Press Releases
Due to the overwhelming success of the South Pole Illuminated Drive & Theatre Experience, presented by Junior’s Supermarket, McAllen streets have been experiencing traffic interruptions and guests waiting to enjoy this amazing holiday experience have experienced longer than expected delay. To mitigate this issue, event organizers worked diligently with the City of McAllen Police, Engineering, and Traffic Operations Departments to develop a traffic control plan to ensure that everyone can enjoy the event without further traffic delays.
The new route that will relieve congestion to the impacted businesses at Palms Crossing and surrounding areas.
- General Admission (GA) ticket holders can enter south bound 29th Street & Business 83.
- VIP ticket holders can enter northbound on Ware Road & Kennedy Avenue.
The new route will stack up to 800 cars without disrupting business operations in Palms Crossing and surrounding areas. In addition to the new route, the McAllen Convention Center will be selling time slots for arrivals to stagger the number of vehicles arriving at one time. Upon following driving directions, guests will reach a vehicle pass and ticket verification point, followed by queuing for the appropriate time slot.
There are no alternate routes to the Illuminated Drive. Please respect McAllen Convention Center District neighbors and do not attempt a different route or use GPS directions. Street closures will be in effect. There is no event access from Convention Center Boulevard or along the Frontage Rd. All vehicles are staged single-file, first-come, first-served in the arrival queue area, then to the South Pole Illuminated Drive entry, and along the Trail experience.
Upon completion of the Drive, vehicles may choose to exit north or turn right, or eastbound, to catch a holiday movie at the South Pole Auto Cinema.
The South Pole Illuminated Derive is a drive-thru ONLY experience. Enjoy from the warmth, comfort and socially distant safety of one’s own vehicle. The event organizers kindly ask guests to be mindful of the wait time. Make sure to arrive no more than 30 minutes before OR after scheduled time. Estimated time on the South Pole Illuminated Drive is between 20-25 minutes. Expect a wait for processing and staging in the vehicle queue upon arrival and prior to the actual Drive entry. Do not exit vehicle during the South Pole Experience. Please wear a mask while interacting with staff during vehicle queueing.
“We apologize for any inconvenience experienced and will continue working to improve the patron experience,” said Yajaira Flores Delgado, directior, McAllen Convention Center Facilities. “The McAllen Convention Center District has been a focal point for the holiday season over the last decade and because of the many events, performance and concerts, has contributed a positive economic impact to the surrounding hotels, restaurants and retailers in the area.”
The entire Rio Grande Valley is invited to come out and enjoy the South Pole Illuminated Drive & Theatre Experience, presented by Junior’s Supermarket, with friends and family.
Follow them on Facebook at South Pole of Texas for updates and more information.
MCALLEN’S SUNSET LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC SERIES- The Show Must Go On-line!
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adaption to our “new” reality, the Sunset Live Music Series has joined a number of concerts and artist who have taken the approach of the show must go on-line.
Sunset Live Music Series main objective for this season is to support the local music community who are among those affected by the spread of COVID-19 and continue to spread the happiness of music and health through livestreaming services in the comfort of your own home.
Sunset Live will take place April 9th, 16th, 23th, 30th at 7PM via the Sunset Live Outdoor Concert Series Facebook Page. Each date will feature an artist from the Rio Grande Valley; virtual tips and donations directly to artists will be accepted via Venmo, PayPal and Cash App. 100% of the money raised will then be donated to an organization that has been affected by COVID-19.
April 9th Sunset Live On-line Artist Bio
JAUREGUI has a deep connection to the music that he makes, and he plays all of the instruments involved in the process. What makes the music so unique is that he blends many musical genres and influences that inspire him. Through this, he is able to make his own style that includes indie rock, funk, soul, and blues.
Sunset Live will also be conducting a virtual artisan market, where local vendors will have an opportunity to sell their handmade goods and connect with online shoppers. Products you may find are handcrafted soaps, lotions and beard maintenance products like beard oil, beard balms and accessories. All products will be shared on our Sunset Live Outdoor Concert Series Facebook Page.
Additionally, Sunset Live has teamed up with Quiet Mind Yoga to provide a free virtual yoga session on Saturday, April 4, 2020 10AM to help you get through these unprecedented circumstances. Session will be broadcasted live on the Sunset Live Outdoor Concert Series Facebook page. Virtual tips and donations directly to Quiet Mind Yoga will also be accepted via Venmo, PayPal and Cash App.
About Sunset Live:
Held every second Saturday of the month, with three concerts in the spring and three concerts in the fall, Sunset Live focuses on promoting the arts and giving up-and-coming artists and musicians a different type of exposure outside of the local bar scene. Sunset Live has grown each year and become one of the most highly anticipated events all year. Organizers are excited to have all of these unbelievable performances on tap and make this year’s season an unparalleled experience for music-lovers of all ages.
For more information on the full line-•up and concert series, visit www.mcallenconventioncenter.net or www.facebook.com/SunsetLiveMcAllen
MCALLEN CONVENTION CENTER UNDERGOES “REIMAGINATION”
BEGINNING WITH SPECTRA PARTNERSHIP
McAllen, TX – November 21, 2019 – As the new fiscal year begins, the McAllen Convention Center and Performing Arts Center has redefined itself as the entertainment capital of South Texas. Hosting over 500 events over the last year (ranging from festivals, Broadway touring series to national/local conventions). The Convention Center facilities versatile purpose has become a destination attraction to the City Of McAllen that has generated $39.7 million in visitors spends and an economic impact of $38.9 million on the Hidalgo County economy. The Convention Center District welcomed over 616,406 visitors (out of town and local) just this past fiscal year.
“McAllen has created a place where people connect at world-class events, conventions, and festivals,” said Yajaira Flores, Director of Facilities. “Our new vision conveys that feeling into a cohesive sense of place that’s exciting, welcoming, and brimming with unexpected ways to delight.
The Convention Center facilities new vision also comes a partnership with award-winning culinary service provider Spectra. Spectra, an industry leader in food services & hospitality, which November 18 assumed management of food and beverage operations at the McAllen Convention Center facilities.
The new Spectra dining experience is the first step of a campus-wide reimagining of the social space encompassing the McAllen Convention Center, the McAllen Performing Arts Center, Oval Park, the Center’s Festival Grounds, Veteran’s War Memorial of Texas, hotels, and the area’s walkable grounds. The reimagining will embrace the area’s overall sense of place by weaving indoor and outdoor guest experiences together with walkable green spaces, outdoor restrooms, seasonal theming, new technology services, website and more.
The first taste of what’s to come will happen at the McAllen Convention Center’s November 25, 2019 press conference detailing their partnership with Spectra and how it fits into the reimagining roadmap.
“Our reimagination embraces the natural sense of place that grew from the connections guests create throughout the campus,” said Yajaira J. Flores, City of McAllen Convention Facilities Director. ”It takes an innovator like Spectra to craft a signature dining experience that communicates that shared sense of place.”
Guests to the press conference will also be the first to Taste the Difference; a City of McAllen marketing campaign introducing Spectra’s signature offerings to guests. On-site tastings will serve as a delicious introduction to the new culinary options. The Taste the Difference press conference is November 25 at the McAllen Convention Center main ballroom at 12:00pm.
About McAllen Convention Center
Located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, the McAllen Convention Center is the preferred venue in the Region for gatherings. Our flexibility can accommodate virtually any event, from small intimate meetings to large conventions, weddings, tradeshows, sporting events, and concerts with over 174,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Follow McAllen Convention Center on Facebook and Instagram.
About McAllen Performing Arts Center
The McAllen Performing Arts Center presents a wide variety of nationally and internationally recognized productions of music, dance and theater to the people of South Texas. The City of McAllen is committed to enhancing the arts and cultural experience by delivering the most advanced performing arts center in South Texas by bringing a broader variety of entertainment and live performance that has never been possible before in the Rio Grande Valley. Follow MPAC on Facebook and Instagram.
About Spectra
Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, collaborating with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships. Learn more at SpectraExperiences.com. Follow Spectra on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
The largest Catrina in the U.S. to be unveiled at The McAllen Convention Center
McALLEN- As part of the Tecate Catrina Music Fest celebrations, the McAllen Convention Center unveils the largest Catrina in the U.S. “La Catrina”, the female skeleton that has become symbolic with the Day of the Dead, will be on display at the McAllen Convention Center Oval Park October 29th to November 1st and it will be moved to the Catrina Music Fest festival grounds on November 2nd.
The inaugural Tecate Catrina Music Fest, produced by First Row Productions, will be the largest Day of the Dead celebration in Texas. Festivities start Tuesday, October 29th, where attendees can ride in their very own Trajinera, from Xotchimilco, Mexico. There will be live musicians at the Tecate Catrina Music Fest FREE stage all week leading up to the festival on Saturday, November 2nd.
WHO: Special Media preview
WHAT: Largest Catrina in the U.S. to be unveiled
WHEN: 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2019
WHERE: Oval Park 700 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen
City Commissioners, First Row Productions and La Catrina artist will be on hand for the ceremony.
About Tecate Catrina Music Fest: The inaugural festival is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is taking place at the McAllen Convention Center Festival Grounds November 02, 2019. The festival includes four stages of entertainment, including one FREE stage in the McAllen Convention Center Oval Park. Headliners include Latin Rock sensations, Caifanes, Zoe, El Tri, Fobia, Cultura Profetica, Ximena Sariñana, Inspector, Too Many Zoos, Jenny and the Mexicats, Genitallica, La Castañeda, Victimas del Dr. Cerebro