2024 scheduled events

Monday, February the 12th:

(Located at the Entrance) - Anyone donating to our Local Pantries, will find the drop off area just inside the Main Entrance in the designated "FOOD BANK DONATION" area. Make sure to get your Door Prize Ticket as you enter our Main Doors to the Convention Center. 

Door prizes will be announced every 1/2 hour all day long and will be posted at the Information Booth located in the Lobby Area where they will be distributing those prizes.

Please fill out our very short survey at our survey desk in the lobby area for a chance to win prizes, including $100 Cash!! (you do not need to be present to win these prizes or cash when they are drawn on the 14th)

(Lobby) "Karla's Katering" is Open! Come and get something yummy to eat!

(Room #202) Memorabilia Room is Open.

10:00am - (Main Exhibit Hall) Visit all of our Vendor's Booths 

10:30am - (Main Exhibit Hall) 1st Day of Winterfest & Expo Opening Ceremonies! 

Bagpipe played by Aaron Magana. Color Guard Presenting of the Flags by our Brownsville American Legion Post #43, Jesus Galvan, Frank Mejia, Frank Escobedo, Enrique Martinez, Danny Lopez and Juan Gomez - The National Anthem (Leslie Blasing) Echo Taps by MMA Cadet Jonah Cox and MMA Cadet Noah Trevino from The Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX and accompanied by Sargent Major Delvin Smythe, the Commandant of the Cadets and Bandmaster, Keith DiSantis and then a Prayer from Pastor Greg Judd of the Island Baptist Church.  

A big Welcome by our Winterfest Hostess, Leslie Blasing.

Lobby and Exhibit Hall Cantinas are OPEN!! (The 12th from 10am - 5pm and the13th from 10am -3pm) Thank you to Louie's Backyard!! 

11am - 11:45 am Live Music with Curt James

11:30am - 12:30pm - Speaker's Auditorium Room #101 - Bob Wendler and Nicole Meadowcroft - (Auditorium doors close at 11:45am)

11:30am - Visit the Memorabilia Room #202 

12:30pm - 2pm - (Main Exhibit Hall) Stage -Live Music by Vince Moreno

2pm - 2:45 in the Auditorium Room #101 - Oral History of Vietnam with Marine Purple Heart Recipient and Ex-Mayor of South Padre Island, Robert Pinkerton (Auditorium doors close at 2:15pm)

Main Exhibit Hall Stage - Live Music by Rick McEwen - 2:30 - 3:15pm

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The 2024 All-Valley Karaoke Contest with 5 Contestants moving on to the Finals for Tuesday, the 13th.

These are the 2024 Finalists: Gary Baker, Karen Bell, Trey Fudge, Angelica Galindo, Anabel Garcia, Arvin Hill, Marcia Lawrence, Abby Lopez, Lisa Pedraza and Gene Peters

4:30pm - Make sure to take another last-minute visit with our wonderful Vendors!!

4:45pm - Last call for all Door Prizes to be Claimed at the Information Booth

5pm - Doors close for the 1st Day of Winterfest 5:00pm - Closed.  Safe travels.   

Thank you for visiting the 2024 Winterfest & Expo and we will see you back here tomorrow!  

Purchase your 2024 Winterfest T-shirts and Caps next to the Main Exhibit Hall Stage!

AN ENORMOUS THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE NVVs (Non-Volunteer Volunteers - in other words, my very close friends) THAT MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE - YOU KNOW THAT I COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO DO THIS EVENT WITHOUT YOU!!  THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU ALL!  SAFE TRAVELS. 

Tuesday, February the 13th 

(Located at the Entrance) - Anyone donating to our Local Pantries, will find the drop off area just inside the Main Entrance in the designated "FOOD BANK DONATION" area. Make sure to get your Door Prize Ticket as you enter our Main Doors to the Convention Center. 

Door prizes will be announced every 1/2 hour all day long and will be posted at the Information Booth located in the Lobby Area where they will be distributing those prizes.

Please fill out our very short survey at our survey desk in the lobby area for a chance to win prizes, including $100 Cash!! (you do not need to be present to win these prizes or cash when they are drawn on the 14th)

(Lobby) "Karla's Katering" is Open! Come and get something yummy to eat!

(Room #202) Memorabilia Room is Open.

10:00am - (Main Exhibit Hall) Visit all of our Vendor's Booths 

10:30am - (Main Exhibit Hall) 2nd Day of Winterfest & Expo!! 

The National Anthem (Leslie Blasing) and a Prayer.  

A big Welcome by our Winterfest Hostess, Leslie Blasing.

Lobby and Exhibit Hall Cantinas are OPEN!! (The 13th from 10am - 3pm) Thank you to Louie's Backyard!! 

11am - 12:30pm (Main Exhibit Hall) Stage - Lunchtime Songs with Leslie from 11am -11:40am Dancing, Drinks and Tunes with a Special Salute to our Vietnam Veterans

Geoff Clifton 11:50am - 12:30pm Dancing, Drinks and Tunes

12pm - 1pm - Speaker's Auditorium Room #101 - Bob Wendler and Nicole Meadowcroft.  The Auditorium doors will close at 12:15pm

1:30pm-2:30pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The 2024 All-Valley Karaoke Finals with our 5 Finalists

2:30pm - Make sure to take another last-minute visit with our wonderful Vendors!!

2:45pm - Last call for all Door Prizes to be Claimed at the Information Booth

2:50pm - Closing ceremony with Leslie Blasing for the end of Winterfest and Expo 2024 with Aaron Magana (bagpipes)

Purchase your 2024 Winterfest T-shirts and Caps next to the Main Exhibit Hall Stage!

AN ENORMOUS THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE NVVs (Non-Volunteer Volunteers - in other words, my very close friends) THAT MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE - YOU KNOW THAT I COULD NOT EVEN BEGIN TO DO THIS EVENT WITHOUT YOU!!  THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU ALL!  SAFE TRAVELS. 

3pm - Doors Closed.  Safe Travels.  Thank you for visiting the 2024 Winterfest Expo!

Doors will re-open at 6pm with Open Seating for the Mardi Gras Masquerade Dinner & Dance with Leslie.  

Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased before the cutoff date of February 8th.

Tickets can be purchased at any of Leslie's scheduled appearances or call (956) 761 - 4347 and please leave a message to let us know how many tickets you are interested in purchasing and we will call you back. 

Special Hotel Room Rates are available through our exclusive hotel partners, so you can "Stay and Play" here on South Padre Island before, during and after the dates of Winterfest.

The rooms are filling up quickly.  You must book your rooms ASAP to receive these special Winterfest Rates.

Hilton Garden Inn - (956) 761 - 8700 Special rates apply for the dates of February 9th - 16th. $129 plus taxes.  This property is conveniently located across the road from the SPI Convention Center and is a Beachfront Resort

The Sand Rose - (956) 772 - 7000 $120 + taxes and will include a Free Breakfast.  This Beachfront property is located right next door to the Hilton Garden Inn and next door to Clayton's and across the road from the SPI Convention Center

La Copa - (956) 761 - 6000 dial "0" for the $80 plus taxes and a Free Full Buffet Breakfast is Included for each night that you are booked.