HARLINGEN — It will be a jumpstart of sorts for the Fourth of July holiday tonight and Saturday.
Harlingen Art Night starts the events tonight at 6 p.m. in downtown Harlingen, with more than 20 studios, galleries and restaurants participating.
Next up is the Harlingen Social Bike Ride sponsored by the Harlingen-San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization at 7 p.m.
Riders will assemble at the downtown city parking lot at 150 East Monroe Ave., right behind The Prelude Songwriters’ Club.
The easy riders will complete a 7.3-mile loop, finishing right back where they started downtown.
The third event of the evening will be the first of three Movies in the Park, an idea the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has resurrected after several years of dormancy.
Tonight’s movie is “Moana,” and will be held at Lozano Plaza downtown beginning at sundown, which is around 8:30 p.m.
All three of the events are free to attend.
“We’re very happy to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with all these activities, especially those that bring awareness to the downtown area,” Downtown Manager Edward Meza said yesterday.
“It’s going to be a great weekend starting out on Friday with the movies and Art Night, and continuing with Market Days and Freedom Fest,” Meza added. “And the weather seems like it’s going to be great.”
Jackson Street Market Days kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday and goes until 3 p.m.
Freedom Fest, at Lon C. Hill Park, kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday and goes until 11 p.m.
Performers include Jon Wolfe, Zane Williams, Ralphie and the Cruisers, Jaime Y Los Chamacos and Paul Trevino.
Fireworks will be loaded and ready to fire at 9 p.m., and a beer garden and food vendors will be onsite as well.
There is no charge for admission to Freedom Fest.
Kick off the weekend
Tonight
Harlingen Art Night — Downtown, 6 to 9 p.m.
Movies in the Park — “Moana,” Lozano Plaza, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Harlingen Social Bike Ride — City parking lot, 150 East Monroe Ave., 7 p.m.
Tomorrow
Jackson Street Market Days — Downtown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Freedom Fest — Lon C. Hill Park, 4 to 11 p.m.
