Cities across the Valley are holding Christmas events. Here’s where you can get in the holiday spirit.

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Although the end of the year is on the horizon, there’s one more major holiday to get through: Christmas.

Cities across the Rio Grande Valley are hosting various Christmas events, including the annual lighting of the tree celebration as well as festive parades.

Here are events happening around the region:

PHARR

The city of Pharr is inviting the public to its Winter Wonderland free event on Friday, Dec. 6.

The event will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at Pharr’s Downtown Park, located at 118 S. Cage Blvd.

There will be food, market vendors, live music and the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree, which is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

EDINBURG

The city of Edinburg is holding a two-day celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, and Friday, Dec. 6.

Miracle on McIntyre Street will be held at the Promenade Park Amphitheater, located at 201 W. McIntyre St.

The lighting of the Christmas tree will kick off on Thursday at about 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, as well as Friday, will have a holiday market that will include seasonal delights until 10 p.m.

Friday’s festivities will include Sirens and Santa at 6 p.m. and the Night of Lights Parade at 7 p.m.

McALLEN

While the city of McAllen already held its tree lighting, the South Pole Illuminated Festival will be open throughout the month except on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The annual event features the tallest digital Christmas tree in the county as well as various illuminated sets including Santa’s Castle and Candyland. There’s also train rides, a holiday carnival and petting zoo, fireworks and photos with Santa.

Hours of operation on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursday are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. while Fridays and Saturdays are 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

There’s free admission for children under 12 only on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Tickets can be found here.

The city will also host Christmas in the Park through Dec. 5 to 7 at McAllen Municipal Park, located at 2121 N. Bicentennial Blvd.

The event will feature free concerts on Friday and Saturday as well as a carnival.

The hours of operation for the carnival are as follows: 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

The annual McAllen Holiday Parade will also be held Saturday, Dec 7, at the McAllen Veterans Stadium. There will be more than 60 illuminated floats, various spinning balloons as well as special guests.

There will be various road closures, which can be found here. Additionally, the event will feature a free Polar Express Park and Ride where shuttles will operate in 15 minute intervals from noon to midnight. Attendees can park at South Texas College’s Cooper Center, located at 3200 Pecan Blvd., and will be taken to Rio Bank on 23rd and Quince.

Tickets can be found here.

SAN JUAN

The city of San Juan has rescheduled its 10th annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree event to Wednesday, Dec. 4.

The event will kick off at 5:30 p.m. at San Juan City Hall, located at 512 S. Nebraska Ave.

PALMVIEW

The city of Palmview will hold its Christmas tree lighting event on Friday, Dec. 6, at City Hall, located at 400 W. Veterans Blvd.

The free event will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature local school performances, food and crafts.

HIDALGO

The city of Hidalgo will be holding its 2024 Festival of Lights parade on Friday, Dec. 6.

The free event will begin at 7 p.m. and the parade round will be at Ramon Ayala Drive between the streets Bridge and 10th. There will also be kiddie rides, food and artisan vendors.

Additionally, the Hidalgo Festival of Lights held annual at Payne Arena will run from Dec. 7 to Jan. 5.

Payne Arena is located at 2600 N. 10th St.

There’s two ways to enjoy the two-mile illuminated trail: the drive-thru with attendees’ vehicles or through the event’s narrated train tour.

Tickets can be found here.

ALAMO

The city of Alamo’s annual Christmas Parade will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, at Downtown Central Park, located at 800 E. Main St.

The free event will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

You can enter your own festive float by signing up online here or visiting the library, with the deadline being Dec. 5.

The city said Candyland will be this year’s theme.

ALTON

The city of Alton and the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m.

The ceremony, which will feature local school presentations and food, will take place in front of the Alton Recreation Center, located at 349 W. Dawes Ave.

The city will also be holding a Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m.

It will begin at Josefa Garcia Park and end at Alton City Hall.

MERCEDES

The city of Mercedes’ annual Christmas Lighted Parade will kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.

The parade will take place on Texas Avenue, beginning at 6th Street and travel north through the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show gates, where the parade will end.

The city said various streets will be blocked, including Texas Avenue as well as all side streets that connect to it and all the intersections at South 14th Street, Business 82 and north of the RGVLS main gate.

There will also be a Winter Wonderland celebration on Friday, Dec. 13, at the HEB Park, located at 520 E. 2nd St.

The event will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. and will include holiday lights, food vendors, a toy drive, festivities and music.

LA VILLA

The city of La Villa will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony on Monday, Dec. 2, at City Hall, located at 916 S. Mike Chapa Rd.

The event will begin at 6 p.m.

LA FERIA

The city of La Feria will be holding its 26th annual Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The parade will take place on Main Street.

SAN BENITO

The city of San Benito will be holding its Christmas on the Resaca event on Friday, Dec. 6.

The free event will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Heavin Resaca Trail, located at 496 N. Resaca Dr.

There will be live music and performances, kid-friendly activities, food and drinks vendors and an ice skating rink.

Then on Saturday, Dec. 14, the city will be holding its Christmas Parade: Making Spirits Bright event.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. at 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd.

HARLINGEN

The city of Harlingen will be holding its 38th annual Lighting of the Arroyo on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The free event will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at McKelvey Park, located at 1401 S. 77 Sunshine Strip. There will be live performances, vendors and free photos with Santa Claus.

Then on Friday, Dec. 6, the city will hold its annual Christmas parade at 6 p.m.

The parade will begin at the intersection of Commerce Street and Jackson Street, then conclude at the intersection of 6th Street and Jackson Street.

This year’s theme is “Groovy Christmas.”

The city also invites the public to its A Holiday Stroll event on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The festive event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown Harlingen and will feature downtown shopping, live performances and a special visit from Santa with photo opportunities.

BROWNSVILLE

The city’s parks and recreation department is inviting the community to Washington Park Winter Fest 2024, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.

The free event will feature festive crafts, games and attractions, vendors and a visit from Santa where there will be photo opportunities.

Washington Park is located at 700 E. Madison St.

The city of Brownsville will be lighting up Market Square with more than 10,000 lights during its first Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.

According to its Facebook event page, the city said “For the FIRST TIME EVER, we’re combining First Friday with our Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.”

The ceremony will also feature live music, shows and dances in addition to food and drinks, free photo booths and free pedicabs to explore downtown.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

The city of South Padre Island will be holding its tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The ceremony will take place at the Island Metro Multi-Modal Facility at 321 Padre Blvd.

Then on Friday, Dec. 6, the city will hold its 35th annual Christmas Street Parade from 6 to 9 p.m.

The parade will begin south on Padre Boulevard from Mars to Acapulco — east side of the medians only.

And on Saturday, Dec. 7, the city will hold its annual Lighted Boat Parade at 6 p.m.

The route will begin at Sea Ranch Marina as boats of all sizes cruise through Laguna Madre Bay, and will end at Jim’s Pier.

The free event has designated viewing areas throughout the route for free public viewing and fireworks will begin after the parade.

The city encourages those interested in attending should arrive early since Port Isabel will be posting their parade. As a result, access to the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway will be restricted beginning at 5:15 p.m.