Weslaco introduces downtown street jazz

WESLACO — As a next step in the ongoing effort to bolster downtown, Weslaco will be shutting down one block of Texas Boulevard for “Al Fresco Weslaco” on Thursday.

The city of Weslaco and the Economic Development Corp. are bringing in McAllen’s Rene Sandoval and the South Texas Jazz Quartet to play along the streets and have invited food and art vendors. Downtown stores will stay open late for the evening event.

The development corporation has had ongoing efforts to spruce up downtown by trying to woo small businesses and by helping to bring buildings there up to code.

“Really, it should be in any community’s mind that a vibrant downtown is the heart and soul of the community,” said Alicia Aguilar, director of business retention and marketing for the corporation. “We’ve been working towards that for a couple of years.”

Some 15 artists will be showcasing their creations along the street, where Aguilar hopes locals will shop as well as bring lawn chairs to listen to the music.

Aguilar called making the city’s downtown a place where people wanted to hang out a priority from both a community and an economic perspective. As jobs come to Weslaco, she believes, chunks of people will begin moving there permanently if they can see it as an enjoyable place to spend time.

“Things are changing around us, (and) our commerce center has shifted,” she said. “But we have to keep downtown as a center.”

For the development corporation and the city, Thursday’s event is a kind of test to see whether they can show residents what downtown businesses offer. If it works, Al Fresco Weslaco is intended to become a monthly occurrence along different downtown blocks.

“This is our inaugural event, so we’re kind of tiptoeing, putting our feet in the water and seeing if it will work,” she said. “I don’t even know what to expect.”

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Elizabeth Findell covers Pharr, San Juan, Alamo, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.