Chicharra fest happening tonight at Quinta Mazatlan

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — While many may see them as pests, Quinta Mazatlan is celebrating native cicadas with a festival tonight.

Cicadas, locally referred to as chicharras, are insects that can live underground for anywhere from 1 to 17 years. They are known for being the loudest insect in the world, putting to rest any accusations of exaggerations from people who are afraid of them.

"Cicadas use two drum-like chambers in their body called timbals to make a sound," Quinta Mazatlan stated.

They have stout bodies, broad heads, large eyes and a distinctive clear membraned wings.

Chicharra Fest, hosted by Quinta Mazatlan tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. aims to inform children and any learner who is brave enough, about the beauty of this creature.

Every summer, the cicadas emerge from the ground to give the performance of their life.

The festival will include interactive activities such as: coloring at the art easel station, learning at the interactive chicharra noise station and making a chicharra kazoo to represent how the timbals work.

The quarter-mile trail will have large, six-foot-tall pages from the book "Cicada Symphony" by Lisa Kobman.

Parents and locals can enjoy food and drink from vendors like Twins Funnel Bar, Randeries Freshly Squeezed Lemonade, La Garaffa Nieve Artesinal and Frescas.

Tickets for this event are $5 and can be purchased at www.quintamazatlan.ticketleap.com.