Fiesta De Nochebuena Returns To MOSTHistory Dec. 11

Photo above: Children will have the opportunity to break open a piñata filled with holiday treats during Fiesta de Nochebuena. Credit — Museum of South Texas History

EDINBURG, Texas — The Museum of South Texas History will present Fiesta de Nochebuena, a borderland-spirit holiday event featuring regional traditions, performances and Cowboy Santa, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11—rain or shine.

Returning this year is the popular “Posada Por Tiempo,” which takes guests through the museum’s Rio Grande Legacy exhibitions while telling the biblical story of María and José’s search for an inn. The “Posada Por Tiempo” performance is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Live musical performances start at 1:30 p.m. in the museum’s Courtyard Gallery. Kicking off the holiday spirit is a suite by Edinburg North High School’s orchestra directed by Moises Llanes. Barrientes Middle School Classical Guitar Ensemble, directed by Juan Amaro, will continue the performances at 2 p.m. followed by the Edinburg North High School Chamber Ensembles, directed by Chad Dempsey. Community-favorite Edinburg North High School Mariachi Oro, directed by Abel Acuña, will conclude the performances at 4 p.m.

Families and visitors are invited to enjoy fun make-and-take holiday crafts, which are included with the regular museum admission fee. Families can play classic tabletop board games such as Tic Tac Toe, Jenga and Connect 4 in the Grand Lobby. Meet Cowboy Santa in the upstairs Reading Ranch for a family photograph on real horse saddles and, for $2, take home a Polaroid print ornament. Cowboy Santa and his ranch-hand will gift a book to each child during the event, a generous donation from Lisa Gorena.

Spotlight exhibits will feature a display of vintage toys in the Grand Lobby, poinsettia trees in the Mezzanine and the “Bishop Raymundo Peña Nativity Scene Collection” in the Store Arcade. Spotlight exhibits are included with the regular museum admission fee.

Grind Coffee Company will sell hot and cold coffee beverages and Mexican pan dulce. The drink menu will include holiday drinks such as Mexican Mocha and Maple Lattes. Don’t forget to visit the Museum Store for a chance to finish—or start—holiday shopping with an array of educational books, fun plush toys, unique jewelry and custom-made products. The event will close with the breaking of a holiday piñata in the Heritage Courtyard at 4:30 p.m.—weather pending.

Admission fees for Fiesta de Nochebuena are $9 for adults (ages 18+); $6 for seniors with ID (ages 62+), active military and students with ID (ages 13+); $5 for children (ages 4 to 12) and free for children ages 3 and younger. FRIENDS of MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must provide an active FRIENDship card at admission. For more information on the event or becoming a FRIEND, please call 956-383-6911 or visit www.mosthistory.org/events

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About Museum of South Texas Historyhttp://www.mosthistory.org/events

The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 N. Closner Blvd. on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Hours of operation are Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and find us on YouTube or call +1-956-383-6911.