Del Rio weekend guide highlights Cinco de Mayo festivities at Brown Plaza

Brown Plaza is the weekend’s main gathering point

Cinco de Mayo at Historic Brown Plaza gives Val Verde County a clear place to take the family, meet neighbors, and build the weekend around one central civic tradition. The celebration runs from Sunday, May 2, through Tuesday, May 5, at 305 E. Canal St. in Del Rio, with Sunday hours from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The opening ceremony is set for Sunday at 4 p.m., followed by the Parade of Nations at 7:45 p.m. The Del Rio Chamber of Commerce calendar lists the parade route as Garza Street to Barron Street, which makes the event feel especially public and walkable. That matters in a town like Del Rio, where a single downtown gathering can bring together children, grandparents, students, and visitors without anyone needing to travel far.

Brown Plaza carries more than one weekend’s worth of meaning. Texas Time Travel and the Val Verde County Historical Commission say the plaza was dedicated on Cinco de Mayo in 1908, restored in 1969, and remains a central place for concerts, rallies, and annual celebrations. That history gives the current festivities extra weight: the same space that has hosted generations of community moments is once again the place where the city’s public life is on display.

Best bets for families who want something to do today

If you are looking for a same-day plan with the least amount of hassle, Brown Plaza is the strongest option because it offers a fixed schedule and a familiar location. The Sunday opening ceremony at 4 p.m. and the parade at 7:45 p.m. create a built-in evening outing, and the plaza’s long history gives the event a sense of occasion that is hard to match elsewhere in town.

For families balancing younger children, dinner, and bedtime, the earlier start at 2 p.m. on Sunday is useful because it leaves room to come and go before the bigger crowd builds. The Monday and Tuesday hours, both 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., also make the celebration workable for parents who are trying to fit in work, school, and other obligations before heading downtown.

Saturday’s smaller stops give the weekend some flexibility

Del Rio’s weekend calendar also includes shorter, more practical events that can fill the gaps between bigger gatherings. Fresca Palapa Del Rio is holding a ribbon cutting at 1750 Veterans Blvd. from noon to 3 p.m., with free drink samples and live music. That makes it a low-pressure stop for residents who want a quick outing, something new to try, and an easy way to support a local business.

McCoy’s Building Supply, at 805 Spur 239, is hosting a Mother’s Day craft activity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. That is the kind of stop that works well for children, parents, and anyone looking for a hands-on project without committing the whole afternoon. On the same day, Dinosaur George’s traveling museum is at the Del Rio Civic Center, 1915 Veterans Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving families another option that is especially appealing to school-age kids.

A free health briefing with real local stakes

One of the most important upcoming events is the free New World screwworm webinar on May 6 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online. Texas Wildlife Association and Devils River Conservancy are co-hosting the session, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has been pushing research-based information in response to increased activity in Mexico.

The reason this matters is more than academic. Texas Wildlife Association describes New World screwworm larvae as feeding on living tissue and says the pest can affect livestock, wildlife, pets and people. With state and federal agencies preparing for likely encroachment into Texas from northern Mexico, the webinar carries direct value for ranchers, pet owners, hunters, and anyone who follows public health and agricultural threats in the region.

School pride and community health round out the week

The Del Rio weekend guide also points to Del Rio High School’s powderpuff football game at Walter Levermann Stadium, 100 Memorial Drive, at 6:30 p.m. on May 6. That kind of event usually draws students, parents, and classmates looking for an easy evening activity, and it adds a school-centered option to a calendar otherwise dominated by civic and cultural events.

A Community Mental Health Awareness Luncheon is listed for May 7, giving the week a serious community-service angle as well. Even without the spectacle of a parade or festival, that luncheon matters because it keeps attention on mental health as a local concern, not a private one. In a county where many families are juggling work, school, caregiving, and financial pressure, that kind of public conversation is part of the same civic fabric as the celebrations downtown.

Shopping and market plans lead into Mother’s Day

By May 9, the calendar shifts toward shopping and market events tied to Mother’s Day. The guide flags multiple options, which is useful for anyone trying to avoid a last-minute scramble for gifts or plans. Those listings may not have the pageantry of Brown Plaza, but they give residents practical ways to keep money in town and pick up something personal before the holiday.

The biggest draw for the following weekend is Del Rio Comic Con, listed as the 15th annual event at the Del Rio Civic Center. It runs Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For families, students, and anyone who likes fandom culture, that makes the civic center one of the strongest all-day options on the calendar.

Taken together, the weekend and the days just beyond it show a town with something for almost every schedule: a historic plaza celebration, a free public-health webinar, school sports, craft activities, a local business ribbon cutting, and a major comic convention. Brown Plaza remains the symbolic center, but the larger picture is a community calendar that still knows how to give people real reasons to leave the house.