Join us for the Last SPI winterfest & expo - we sure have ha

Monday, February 9th:

(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 10th)

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

(Main Lobby area) Memorabilia and Connection Hut is Open. Please visit and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE!

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

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

*The Bagpipe played by Daniel Diaz for the Processional  

*The National Anthem (Leslie Blasing) 

*"Taps" by MMA Cadet Noah Trevino from Delta Company from The Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX and accompanied by Sargent Major Delvin Smythe, the Commandant of the Cadets and Bandmaster, Keith DiSantis 

*Prayer from Pastor Greg Judd of the Island Baptist Church

*Recessional song played by Daniel Diaz on the Bagpipe 

A Big Welcome by our 2026 Winterfest Hostess, Leslie Blasing.

Lobby and Exhibit Hall Cantinas are OPEN from 10am - 4:30pm. Thank you to Louie's Backyard for the cash bars 

11am - 11:30am - Main Exhibit Hall - Live Entertainment by Leslie Blasing with songs from the Vietnam Era

11:30am - 12:30pm - The 2026 All-Valley Karaoke Contest with 10 finalists from throughout the Rio Grande Valley - Dick Beyer, Rich Warren, Freddie Moya, Kimberly Holloway, Gene Peters, Jerry Freeman, Pablo Mata, Tom Rayburn, Sam Taylor, and Bill Fort

11:30am - Visit the Memorabilia and Connection Hut in the Main Lobby.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE! 

12:30pm Main Exhibit Hall - DJ Geoff Clifton will be playing dance music - Line-Dancing, Two-Steppin' and Classic Rock - Don't be shy...Request your favorite song!

12:30pm - Speaker's Auditorium Room #101 - Bob Wendler and Nicole Meadowcroft from Custom Canines Academy from Madison WI - (Auditorium doors close at 12:20pm)

1pm - 1:45pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - Live entertainment by Geoff Clifton as he performs an array of songs that will have you toe tappin' and entertained! 

2pm -Visit the Memorabilia and the Connection Hut in the Main Lobby.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE!

2:30pm - 3:00pm -Main Exhibit Hall Stage - Leslie Blasing sings tunes from 9 Eras

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The 2026 All-Valley Karaoke Contest with the 5 finalists from earlier in the day! 

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 located in Lobby

5pm - Doors close for our final SPI Winterfest & Expo at 5:00pm - Closed.  Safe travels.   

Thank you for visiting the 2026 Winterfest & Expo and we will see you all that have purchased tickets for tonight's Annual Masquerade Ball, Dinner and Dance with doors opening back up at 6:30pm. If you haven't purchased your tickets yet, go to SOS Services located at 2216 Padre Blvd Suite B, before February 5th and purchase them for $28 for this Dinner & Dance and we will see you at 6:30 when the doors reopen. Dressing up is not required, but it sure is fun!   

Purchase your Winterfest T-shirts and Caps next to the Main Exhibit Hall Stage! Everything is on sale!

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

Hilton Garden Inn - (956) 761 - 8700   This property is conveniently located across the road from the SPI Convention Center and is a Beachfront Resort

The Sand Rose - (956) 772 - 7000  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 Known for their big breakfast buffet and located close to the bridge.