Our Winter Visitors Are On the Way

And, Are We Glad!

It’s that time again. Have you noticed the influx of cars bearing out-of-state license plates? The annual trek to the Valley is in earnest, and are we glad. La Feria has had a love affair for a long time with our winter Texans who prefer to spend their winters with us rather than fire up the furnace and suffer through months of freezing temperatures.

Their welcome addition to our local population contributes to the local scene in many ways. Our visitors bring culture, their activities, and their personalities to our streets, restaurants and businesses.

Some will be arriving later this year due to their desire to cast their votes in the presidential elections back home according to one RV Park owner. Others have conjectured we will have heavier than normal traffic because of storms, Red tide, Zika virus and other annoyances in Florida and other winter destination. Time will tell.

The presence of our northern American and Canadian visitors has an impact on our fair city. So, let’s make them feel at home and give them a “Texas-style” howdy and welcome. You can do that at McDonald’s, Whataburger, or Burger King any day. Another place is La Feria’s Bailey H. Dunlap Memorial Public Library with its rows of free computers. That is a favorite gathering place for visitors and citizens alike. Oh, Yes: Don’t forget to say “howdy, stranger” when you are getting your hair cut or curled-up at one of our La Feria barber or beauty emporiums.

LA FERIA NEWS spoke with some newly arriving people and asked why they choose our area with so many other options. Besides, the obvious–the location and the winter weather–they said they find the local people pleasant and the city “nice”. Many winter Texans come from small towns up north about the size of La Feria, and just feel comfortable in our laid-back life-style.

They can’t get over that people greet you even when they don’t know you. One fellow from North Dakota exclaimed: “I like that; they don’t do that up north.”

La Feria really feels the presence of northern visitors as they participate and share in events like the Christmas parade and “Fiesta La Feria.” These people get around.

Our winter visitors are arriving, so let’s show them our Texas hospitality with a big “Howdy, partner–welcome home.”