Original release date: Oct. 21, 2026.
McALLEN, Texas — The City of McAllen has added radio personalities Johnjay Van Es and Payton Whitmore to the lineup for this year’s McAllen Holiday Parade, scheduled for Dec. 5.
Van Es, co-host of the nationally syndicated Johnjay & Rich Show, will join parade hosts Michael Irvin and Julián Gil. Whitmore will serve as a featured commentator for the event, according to the city.
The announcement also adds former professional golfer Lorena Ochoa to the parade’s Grand Marshal team. The parade is presented with support from H-E-B and Bert Ogden.
City officials said the season’s programming also includes parade-related activities, a 5K run and a pet costume contest. Tickets, volunteer information and event updates are available through the McAllen Holiday Parade website.
The annual event brings residents and visitors to McAllen for a nighttime parade built around illuminated floats, performances and holiday programming.
AI-generated image for illustration purposes.
