2025 scheduled events

Monday, February the 10th:

(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 12th)

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

(Room #202) Memorabilia and Connection Room is Open. Please visit and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. 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) 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 from Echo Company and 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 and then a Prayer from Pastor Greg Judd of the Island Baptist Church.  

A big Welcome by our 2025 Winterfest Hostess, Leslie Blasing.

Lobby and Exhibit Hall Cantinas are OPEN!! (The 10th from 10am - 5pm and the11th from 10am -3pm) 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 Era

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

11:30am - Visit the Memorabilia and Connection Room #202.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE! 

11:30am-Noon - Main Exhibit Hall - Tunes by DJ Geoff Clifton - Don't be shy, request your favorite tunes from the Era or maybe a modern line dance song or two?  It is up to you!

 Noon - 12:30pm Main Exhibit Hall - (Main Exhibit Hall) Stage - Geoff sings a wide variety of music for you to listen and dance to while you have lunch from Karla's Katering located at the Lobby Concession Center

12:30pm - Visit the Memorabilia and Connection Room #202.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE!

1pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - Live Music Show from "The Ladybugs Trio" - Melonie, Rennetta and Leslie performing an array of songs that will have you toe tappin' and entertained! 

Visit their Vendor Booth to purchase tickets to their Production Show on Wednesday, the 12th at the Marriott Ballroom from 2-4pm $20 Tickets are available for purchase.

2pm -Visit the Memorabilia and the Connection Room #202.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. 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 the Vietnam Era

3:30pm - 4:30pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The 2025 All-Valley Karaoke Contest with 10 finalists from throughout the Valley: (in no particular order) Arvin Hill, Chuck Ellis, Adrian Deriks, Bill Fort, Camie Stottenberg, Karen Bell, Michael Zettervall, Anabel Garcia, Leo Mendoza, and Jim Parcel. 5 Contestants will be moving on to the Finals for Tuesday, the 11th.

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 2025 Winterfest & Expo and we will see you back here tomorrow!  

Purchase your 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 11th 

(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 12th)

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

(Room #202) Memorabilia and Connection Room is Open. Please visit and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. 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 - 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 11th from 10am - 3pm) Thank you to Louie's Backyard!! 

11am - 11:30am Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The One and Only, The Incredible Entertainer - Curt James!!  Singing an array of Songs for Dancing and Entertaining!! Make sure to visit him at the Entertainer's Vendor Booth for his upcoming schedules and purchase his merchandise.

11:30am - Visit the Memorabilia and Connection Room #202.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE!

Noon - Main Exhibit Hall - Geoff Clifton DJ music for Dancing, Drinks and Lunchtime Tunes - Don't be shy, request your favorite tunes from the Era or maybe a modern line dance song or two?  It is up to you!

12pm - 1pm - Speaker's Auditorium Room #101 - Oral History with Bob Wendler and Nicole Meadowcroft from Custom Canines Academy from Madison WI (The Auditorium doors will close at 12:15pm)

12:30 - 1pm Main Exhibit Hall Stage - Leslie Blasing with an array of Music from Country, Rock and Pop for Dancing 

1pm - Visit the Memorabilia and Connection Room #202.  Please sign up and let us know what branch of service that you were in, when and where you served throughout the world during the Era. Who knows, you just might find someone HERE that you knew THERE!

1:30pm-2:30pm - Main Exhibit Hall Stage - The 2025 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 2025 

Purchase your 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 2025 Winterfest Expo!

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

Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased before the cutoff date of February 5th.

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. 

 Hotel Rooms are available through our hotel partners, so you can "Stay and Play" here on South Padre Island before, during and after the dates of Winterfest and The Masquerade Dinner & Dance.

The rooms will fill up quickly.  

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.