The reason why we celebrate the onion festival here is since it was produced in Weslaco, and we actually just streamed our documentary last week about it.
Rio Grande Valley residents are just days away from getting their onion blossom on.
The annual Texas Onion Fest will be kicking off in Weslaco on Saturday for an event the city’s chamber of commerce bills as “bigger than ever.”
Slated from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. downtown Weslaco on Texas Boulevard and Kansas Avenue, from Business 83 to Sixth Street, the festival will include performances by Chente Barrera, Virginia y Valor, Wreckless Texas and Midnight Run. There will be music and other entertainment on two stages.
Grupo Intenso will close the festival on a night they’re also celebrating their 25th anniversary.
The festival celebrates the development of the sweet Texas onion, otherwise known as the 1015 onion. This 1015 onion, which gets its name from the Oct. 15 planting date, was developed in Weslaco at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Entertainment for children, such as kids rides, as well as pet costume contests, dancing horses and the onion eating contests all make up additional festivities residents have come to know and love through the years. The cost for access to the kids zone is $10 for wristbands.
The festival’s beloved mascot, Tex, will also be on-hand and was recently seen in a TikTok video dancing with the city’s royal court.
In addition, the event has long been an excuse for people with a craving for onion blossoms, also known as a blooming onion, to satisfy their appetite for the fried food that so many love to dip in ranch or something zesty.
Other events will include a health fair and car show, and the U.S. Army will be recruiting on the grounds of the festival as well.
“The reason why we celebrate the onion festival here is since it was produced in Weslaco, and we actually just streamed our documentary last week about it,” Leslie Rios, event and visitor specialist for the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce, said about “The Million Dollar Baby: 1015,” a documentary about the development of the sweet Texas onion’s development which will be shown at the Weslaco Museum during the course of the festival Saturday.
Rios also said there will be prizes for people who find special gold-wrapped onions at the festival grounds.
Call the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce at (956) 968-2102 or visit www.weslaco.com for more information.
