Good morning, McAllen.

Pharr will host its annual Avocado Festival on October 11 in downtown Pharr from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.—the event is organized by the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce and will offer family fun and local entertainment that celebrates avocados' economic impact in the Rio Grande Valley.

Local roaster Moonbeans Coffee is facing higher coffee bean prices due to a severe drought in Brazil and tariffs—forcing the business to shift to smaller producers.

The company will move to a new location in Edinburg in October—hoping to keep its coffee accessible to local customers.

On Monday, a vigil was held outside the Hidalgo County Courthouse to honor Donna teen Genaro Isaiah 'Izzy' Castillo—whose convicted killer, Carlos Contreras, was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics data shows that the number of pedestrians crossing the Texas—Mexico international bridges is down 50 percent from last year.

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos has urged federal officials to better support Mexican shoppers and tourists as the drop may affect local commerce.

Mike Willis, executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association, said Texas Workforce Commission figures for August showed that the crackdown on undocumented immigrants tightened labor markets in construction, hospitality, and agriculture, which may lead to further job shortages if future hiring does not improve — manufacturing also lost 3,400 jobs and wage increases appear to be stabilizing around 4%.

Yesterday, the McAllen Fire Department honored 13 new firefighters who graduated from its fire academy at a special ceremony with in-house training praised by officials.

Fire Chief Juan Gloria and City Manager Isaac Tawil said the event showcased the discipline, support, and commitment these firefighters will bring to the community.

A photographer will film the Friday night football game to capture close-up views of the action — giving local fans a fresh look at the play.

Anime Fiesta - Friday

12:00 – 1:30 PM — McAllen Convention Center — Entry Fees Apply — Celebrate Japanese animation and pop culture with guests, panels, and cosplay contests.

MS Community Program

10 AM – 3 PM — Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance — Free entry — Engage in informative discussions with MS professionals and fellow warriors about living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Chezile Concert

7-11 p.m. — Cine El Rey — All ages — Rising indie artist Chezile makes his Rio Grande Valley debut with special guest Alex Banin.

Alicia Villarreal Concert

8:00 – 9:30 p.m. — McAllen Performing Arts Center — Ticket info available — Experience the electrifying performance of Alicia Villarreal on her Donde Todo Comenzó 2.0 Tour 2025.

12th Annual South Texas Book Festival

11 AM – 5 PM — McAllen Public Library — Free entry — Celebrate books, culture, and imagination with activities and authors for all ages.

ORION 224 Concert

7:30-11:30 p.m. — Cine El Rey — Tickets available — Experience the captivating sounds of ORION 224 with live performances of their latest hits.