The City of McAllen is preparing for this year’s McAllen Independence Day Celebration presented by H-E-B. The annual celebration will take place July 3 with an early morning patriotic program. Immediately following is the Main Street Parade and then the family-friendly Freedom Festival at Archer Park. Music, food and games will be some of the highlights of the event.
The City of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting entries for this year’s festivities. Businesses, civic and youth groups, nonprofit organizations, and especially veterans and veterans’ groups may participate in the parade and other festivities.
Parade Participation
All entries for the parade should feature a patriotic theme. Entries should fit into one of the following categories: antique vehicles, marching/walking, color guard, vehicle club, float, horses, band or pageant. Entries for businesses are $50 and non-profits can enter at no cost as long they provide a 501 C(3).
Entry forms for the parade are available by request via email to pardmarketing@mcallen.net or calling 956-681-3333. Forms are also available at the McAllen Parks and Recreation Office, 1000 South Ware Road. The deadline for parade entries is June 21. There will be a parade entry meeting with all participants the week before the event.
Independence Day 4K Run
The Independence Day 4K Run starts at 7 a.m. The City of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with Team Red White and Blue, a national veterans’ organization whose mission it is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. The race, which is just under 2.5 miles, is open to anyone ages 7 years and up. The event takes place at McAllen Municipal Park, 1921 North Bicentennial Boulevard, with the race starting and ending at the park.
The registration fee is $20. The first 300 runners will also receive a runner’s shirt and a finisher medal. All proceeds from the race will benefit the local chapter of Team RWB.
To learn more or to register for the race, visit www.mcallenparks.net or call the City of McAllen Parks Department at 956-681-3333.
More Event Activities
Other activities scheduled for the day include the Patriotic Program, which will begin at 8 a.m. from Archer Park, located at 101 North Main Street. Immediately following is the Main Street Parade which will run along Main Street from Houston Avenue to Beech Avenue. Attendees can then enjoy the festivities at Freedom Festival at Archer Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring classic family fun, music, food and games.
Later in the day, from 6-10 p.m. Municipal Park is the site for food, live music and entertainment. Starting at 9 p.m., the Concert in the Sky fireworks extravaganza will go live from Municipal Park.
The public can listen to the fireworks set to patriotic music by tuning in to 710-AM KURV. The fireworks will also broadcast live on MCN 1300 on Spectrum Cable for McAllen residents and at mcallen.net. The public may also view via the McAllen mobile 3-1-1 app or over the air antenna channel 57.1 KAZH-LP.
The McAllen Independence Day Celebration is presented by H-E-B. Other sponsors include Lack’s, Driscoll Health Plan, Driscoll Health System, Reliant, Stripes Laredo Taco Company and Clark Chevrolet.