Arena
Mid Valley (Weslaco • Donna • Mercedes • Harlingen)
Dance Nights @ the Resorts | Oct 10 | 7 PM | Multiple Venues
Texas Storm @ Texas Trails (Pharr)
Steven May & The Southern Knights @ Snow to Sun (Weslaco)
The Howlers @ Fun N Sun (San Benito)
‘60s & ‘70s Rock Night | Oct 11 | 6–10 PM | Harlingen Municipal Auditorium | 🎟️ $10
MOD75 Harlingen Celebration | Oct 11 | 2 PM |2425 Boxwood St
Lower Valley (Harlingen • San Benito • Brownsville • SPI)
SPI Pride Festival 2025 | Oct 10–12 | South Padre Island
🌻 Windfern Neighborhood Shines Bright
McAllen’s Windfern neighborhood earned the city’s first Championship Beautification Award, celebrating residents who turned clean-up days and garden projects into a movement of pride. Their efforts transformed empty lots into gardens and repainted fences into art pieces.
“It started with one block — now the whole area feels alive again,” said a Windfern resident.
Check the full KRGV story here
🎨 Fall for the Arts Kicks Off with $288K in Grants
McAllen launched Fall for the Arts with over $288,000 in state arts funding, supporting IMAS, MXLAN & the public library system. The new funds will fuel live performances, murals, and workshops through October — and the city says it’s just the start.
“The Valley’s art scene is blooming again — and everyone’s invited.”
See Texas Border Business article
Be Still Ministry at
Romero Castle Garden Sanctuary (Alamo)
Tucked away in the Alamo, Romero Castle isn’t just a landmark, it’s a living testament to faith, family, and the belief that “with God all things are possible.” What began as one man’s dream to build a castle has blossomed into Be Still Ministry, a nonprofit oasis where art, nature, and prayer meet. Founder Elaisa Monica Palacios shares how her father’s 40-year vision became a refuge for peace, healing, and child-focused outreach like National Princess Week — a day when local kids trade hardships for crowns and laughter.
🌿 Discover the story behind the Valley’s real-life castle and its mission to help families “be still” again Read the full feature here→
💚 How to Support:
Sponsor a child for Princess Week
Volunteer for setup or decor
Rent the space for retreats or photoshoots
👉 Learn More / Contact on Facebook
🛋️ IKEA Pharr Now Open!
The Valley doesn’t usually get first dibs — but IKEA chose Pharr for one of its first small-format U.S. stores. 🎉 The 44,000 sq ft layout focuses on accessible design, décor, and (yes) those Swedish meatballs.
⛺ Camp McAllen Brings the Outdoors Home
McAllen’s new 20-acre urban campground brings fishing piers, kayak rentals, and fire pits within city limits. The city hopes it helps families reconnect with nature — no long drive needed.
The City of McAllen Celebrates Grand Opening Of Camp McAllen
Check out what Camp McAllen has to offer here
Christmas🎄
Brought to you by Pearly Whites Lounge (Pharr)
Retriever mix • Male • 3 yrs • 42 lbs
A gentle, playful pup who’s waited 930 days for his forever home. Loves sun naps, slow walks, and people who talk to him like he understands.
📍 Palm Valley Animal Society | Adopt or Share
And hey — if you want your own smile to shine like Christmas’s wag, Pearly Whites Lounge in Pharr has you covered.
📞 Text 956-534-4092 to book | @pearlywhiteslounge
Moüsai (McAllen)
McAllen’s new Japanese-fusion spot is sleek, moody, and already full of regulars.
Expect tuna crispy rice, matcha cocktails, and sushi that balances clean technique with South Texas flair. The bar crowd’s young and lively; the food plating is quietly confident.
Check out this review by @marketedbydallas on Instagram
Visit Moüsai now or book a reservation.
📍3300 N 10th St, McAllen
Meet the BLOOM RGV youth fellows, a group of 18–22-year-olds turning passion into community action.
From Brownsville to Edinburg, these young leaders of BLOOM RGV (Building Leaders and Organizing Our Movement) are tackling mental health awareness, sustainability, and volunteerism. One fellow, Marissa, launched peer support circles for high school students — filling a gap in a region where mental health resources are scarce.
“Leadership isn’t waiting for permission,” she says. “It’s doing what you can, where you are.”
Photo from @bloomrgv
🧠Local Laugh
You know it’s fall in the Valley when it’s 88°, but someone’s selling tamales out of a cooler. 🌽
🌱 Quote
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
–Van Gogh
✅ Life Hack
Mix a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil with water to keep mosquitoes away — smells great and works!
Thanks to Our Anchor Sponsor
This issue of 956 Pulse was made possible by Willow Hospice Care LLC— serving families across the Valley with compassion and dignity.
🕊️ Visit willowhospicecare.com
📞(956) 793-3227