Quinta Mazatlan to Celebrate Summer’s Iconic Sound with Chicharras Live Event July 16

Quinta Mazatlan, Chicharras Live, cicadas, Valley Sereno Strings, nature, World Birding Center, family, education

Staff Report

McAllen TX – Quinta Mazatlan will host Chicharras Live on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., celebrating one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most recognizable summer sounds. Admission is $5 for adults and children, with children ages 2 and under admitted free. Tickets are available at events.ticketleap.com/events/quintamazatlan.

The evening will feature live music by Valley Sereno Strings in the park, live cicada rhythmic buzzing in the woods, a Storybook in the Woods: Cicada Symphony presentation, educational booths and crafts, and a drinks and food booth.

Chicharras, the Spanish word for cicadas, are a fixture of Rio Grande Valley summers. There are reportedly 11 cicada species found in the Rio Grande Valley, and South Texas cicadas are annual, meaning some individuals mature every year, making their chorus a reliable part of the season. The giant cicada is particularly abundant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where its calls have been compared to various power tools, motors, fan belts, and steam engines.

Quinta Mazatlan is an urban sanctuary working to enrich people’s lives by sharing knowledge about birds, plants, and environmental stewardship in South Texas. The 20-acre Tamaulipan Thornforest property is part of the World Birding Center organization and is under the stewardship of the City of McAllen Parks and Recreation Department. Quinta Mazatlan is located at 600 Sunset Drive in McAllen. 

Source – Quinta Mazatlan