Birders looking for an escape to the Birding Capital of the World will be excited to find out about McAllen’s latest contest package.
The McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau is giving away a one-week stay in McAllen, and a day of birding with a nature expert.
A winner will be chosen before Christmas, so this could make someone’s holidays very happy.
To enter the contest, visit the McAllen CVB websiteand fill out the form.
KURV 710 AM is celebrating Halloween with “Howl-O-Ween Pet-acular,” a pet costume contest. Participants can submit photos of their pets dressed up for the holiday between Tuesday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 21.
All of the eligible photos will be posted in a gallery on KURV’s website and listeners will be able to vote for their favorite photo. The entry with the most votes by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, will win.
The grand prize winner will receive a $250 pet food certificate from Martin Farm and Ranch and a cruise or land trip for two from Chuck Olsen Tours.
For more information on the contest and rules, visit KURV.com.
Students at the University of Texas-Pan American are being given the chance to meet celebrated author and educator Dr. Maya Angelou when she comes to speak at the Distinguished Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the UTPA Fine Arts Auditorium in Edinburg.
The essay contest is open only to students currently enrolled at UTPA. Writers must choose one work by Angelou and discuss how it has connected him/her to the human experience. Essays may not exceed 500 words, it must be typed and in essay form only. The contest deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17.
Entries must be emailed to studentunion@utpa.edu. Each essay must also include a completed entry form, which can be downloaded here.
For more information, call (956) 665-7989.
There will be a big giveaway after all the festivities during the 29th annual Candlelight Posada on Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, at Archer Park in McAllen.
Watch the lighted Christmas parade on Main Street and the lighting of the mayor’s Christmas tree on Friday night. Then play games and enjoy activities both days, watch the reenactment of the nativity scene with Mary and Joseph seeking shelter. Enjoy live music, food and entertainment for the whole family.
And then make sure you’re there when the winner is announced for a complete in-ground swimming pool ($21,900) from RGV Flamingo Pools International. (The winner must be present to win.)
Sign up for the drawing for free at RGV Flamingo Pools International booth starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Archer Park.
WHEN: Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3
WHERE: Archer Park, 101 N. Broadway St., McAllen
COST: Free
If country is hunting and killing a deer for dinner, Easton Corbin is a little more country than that. He takes down an elk.
The country singer will be performing at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at the Pharr Events Center.
Corbin, who almost sounds like he’s channeling George Strait, is the definition of a breakout artist, with more than half a dozen award nominations in categories like “Top New Solo Vocalist” and “New Artist of the Year.” In 2010, he won three American Country Awards, including two for the single and video “I’m a Little More Country Than That.”
He grew up in a small rural town in Florida, and as one might expect, working on his grandparents’ cattle farm.
So playing traditional country music makes sense for the all-American country boy.
His self-titled debut album peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard U.S. Country chart, and his single “I’m a Little More Country Than That” soared to No. 1, along with the hit “Roll With It.”
As country as Corbin is, he isn’t a stranger to social media. In August, the country star kept his fans up to date with tweets about being in the studio working on new material.
Corbin spoke with Festiva about his live show, what’s on his iPod and which music he listens to while working out.
FESTIVA: How does your live show compare to what people hear on their iPod?
CORBIN: Obviously, we play the record, but we also play songs, covers, that I love just to mix it up a little bit. Being a new artist, we’ve only got three hits, so it’s one of those deals where you kind of have to improvise a little bit — especially being out there for an hour and 15 minutes.
FESTIVA: What’s on your iPod?
CORBIN: I got a lot of stuff on my iPod … I’ve been listening to a lot of Johnny Rodriguez stuff. You know, I like to discover a lot of older artists and stuff like that. I listen to a lot of Hank (Williams) Jr., George Strait, Merle (Haggard) and those kinds of guys, Keith Whitley, I love all that.
FESTIVA: Is there anything other than country that you listen to?
CORBIN: It’s funny, I listen to a lot of classic rock when I work out and stuff, it gets you pumped up and stuff. But it’s funny, hell; I’ll listen to Hank Jr. when I work out.
WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25
WHERE: Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage Blvd.
COST: $25 to $45
BUY TICKETS: Pharr Events Center box office, www.ticketmaster.com
The City of McAllen wants to give a lucky RGV resident free jewelry, courtesy of some local jewelers.
Starting Monday, Aug. 15, Valley residents who are 18 years or older may submit an entry online at the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau website explaining why they should win the prize.
A random selection of entries will be chosen and then judged based on what was written. A winner (or winners) will be announced Saturday, Oct. 22.
For more information on the contest, visit the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website.
Has your child done something extraordinary? Little Busy Bodies, the creator of Boogie Wipes, is asking parents to nominate their children for a nationwide contest. Children who win will be featured on their 90-count canisters. The company is looking for “ordinary kids doing extraordinary things.” Parents can enter their children online by explaining their children’s accomplishments. Three winners will be chosen and featured on the Boogie Wipes canister. To enter the contest a photo must be submitted, as well as a story explaining their accomplishment. A YouTube or video clip of the child’s version of the story can be submitted but is not required to win. Each child should be between the ages of 2 years old and 10. For more information click here or visit Savethesleeve.com
>>> To compete for a pair of tickets to see Abandon, post a comment on our Facebook page answering this question: Which song is your personal anthem?<<<
Comments must be posted by 8 a.m. Thursday, July 28. Winner(s) will be selected at random and notified via Facebook.
—
For a Christian band, Abandon is gaining fans in some unorthodox ways.
Last week, the band flew out to Los Angeles to film a promotional music video for FOX Sports. The video will be used for network promotional commercials during the next two months for the upcoming college football season.
And fans of The Food Network and ESPN may have heard the uplifting and motivating “Live It Out,” a track off of Abandon’s latest album, in the past two months.
The exposure is helping bring secular fans to the San Antonio-based spiritual group.
In 2008, Abandon broke onto the Christian rock scene with its indie alternative rock sound but the band’s second studio album “Control,” released earlier this year, takes a decidedly more upbeat turn.
The album is packed with life-affirming anthems full of joy and modern synth-tinged upbeat tunes.
Fun and danceable, sure, but “Control” is also a Christian album, though the message isn’t smack-you-in-the-face-with-a-Bible overt.
Ahead of the band’s concert this weekend in Harlingen, front man Josh Engler spoke with Festiva about trying to live a Christian life as the lead singer of a band, God on Facebook and where he was on the failed “Day of Rapture” (May 21).
FESTIVA: As a Christian you’re trying to live life a certain way, walk a certain path; what are some of the struggles you deal with daily?
JOSH: “Trust, I guess. And timing, and trusting in God’s timing. Those are some of the things that I regularly deal with. It’s weird being in a band and this journey of balancing; trying to become successful and have a sustainable career and time with family and ministry.”
FESTIVA: How would you feel about achieving major mainstream success but possibly having your message fall on deaf ears?
JOSH: “At the core, we’re definitely artists, and our faith inspires us to create music, so ultimately, when we’re asked about our faith, we’ll talk about it. We’re definitely not trying to convert everyone because we don’t really think that everyone will be converted anyway. …More than even talking, we believe that our faith’s better walked out, rather than talked out. We’d rather show love … there’s too much judgment in the world.”
FESTIVA: There’s no denying the five of you are very attractive. How do you feel about some people taking interest in Abandon because of the collective hotness?
JOSH: “Thank you. You know, God gives some people certain gifts and we’re thankful for the ones he’s given us. (laughs)”
FESTIVA: If Jesus had access to the internet, would he use social media to bring people to him?
JOSH: “Absolutely. You know, (the Bible) talks about when Christ returns that every eye will see and every ear will hear. …I think it may happen through technology. I definitely don’t view technology as a bad thing or the Antichrist or whatever some people might claim it to be. …(God) is my friend on Facebook.”
FESTIVA: Where were you guys on May 21, the supposed Day of Rapture?
JOSH: “We were actually playing a concert, and we stopped the show at the time it was supposed to happen and just had a pause, you know, and then resumed. Yeah, it was funny. Everybody accused that guy (Harold Camping) of being a wacko, a kook, and he just needs to read his Bible a little bit more. We didn’t stress. …When it happens, it’ll happen.”
WITH: The Clay Refinery, Heart of Worship
WHEN: (Doors open at 5 p.m.) 7 p.m. Sunday, July 31
WHERE: Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1204 Fair Park Blvd.
COST: $8, general admission
BUY TICKETS: Viva Life Christian Bookshop, 6601 N. 10th St., McAllen; Molly’s Gifts and Bibles, 1710 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen; Faith Bookstore, 421 Paredes Line Road, Brownsville or online at www.myharlingenarts.com
ONLINE: http://www.myharlingenarts.com
Payne Weslaco Motors and 105.5 FM The X want to make you a rock star – for a weekend, anyway.
The first 10 people to register each week at the car dealership between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, Saturday, Aug. 13, and Saturday, Aug. 27, will get the chance to perform for a panel of judges.
Local radio DJ Hitman will be there, along with 105.5 FM The X, and The Marshall Law Band will perform.
The top four singers will compete again at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, for a chance to win a South Padre Island weekend package valued at $1,000.
Competitors will need to choose one of the songs below to sing.
MALE: “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Hot Blooded” by Foreigner, “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” by Judas Priest, “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC or “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band
FEMALE: “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett, “All I Wanna Do (Is Have Some Fun)” by Sheryl Crow, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benetar, “Barracuda” by Heart or “When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt
WHEN: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, July 23, Aug. 13, and Aug. 27
WHERE: Payne Weslaco Motors, 2401 E. Expressway 83, Weslaco
COST: Free
CALL: (956) 246-4079
A great bartender can take a mediocre martini and make it marvelous. So where do you find the perfect bartender? Possibly at the South Texas Bartender Throwdown happening at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at Alhambra Restaurant in McAllen.
Local bartenders will compete for bragging rights as the best bartender in the Valley. Four judges will score the cocktail masters on general bar knowledge, speed and best signature drink. There will also be a “People’s Choice” award.
Donations will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31
WHERE: Alhambra, 519 S. 17th Street, McAllen
COST: $25 donation
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