Summer is right around the corner which means it’s time to spend time with your family, relax, and watch movies in the comfort of your local parks in McAllen TX. This year, McAllen Parks and Recreation presents “Movies in the Park,” where you can watch eight popular movies for FREE! So grab your chairs, picnic blankets, favorite snacks, and head out for a relaxing afternoon with your family. Concessions will be available on-site for all attendees.
Details
Where: Westside Park, 1000 S. Ware Rd.
Time: Gates open at 7:00 PM and the movies begin at 8:30 PM.
Schedule
June 4th – Sing 2
June 11th – Paw Patrol The Movie
June 18th – Shrek
June 25th – Jurassic Park
July 9th – Spider-Man: No Way Home
July 16th – Clifford The Big Red Dog
July 23rd – Jungle Cruise*
July 30th – Encanto
*Note: Jungle Cruise will be shown at the McAllen Sports Park.
Don’t Forget to Clean Up Your Parks in McAllen TX
After relaxing and enjoying a nice movie with your family, we ask you to please help care for our parks in McAllen TX. By keeping our parks clean, we can continue to enjoy McAllen living to the fullest! Check out our McAllen events calendar for more fun things to do in McAllen you and your family can enjoy throughout the summertime. Tag us enjoying McAllen TX events on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! #ExploreMcAllen!
It’s the end of another school year, and for some scholars, it’s time to graduate to the next phase of their lives. If you need things to do in McAllen after the commencement ceremonies, be sure to celebrate by taking your grad to these eight restaurants in McAllen, each offering their unique cuisine for the special grad in your life.
Does your graduate love seafood? Then book the party room at Surfing Crab and treat your tastebuds to crab, lobster, and shrimp! Hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday 11:30 AM – 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday 11:30 AM – 11 PM.
University Drafthouse Townlake
(956) 468-2040
100 W. U.S. Highway 83
Celebrate graduation with filling appetizers, juicy hamburgers, and delicious desserts at the University Drafthouse. Your family will enjoy the open and lively indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Their hours of operation are:
Friday from 3 PM to 1 AM
Saturday from 11 AM to 1 AM
Sunday from 11 AM to 11 PM
Thursday from 3 PM to 12 AM
Happy Hour from 3 PM to 7 PM
Tuesday and Wednesday from 3 PM to 11 PM
Costa Messa
(956) 618-1919
5248 N. 10th St.
Need a place where you can enjoy some authentic Mexican fine dining? You can’t go wrong with all the appetizers, tacos, and antojitos Mexicanos at Costa Messa. Their hours of operation are every day from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Take your grad out to enjoy delicious quality dishes at the brick oven cantina of the Republic of the Rio Grande in a lively environment. Their hours of operation are from:
Take your grad and family to SALT – New American Table to enjoy dishes made from organic, sustainable, and local ingredients in a modern setting. Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday 5 PM – 10 PM. Friday and Saturday 5 PM – 11 PM.
España offers a classy authentic menu of Spanish and Mediterranean flavors, from oxtail empanadas to paella del mar. Your tastebuds will thank you! Hours of operation are Tuesday to Thursday 5 PM – 11 PM. Friday and Saturday 5 PM – 1 AM.
Santa Fe Steakhouse and Cantina
(956) 630-2331
1918 S. 10th St.
Enjoy McAllen living with live music, spacious indoor and outdoor seating, and a steak dinner to celebrate your graduate at the infamous Santa Fe Steakhouse & Cantina! Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM. Friday and Saturday 5 PM – 1 AM.
Do you need things to do in McAllen on National Brisket Day? Be sure to celebrate by eating at the hottest brisket restaurants in McAllen with your closest friends and family. We listed five places to check out all the brisket goodness around!
Lone Star Bar-B-Q
(956) 664-9988
3619 N. 10th
Lone Star Bar-B-Q offers savory meals for the whole family! Try their out-of-this world catfish and homemade chips, mesquite-smoked meats, country plates, and desserts! Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8:30 PM.
Billy’s BBQ
(956) 928-0211
2018 W. Nolana Ave.
Billy’s BBQ is a homey spot in town that offers classic brisket plates filled with rice, beans, and fixins’. Their hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM.
Black Diamond BBQ cooks up a mean Texas-style hickory slow-smoked barbeque, with their brisket being the star of the menu. Their hours of operation are 11 AM to 7 PM on Monday through Friday and 11 to 6 PM on Saturday.
Smokin’ Moon, awarded in the Top 25 New BBQ Joints of 2019, is currently located in La Plaza McAllen mall and will soon be opening a new location in Trenton. Their hours of operation are:
Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM
Friday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM
Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM
Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse
(956) 682-2066
7517 N. 10th St
If you’re looking for a great bite to go, or a sit-down with country-cooking, then head on over to Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse in McAllen. Their hours of operation are Sunday to Tuesday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Wednesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Tag Us Online, McAllen Living Never Looked So Yummy!
If you’re looking for something to do, be sure to check out our McAllen events to stay up to date with what’s happening around town. Tag us chomping on your brisket while enjoying a McAllen drink onFacebook,Instagram, orTwitter! Use #McAllenEats and #ExploreMcAllen!
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in McAllen with live music, drinks, bike nights, and car shows! You will be sure to have a fun time with your close friends and family. Be sure to check out these five fun things to do in McAllen for Cinco de Mayo.
Rock it out on Cinco de Mayo with PURPLEROOM from Austin, Texas. The rock band will be making their way down south to celebrate at The Office Bar & Grill in McAllen. The show will take place on May 5th at 6 PM, so head on with your friends and have a-rockin’ time!
Head on over to Desperado Harley-Davidson with your biker gang to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. You and the crew will be sure to enjoy live music, food, drinks, and drinks, to have a chance to win prizes. Don’t miss out on the event, taking place on May 5th from 6 – 9 PM.
Cinco de Mayo at Oak Texas Bar and Grill
7001 N. 10th St. Suite C
You can’t go wrong with having a drink with your friends at one of the most fun bars in Mcallen! The Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on May 5th at Oak Texas Bar and Grill from 11 AM to 2 AM, featuring:
Live DJ’s
Cinco Towers
Happy Hour Specials
Taco/Wing Combo Specials
Cinco de Mayo 5K
201 N. 1st St.
Register to run a Cinco de Mayo 5K at Town Lake at Fireman’s Park! This will mark the first race of the McAllen Marathon Scott Crane Running Series at one of our parks in McAllen TX. Participants will receive a finisher medal and finisher shirt. The event will take place on May 7th from 7 to 10 AM.
Show up with the car fanatics in your life at the Cinco de Mayo Classic Car Show at Las Palmas Community Center. The first fifty participants will receive a fresh shirt, lunch, and gift bag. This event is free to the public and will take place from 9 AM to 2 PM on May 7th.
Tag Us Online
Have a fun time celebrating Cinco de Mayo! Be sure to #ExploreMcAllen on Instagram and Facebook. Keep updated on all the things to do in McAllen by visiting our monthly events calendar.
Spring is in the air and there are many fun things to do in McAllen TX this season! Shop till you drop, listen to some groovy tunes, get creative, and go outside. Enjoy the season with the whole family and participate in our McAllen Living event guide all month long!
Celebrate the pineapple under the sea in the RGV at the Spongebob Squarepants x Lovebuzz Pop Up. This event is kid-friendly until 9 PM, beginning from April 12 at 6 PM until 2 AM on April 15.
Take your friends to enjoy Bohemian Easter, including an 18+ years Easter egg hunt, vendors, and live music. This event will take place at Bohemian Place.
Support your local artists at the McAllen Downtown Market on Main, taking place from 10 AM to 4 PM. This event is FREE to attend, and hosted by the McAllen Heritage Center.
April 20
Tune in from 4 PM to 5 PM to the Recycled Sculpture Art Workshop, hosted by IMAS and HEB. Participate in a virtual workshop to create a sculpture from recycled materials. Register and pick up a kit before the event!
Are you interested in photography or filmmaking? You don’t want to miss out on the How Cameras Work workshop hosted by ENTRE. The event will occur from 10 AM to 3 PM at the McAllen Creative Incubator.
Register for the 15th Annual Rio Grande Valley Poetry Festival, to join in on workshops and creative artist events to honor National Poetry Month. The event begins on April 28 and ends on May 1st.
The Unfolded Poetry Project is hosting the 2nd Open Mic Night! Perform poetry, music, comedy, or dance at the McAllen Creative Incubator starting at 7:30 PM.
Don’t miss out on the most incredible show in the galaxy! The Valley Symphony Orchestra Star Wars Show is the season’s final performance featuring music from the iconic franchise. The show takes place at the McAllen Performing Arts Center and begins at 8 PM.
Compete and become a filmmaker at the 12th Annual 24- Hour Film Dash Competition hosted by CineSol at the Cine El Rey!
Dance along to Reyna Tropical, an LA/Portland-based duo featuring a fusion of cumbia, champeta, and tropical indie music. Located at Tropicasa at 7 PM.
Discover New Events in McAllen TX Online!
Have fun and #ExploreMcAllen with your loved ones on Instagram and Facebook. Check out all the things to do in McAllen by visiting our monthly events calendar!
Easter is almost here, which means bunnies, spring weather, and Easter egg hunts for your children! Many of our parks offer places for you and your family to enjoy cookouts, relaxing shade from the sun, different amenities. Pick your favorite park to enjoy with your family this upcoming Easter weekend.
Formerly known as the McAllen Botanical Gardens, the McAllen Nature Center is a nature preserve located at the epicenter of the city. Near the Convention Center, the McAllen Nature Center offers a place to bask in nature, take a small hike with your family, and celebrate the holiday!
This nineteen-acre park has all you need to enjoy your Easter holiday with your family: merry-go-rounds, playgrounds, swings, walking trails, and more!
La Vista Park
100 W. La Vista Ave.
La Vista Park is the perfect place to accommodate your family for Easter. Take advantage of their:
Trails
BBQ Pits
Playground
Picnic Shelters
Volleyball Court
McAuliffe Park
3260 W. Daffodil Ave.
Take your family to enjoy McAuliffe Park’s multi-use field, walking trails, and playground. While you hunt for your Easter eggs, you may even get to see ducks, or turtles swimming in the park pond.
If you’re looking for a place to splash around with your family, take them to Zinnia Park Water Park. This park offers a swimming pool, splash pad, trails, and ample green space to hide your Easter eggs.
Municipal Park
1921 N. Bicentennial Blvd.
This twenty-seven-acre park is perfect for celebrating Easter with a family cookout. Take advantage of all the resources that Municipal Park has to offer:
Playgrounds
Outdoor Pool
Soccer Fields
Baseball Fields
Westside Park and Field
1000 S. Ware Rd.
Enjoy Easter weekend at another giant thirty-seven-acre park, filled with playgrounds, softball complex, picnic areas, and bar-be-que pavilions.
Explore McAllen Living Today
Easter is the perfect time to explore the outdoors with your family. Check out this complete list of parks around town and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for updates on Easter events around McAllen.
If you’re looking for fun places in McAllen now that we have warmer weather, look no further than Sunset Live! Sunset Live features a lively environment full of food, music, and entertainment. Jam the night away with your friends and family with live music in McAllen.
Spend Your Saturdays Outdoors
Sunset Live will take place at the McAllen Convention Center’s Oval Park at 700 Convention Center Blvd. on the second Saturday of the month. Upcoming concert schedule:
April 9th
May 14th
June 11th
Bring Your Fur Babies
This event is pet-friendly, so make sure bring your pet with the rest of your tribe so they can soak up the sun and mingle with other furballs while you enjoy live music.
Shop While Listening to Music
You can also shop at the surrounding plazas while listening to Sunset Live music in McAllen!
Listen to live music.
Enjoy an hour of yoga.
Shop from local artists and creators.
Grab a bite to eat and refreshments from food trucks.
There are many fun things to do in McAllen this spring. Easter is a few hops away, which means it is time for your family to put on their best spring attire to take an adorable photo-op! Here is where you can spot the Easter Rabbit around McAllen
On April 2 and April 10, the Children’s Orchard will have an Easter-themed set up for you to take pictures with your children and family. Make sure to bring your cameras and phones.
Hop on over to Selfies & More Studio and take Easter-themed photos today! Check out their Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to stay updated on the appearance of the Easter Bunny.
The bell has rung on the first round of McAllen Food Madness. Our followers have narrowed down the field of 32 McAllen restaurants to just 16. We’ll take a look at the list of remaining restaurants, and how they’ve gotten this far, but first a huge thank you to all the local eateries who have participated. The essence of this friendly-competition is to expose our Explorers to a wide-variety of McAllen restaurants, shops, and diners – and we hope this event has done just that.
WITH OUT FURTHER ADO
The restaurants moving onto Round 2 are (by rank):
#1 Kokio
#2 ’76 Bar and Kitchen
#4 Bonhomia
#5 New York Deli
#6 Dragon Warrior Noodle
#7 Tea Garden
#8 Tingy Tacos
#9 Oak Texas Bar and Grill
#10 Yasuke
#13 SALT
#14 Nak Won Jung
#15 Mama’s Pizzeria
#16 Tacos El Plebe
#21 Semilla
#22 Ms G’s Tacos N’ More
#30 Khan’s Grill
McAllen Madness Bracket – Sweet 16
Round of 32
We’re excited to announce the head-to-head matchups averaged 1,000 votes combined over both platforms. While only 3 “underdog” locations are moving on, the first round was not without a good serving of drama. In cases like La Costa Grill vs Tacos Plebe, some results came down to less than a hundred vote difference. Only a little more than 70 votes separated the beloved Ms G’s Tacos and La Plaza Mall newcomer Stacks. Less than 60 votes decided the match between Korean eatery Nak Won Jung and downtown’s food/music venue The Gremlin.
Number one seed Kokio and Salome also ended the first round in dramatic fashion. Award-winning Chef Larry Delgado’s restaurant won their Facebook poll, but it wasn’t enough to cover Kokio’s Instagram lead – keeping Salome from the Sweet 16 by roughly 120 votes. Azucar Y Sal also won its Facebook poll, but couldn’t catch up to a Bonhomia’s large Instagram lead.
Round 2
The Sweet 16 runs March 15th – 21st. You can continue to place your votes on both our Facebook and Instagram story polls.
Thank you again Explorers for following the competition and voting. We hope you visit all the eateries taking part in the competition. Now let’s see who is moving on to the Elite 8!
Celebrate National Pi Day at your favorite McAllen restaurant! Pi Day – a day to celebrate the constant ratio (π), mathematics, and a love of pie. Grab a slice with your favorite people at these 4 McAllen restaurants and bakeries!
If you’re looking for a place to get a perfect pie, head on over to PJ Pies! They offer sweet and savory pies, sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Their hours of operation are from Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM.
City Café
(956) 682- 8737
2901 N 10th St.
*Photo courtesy of City Cafe.
Enjoy an artsy-filled experience at City Cafe and check out their latest pie options!
Stop by Sweet & Tasty for Pi Day and enjoy their daily classic flavors Banana Caramel and Coconut Cream pie!
Sweet Temptations
(956) 630-0307
5401 N. 10th St. Ste. 111
Are you in the mood for breakfast at any time of the day, an exceptional amount of lunch options, and combination plates? Sweet Temptations has all of that and a great dessert menu, which includes:
Peach Cobbler
Mississippi Mud
Dutch Apple Pie
Caramel Apple Pie
Caramel Banana Pie
New York Cheesecake
Sweet Temptations are open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM.
Show Us Your Favorite Sweets in McAllen!
Tag us enjoying your favorite sweets and pies in McAllen on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Use #McAllenEats and #ExploreMcAllen!
