Here are a few fun activities for the family this May in the RGV! Have anything to add? Comment below or submit your event to our community calendar here.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Visit the Discovery Museum at Quinta Mazatlan for a special presentation about a featured creature every Saturday in May with activities, crafts, and exploration. Programs start at 10am and 2pm. $3 program fee.

Increase your fitness and knowledge of diverse flora, fauna, and “Rio Grande Valley Specialty Birds” as you discover the natural world of your local State Park.

Bird & Nature Hikes takes place every Saturday from 8:30am – 9:30am.

Resaca De La Palma State Park
New Carmen Avenue
Brownsville, TD 78520
956-350-2920

Come learn the fundamentals of archery! Bows and arrows will be provided. Recommended for children 5 and up. Registration required.

9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Resaca De La Palma State Park
New Carmen Avenue
Brownsville, TD 78520
956-350-2920

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Meet Jane Yolen’s Dinosaur from her book, HOW DO DINOSAUR’S SAY GOOD NIGHT?

2-3PM at The Storybook Garden [260 S Texas Blvd, Ste 106, Weslaco, TX 78596]

Many missed our event last fall due to the flooding in Weslaco. We’re happy to announce that she will be back for a visit! Yay!

Sunset Live: Outdoor Concert Series
https://www.facebook.com/SunsetLiveMcAllen/?ref=hl
Dates: 2nd Saturday of the month, April 2016- December 2016
Location: McAllen Convention Center Oval Park
Cost: Free!

Sunset Live Outdoor Concert Series: Held every second Saturday of the month, focuses on promoting the arts and giving up and coming artists/musicians a different type of exposure outside of the local bar scene. This family & pet friendly event has grown from 1,500 attendees to nearly 4,000 attributed mainly to social media and word-of-mouth.

With the native palm trees and foliage as the backdrop, Sunset Live event offers a big city feel with the uniqueness of a Rio Grande Valley sunset to set it apart from all the others.

Grab a cozy blanket and a lawn chair and experience the perfect sunset serenade at the Sunset Live Outdoor Concert series.

MAY 14th LINE-UP:
Joann Villarreal
Los Coast
Suzzana Choffel

Grow’n Growers Farmers’ Market [Firemen’s Park. First and Bus. 82, McAllen, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.]

Brownsville Farmers’ Market [Linear Park, 6th and Ringgold, 9:00 a.m. to noon]

McAllen Farmers’ Market [McAllen Public Library, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.]

Pharrmers Market [724 North Cage Blvd, Pharr, Thursdays, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.]

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Stop by the Zoo for Animal Play Day to watch our animals interact with special treats and enrichment items provided by our zookeepers.  Animal enrichment provides novel food and play items to stimulate and entertain our Zoo inhabitants. These enrichment items are a vital component to the health and well-being of our animal collection. Play Day will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Gorilla Island. Our keepers will then extend to the surrounding exhibits throughout the day. This event is free with the purchase of general admission. For additional information, please call the Zoo office at (956)546-7187 or visit www.gpz.org

Thursday, May 19, 2016 – 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Explore the enchanted Forest Sculpture trail on Thursday, May 19th as your guide introduces you to native animals of the Thornforest as represented by over 25 bronze sculptures by renowned artist Douglas Clark. The Forest Sculpture Trail is an artistic and enlightening permanent outdoor exhibit for children and adults. Awareness and appreciation of our flora and fauna will help shape the next 100 years in the Rio Grande Valley. We celebrate and THANK our sculpture sponsors for helping to tell the story of the special creatures that call South Texas their home.

The Nature Lecture Series takes place Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 7 pm through April 2016 and is proudly sponsored by Thurmond Eye Associates. The park admission is $3 per person which includes the program and no advanced reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen, one block south of La Plaza Mall in 10th Street. For more information contact Quinta Mazatlan at (956) 681-3370 or visit www.quintamazatlan.com.

Saturday, May 21 from  8AM to 1PM

Food, Music, Fun Entertainment for the Whole Family!

4201 N. Bentsen Road
McAllen, TX

956-681-4050

Come out and check out the City of Alamo’s 4th Annual Watermelon Festival!

Saturday, May 21st
12pm-10pm
Downtown Central Park
Bus. 83 & 9th Street

Food, Rides and live Music!
Fun for the Whole family!

Saturday, May 21, 2016

10:00 a.m. to Noon, Gladys Porter Zoo

Learn what animals consider home. Identify various animal homes by the elements present that make it perfectly suitable for living. Saturday Safari classes are $15 per child or adult. Zoo members receive a $5 discount. Children must be 4 years or older. Pre- registration is required. Call (956) 548-WILD (9453) to register or for more information or email the Education Department at [email protected].

The City of San Juan will be hosting the festival Mayfest. It will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 and will begin at 12:00 p.m. and end at 10:30 p.m. The festival will include a parade, carnival, water carnival, bike show, food/drinks, artisans and music. There will be performances by Los Herederos De Nuevo Leon Oficial, Los ROJOS, Jay Perez and the Band,Grupo Ligado, Ram Herrera, BaddBoyz del Valle.
FREE Parking
Kids 5 and under enter FREE, $1 for kids 5-18, $2 General Admission.
For the water carnival make sure to bring your towels, sandals, suncreen, and swimsuits.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Visit Quinta Mazatlan on Thursday, May 26th for an evening of exploring science in Quinta’s Discovery Lab, Museum, and Aquatic Center. Practice aquatic field science by dip-netting into Ruby Pond, and use Quinta’s microscopes to see the macro- and micro-invertebrates at the base of an aquatic ecosystem. Carol Goolsby will present her world rock collection and explain the science behind a variety of rocks, minerals and metals. During a Geology Show in the Discovery Museum. Afterward, take the “adaptations” challenge – see how many YOU can find on the native animal display. Guests can also visit the Science Lab to view a variety of items in Quinta’s environmental science collection, including an owl wing, soils under the microscopes, egg and nest displays, feathers, insect displays, the Quinta herbarium collection, and more! Microscopes available for viewing a variety of objects.

The Nature Lecture Series takes place Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 7 pm through May 2016 and is proudly sponsored by Thurmond Eye Associates. The park admission is $3 per person which includes the program and no advanced reservation is required. Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center is located at 600 Sunset in McAllen, one block south of La Plaza Mall in 10th Street. For more information contact Quinta Mazatlan at (956) 681-3370 or visit www.quintamazatlan.com

Saturday, May 26th
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Brownsville Public Library

Hurricaine Awareness Fair
956-504-7405

Thursday, May 26, 2016

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Children’s Museum of Brownsville
501 E Ringgold Street

Join us at the Children’s Museum of Brownsville for Free Community Night from 5-7pm. Last Thursday of every month, enter for free and enjoy all the wonderful exhibits that we have to offer.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

This summer, get outside and enjoy the outdoors with the RGV Family Summer Adventure Challenge (FSAC)! Visit nature centers and parks across the RGV to complete different nature challenges. Upon completetion of the challenges and a journal submission, your family will be placed in a drawing to win cool prizes. The challenge is for families with children ages 18 and under.

The FSAC kicks-off on May 28. On this day, join the Edinburg Scneic Wetlands and World Birding Center from 12 – 4 p.m. for a Family Picnic. Bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic at the Center’s pergola and fun picnic activities like giant bubbles, nature walks, and more! This is also a great opportunity to complete some of the challenges in your journal. Admission on this day is Free!

The FSAC runs from May 28 – August 27. For more information or to register for the FSAC, please call 956-381-9922.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

10:00 a.m. to Noon, Gladys Porter Zoo

The sun sets and that is when they come out. This is your chance to learn all about the animals that hunt in the dark. You might even get to see some up close. Saturday Safari classes are $15 per child or adult. Zoo members receive a $5 discount. Children must be 4 years or older. Pre-Registration is required. Call (956) 548-WILD (9453) to register or for more information or email the Education Department at [email protected].

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Visit the Discovery Museum at Quinta Mazatlan for a special presentation about a featured creature every Saturday in May with activities, crafts, and exploration. Programs start at 10am and 2pm. $3 program fee.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

“Here Be Dragons” arrives at IMAS on May 28, 2016 – September 5, 2016. JUST IN TIME FOR THE SUMMER! Have the opportunity learn about the past, present, and mythical creatures with this exhibit, which includes 20 real live “dragons” of today. Mark your calendars, because this is an exhibit you do not want to miss!

This exhibit is not included in general admission. There is a $5 additional entrance fee for this exhibit except for Family Premium Members and above. Ask us about our Museums for All program. For more information, please call (956) 682-0123 or visitwww.theimasonline.org

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Join us for fun activities, free healthy food for school-age children, a mini-health fair, and a Read-a-thon! Learn about the different programs the library is offering this Summer, including the Summer Reading.