December 2026McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley · The City of Palms

December in McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley with little kids.

8 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.

8 listings · 3 free

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

5 listings

Dec 1 to Dec 6

Dec3to 5

Christmas in the Park

Municipal Park, 1921 Bicentennial Blvd. · McAllen

Parade or tree lightingFree
When
Dec 3 to Dec 5
Time
Thu–Fri 5–11pm; Sat noon–11pm
Price
Free admission; carnival bracelet $25
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

3 listings

Open for weeks at a time

Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.

Dec1to 28

South Pole Illuminated Festival

McAllen Convention Center and Oval Park · 700 Convention Center Blvd., McAllen, TX

Holiday lights
When
Nov 28 to Dec 28
Time
Wed, Thu and Sun 5:30–9:30 p.m.; Fri and Sat 5:30–10:30 p.m.
Price
Not listed on the festival page
Event pageOfficial page ↗Checked
Know one we missed?Send us the organizer’s page and we’ll check it.Suggest an event

Guides

More December guides for McAllen

Santa visits in McAllenBreakfasts, photos and Santa trainsChristmas lights in McAllenDrive-thru and walk-through displays

Keep planning

More for little kids in McAllen

November: things to do in McAllenEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in McAllenFree days, free events and places that never chargeThanksgiving weekend in McAllenParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayChristmas parades in McAllenParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesThis week in McAllenDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

December in McAllen: the FAQ

8 dated listings so far, including Christmas in the Park (Dec 3 to Dec 5), Downtown Harlingen Christmas Parade (Dec 4), Night of Lights Parade (Dec 4) and McAllen Holiday Parade (Dec 5). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.

Christmas in the Park (Dec 3 to Dec 5), Downtown Harlingen Christmas Parade (Dec 4) and Night of Lights Parade (Dec 4). For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in McAllen.

3 start this December: South Pole Illuminated Festival (Nov 28 to Dec 28), Hidalgo Festival of Lights (Dec 5 to Jan 3) and Santa's Experience at the Hidalgo Festival of Lights (Dec 5 to Jan 3).

Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.

The checked list, every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in McAllen that weekend.

McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley skyline