We always have this event, prior to COVID, just to thank them for everything.
EDINBURG — The sound of slot machines ringing and a local band’s performance of “Bad Moon Rising” filled the room at the Region One Education Service Center here in Edinburg on Friday.
Sitting at the machines were winter tourists residing in the Rio Grande Valley for the season trying their hand at a shot at winning prizes such as home decor, TVs and gift cards.
Some had their spouse by their side and a little bit of luck.
The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual Casino Day on Friday, its first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Nayeli Zenteno, director of marketing and tourism for the chamber, winter visitors couldn’t wait to get back to South Texas for a little fun.
“People were really excited to have it back,” Zenteno explained, adding that they expected to see at least 200 to 300 attendees at Friday’s event.
Ronnie Larralde, executive director of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, said events such as Casino Day are a way for the city to show their appreciation for Winter Texans who contribute much to the economy.
“We do have a big economic impact from Winter Texans, they come and stay in our RV parks, they contribute to the economy by visiting our restaurants and gassing,“ Larralde said, adding that Winter Texans not only help the economy but they are also very active in the community with volunteer work. “We always have this event, prior to COVID, just to thank them for everything.”
Although the pandemic did take a toll on the number of winter visitors in the Valley, Larralde explained that they are seeing an uptick in winter tourists as COVID restrictions continue to loosen.
“You’re starting to see more of that travel, and I think it’ll get there back to where the normal figures used to be,” Larralde said.
In fact, Larralde said that many of the Winter Texans were asking for the city to bring back Casino Day.
“We’ve been getting the new generation of Winter Texans in the Rio Grande Valley so this is kind of something different that we’ve done for that new generation,” Zenteno explained. “They like to do more active activities, I think people think that Winter Texans just want to play Bingo and square dance and that’s not the case anymore. They want to do fun things that are entertaining like Casino Day or disco nights.”
This is your winter, this is my other summer.
Linda Vandamme-Yoke, a 75-year-old native of Iowa attended the event with her husband Joe Yoke, who chose to spend his 74th birthday at Casino Day.
“You got everything. You got food, prizes, casino and lots of good music,” Vandamme-Yoke said, adding her husband was excited to play Blackjack.
“I’m just learning so I’ll probably do the slot machine,” Vandamme-Yoke said with a laugh.
Barb Koupal, a native of South Dakota, also attended Friday’s event excited to try her hand at the slot machines and Blackjack.
“I went last time when it was over at the convention center and had a great time, so I thought I should do it again,” Koupal said.
Koupal has been visiting the Valley during the winter for the past four years, she explained that she enjoys attending Winter Texan events because they introduce her to the various places she could visit while in the area.
For Koupal, who described herself as an outdoors person, she was excited to learn more about the birding center while at Casino Day.
“I love it down here. It’s nice to not fall on the ice and break yourself,” Koupal said jokingly. “This is your winter, this is my other summer.”
To see more, view Monitor photojournalist Joel Martinez’s full photo gallery here:
Photo Gallery: Winter Texans test their luck at Edinburg’s Casino Day
