Ever-rising gas prices have added a new word to the American vocabulary: the "staycation."
A staycation means not straying too far from the old home forty to have a good time while saving a few bucks to get you to work on Monday.
Whether you're looking for something for the family, something to rock out to or just a chance to see the rocket's red glare, there's something for you this weekend without leaving Cameron County.
The Harlingen Jaycees 4th of July Parade will start at 10 a.m. today and proceed west on Jackson, from 4th to "E" Street.
The 4th of July Family Fiesta immediately follows the parade in Gutierrez Park, at Harrison and "D" Streets. It features live rock ‘n roll oldies by The Cruisers from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free Blue Bell ice cream, free watermelon, face painting, a watermelon seed-spitting contest, and more. Everything is free which basically fits everyone's budget.
Families are encouraged to dress in red, white, and blue, bring a picnic, a blanket or some lawn chairs.
If you'd like to help out, volunteers are needed from 10 a.m. to noon to help with face painting, cutting and serving watermelon, and supervising some simple kiddy games.
RESACA FEST will have stages with music and dancing on both sides of the resaca in San Benito's Kennedy Park.
Organizer Carlos Canas said the amphitheater stage will present individual singers as well as choirs, folkloric dancers, music and dance school students and cheerleaders entertaining in 30-minute segments starting at 10 a.m. today.
Music starts at 12:30 p.m. on the Kennedy Stage and features bands such the Blue Katz, Five Foot Five and the Valles Flying Machine. At 10 p.m. Azido will take the stage and close the evening out.
THE BIG BANG will be at 9 p.m., while the Community Band performs on the stage of the Heavin Amphitheater, fireworks will light up the sky over Kennedy Park in San Benito. Patriotic music will be broadcast over KVNS 1700 AM.
About 9:15 p.m. the City of Harlingen will set off fireworks at Harlingen Field.
The biggest show will be over the Laguna Madre, between Port Isabel and South Padre Island.
It also begins at 9:15 p.m. between Marlin and Red Snapper streets.
Scheduled to last more than 25-minutes, it boasts of 225 three-inch shells, 445 four-inch shells, 175 five-inch shells, 175 six-inch shells, 20 eight-inch shells and 10 ten-inch shells.
The grand finale will have 400 three-inch shells and 25 four-inch shells featuring the following movements: A coconut and palm tree segment; a dahlia and ring segment; diadem shells; willow, rain, and a kamuro segment; comet and tiger tail highlights; a strobe segment; and a crackling segment.
The fireworks are launched off a barge anchored in the Laguna Madre Bay. The display will also be choreographed to patriotic music that is played at restaurants along the bay. For more information, call 1-800-SOPADRE (761-2373).
If you've still got any energy left on Saturday we've got more.
Bandtango on the Bay Rockfest will present Alien Ant Farm, Midnight to Twelve Supagroup, JetBlack Stare, The Jericho Machine, The Alicat Project, Zero Starr DJ Rio, DJ Roq and the Void at Tequila Frogs. It's on the Bay side of South Padre Island at 205 W. Palm at Laguna Boulevard.
Tickets cost $20, the doors open at 3 p.m. and the music starts at 4. For ticket locations checkwww.Q945rocks.com.
The Latin Breed and Silver Treviño and the Tex-Mex Kings will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Casa De Amistad, 1204 Fair Park Blvd. Tickets cost $25 at the door and $20 in advance by calling 956-226-3629.
