Visit Harlingen

Visit Harlingen Welcome to Harlingen, Texas! We are the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. Check out our attractions and hotels during your stay in Harlingen!

Harlingen is a vibrant city known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and warm hospitality. Then & Now

Harlingen, Texas was destined to become a crossroads from the moment Lon C. Hill placed his frontier town next to the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway track in 1904. Railroad crews had nicknamed the rugged settlement Six Shooter Junction before the train even arrived. At the cent

er of fertile farmland laced with irrigation canals, Harlingen weathered bandit raids and floods to become an unrivaled agriculture shipping center by the 1920’s. World War II brought an aerial gunnery school followed in 1952 by Harlingen Air Force Base – whose property has since been redeveloped into Texas State Technical College, University Articulation Center, and Valley International Airport – the region’s largest and busiest airport. Today, Harlingen’s palms, parrots and picture-perfect subtropical climate welcome visitors to a fun-filled getaway. Enjoy year round golf and amazing bird watching. Go shopping at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, or in Jackson Street’s antique district. Visit the Iwo Jima Monument and Memorial – this stunning outdoor sculpture is on the grounds of Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy, and is the original from which the monument in Arlington, Virginia was cast. Explore the World Birding Center brimming with colorful Green Jays, wild Parakeets, and chattering Chachalacas – all this and much more, only minutes from the beaches of South Padre Island and the legendary Laguna Madre Bay. A One-Stop Shop

Harlingen is home to the newest Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, America’s most popular outdoor store. This store is a perfect combination of a museum, art gallery, aquarium, outdoor conservation education and entertainment. Each store is uniquely themed to the region in which they are located so that no two stores are alike. The Harlingen store offers 3 ½ football fields of shopping excitement, and a unique underwater themed restaurant and bar with twelve bowling lanes. The outdoors are brought inside with distinctive flora and fauna including massive log and rock work, large aquariums and water features stocked with native fish species, and beautiful hand-painted murals throughout. In contrast, Harlingen’s Historic Downtown brims with boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants. If you still haven’t had enough retail therapy, Harlingen also offers Valle Vista Mall and other retail developments. Just a few minutes down the road in Mercedes, Texas are the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets. This 140-outlet mall is the premier destination for shoppers looking for impressive savings on designer brands like Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sakes Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Banana Republic, Gap Outlet, Juicy Couture, Lacoste, BCBG Max Azria, and much more. Location is key when visiting the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). That is why Harlingen is a magnet for visitors and Winter Texans alike. Centrally located between the two other major cities in the RGV – McAllen and Brownsville – Harlingen is the ideal place to stay while experiencing what the entire Rio Grande Valley has to offer whether it is spending the day on the beaches of South Padre Island, visiting the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, shopping at the RGV Premium Outlets in Mercedes, or catching a White Wings baseball game – Harlingen’s own professional baseball team – at Harlingen Field. Outdoors 365

With an average temperature of 75 degrees during the winter months Harlingen is an outdoors destination 365 days a year. A birders paradise, Harlingen is one of nine World Birding Centers in the Rio Grande Valley. The Arroyo Colorado/Hugh Ramsey Nature Park is a lovely 55-acre tract with photo blinds, nature trails, a picnic area, ponds and streams. The Harlingen Thicket is a 40-acre tract with hiking trails, a remnant of Tamaulipas native brush, and an impressive plant variety in an urban setting. Both are excellent places to see the more than 30 species of birds that can only be seen in South Texas including the Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, Harris’s Hawk, and the Great Kiskadee. While all of Texas is home to some great hunting opportunities, Harlingen’s rich landscape and year-round greenery help develop some of the larger specimens to be found in the state. Nearby ranches offer professional hunts overseen by some of the best guides in the area. Wild game in the area include White-tailed deer, Javelina, Wild hogs, Dove, Quail, Ducks, and the exotic Nilgai – originally imported from India by the King Ranch. Anglers will enjoy all of the sport fishing available along the Gulf Coast, whether it is Redfish, Snook, Tarpon or Marlin, South Texas has them all. This tropical fishing experience is unlike anything else in the U.S. offering the same angling experience that fisherman travel the world to find. Fish the ankle deep flats in the Laguna Madre on Friday and explore the sapphire waters offshore in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. A combination of Harlingen’s convenient and affordable lodging and the professional guide services available are sure to make lasting memories. The Texas International Fishing Tournament is held August. In the last seven decades the tournament has become the largest on the Texas Gulf Coast, and is ranked in the top ten billfish tournaments in the world. Harlingen is also the perfect destination for golf. In fact, according to a poll by the National Golf Foundation, the Rio Grande Valley has more playable days of golf per year than anywhere else in the United States. Harlingen has four public golf courses and one private course. Just down the road are two 18-hole championship courses at Rancho Viejo Resort and a picturesque course along the Laguna Madre Bay – the South Padre Island Golf Club. Harlingen is #1

Ranked number one as the least expensive cities in the United States by the Council for Community and Economic Research, Harlingen offers a great vacation opportunity for any budget. Harlingen allows visitors to stay in affordable-quality accommodations, and dine in a variety of unique restaurants as they sit back, relax, and experience the best of South Texas – 365 days a year.

Spend your Saturday in Downtown Harlingen! Join us on August 2nd from 9 AM to 3 PM for Market Days, where Jackson Street...
07/31/2025

Spend your Saturday in Downtown Harlingen!

Join us on August 2nd from 9 AM to 3 PM for Market Days, where Jackson Street and Centennial Park come alive with local vendors, live music, great food, and the best kind of community vibe.

What to expect at the STX Summer Blanket Fest: Picnic Pop up: 30+ vendors, crafts, and a special screening of The Prince...
07/26/2025

What to expect at the STX Summer Blanket Fest: Picnic Pop up:

30+ vendors, crafts, and a special screening of The Princess Diaries! It’s the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer with friends and family. 🧺👑🎥💐

Don't forget to bring your own blankets and lawn chairs, along with your favorite board games, coloring books, or any other picnic-friendly activity! Let’s give STX Markets a BIG Harlingen welcome and show them what our community is all about!

📆 Saturday, July 26 | 6:30pm to 10pm
📍 Lon C Hill Destination Park, Harlingen

07/25/2025

Check out what's happening in Harlingen this week!

🌞 Something New is Popping Up in Harlingen! 🛍️ Join us for a Summer Picnic & Pop-Up with great finds, cozy picnic spots,...
07/24/2025

🌞 Something New is Popping Up in Harlingen! 🛍️

Join us for a Summer Picnic & Pop-Up with great finds, cozy picnic spots, and a chance to enjoy the park in a new way. Let’s give STX Markets the warmest welcome and show them what Harlingen has to offer. 🌳

📆 Sat, July 26, 2025 | 6:30pm - 10pm
📍 Lon C. Hill Park (1217 Fair Park Blvd, Harlingen)

🌟Harlingen Art Night is this Friday🌟Come on down to Downtown Harlingen this Friday, July 25th, for Harlingen Art Night! ...
07/24/2025

🌟Harlingen Art Night is this Friday🌟

Come on down to Downtown Harlingen this Friday, July 25th, for Harlingen Art Night! Stroll the streets of the Downtown District, experience over 70 local artists, live music, and more.

🎨Bring the family for a night of culture and fun.
⌚7:00PM-10:00PM
📆 Friday, July 25th

☕ Join us for Coffee with the Mayor on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m. at Richard’s Mexican-American Grill (1116 S. Comm...
07/21/2025

☕ Join us for Coffee with the Mayor on Wednesday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m. at Richard’s Mexican-American Grill (1116 S. Commerce St.)!

Let’s come together to share ideas, ask questions, and build a stronger community one cup at a time. 💬✨

The Harlingen Police Department will host their annual National Night Out on August 5th!
07/21/2025

The Harlingen Police Department will host their annual National Night Out on August 5th!

The RGV Red Crowns SC are proud to host FC Dallas U23s in a special friendly match with proceeds going to support the vi...
07/19/2025

The RGV Red Crowns SC are proud to host FC Dallas U23s in a special friendly match with proceeds going to support the victims of the devastating floods in Kerr County, Texas.

The match will take place on July 19 at 7:30pm at Harlingen Field in Harlingen TX. Fans from across the Valley and beyond are invited to be part of this meaningful event.

“This night is about more than just soccer,” said team president Jamal Fayyad. “It’s about showing up for fellow Texans. FC Dallas joining us for this cause means the world, and we hope the community will come out in full force.”

The event is a celebration of Texas pride and unity, two clubs coming together to lift up a community in crisis. Ticket sale proceeds will be donated directly to flood relief efforts in Kerr County.

Downtown @ Sundown is tonight! FREE evening market in Downtown Harlingen.
07/19/2025

Downtown @ Sundown is tonight! FREE evening market in Downtown Harlingen.

The Market at WildAugust  and  Harlingen Parks and Recreation are hosting FREE events tonight (7/18).
07/18/2025

The Market at WildAugust and Harlingen Parks and Recreation are hosting FREE events tonight (7/18).

🎶 BIG NEWS, HARLINGEN! 🎶We’re officially a Music Friendly Texas Designated City 🎉🎤 The Texas Music Office presented the ...
07/18/2025

🎶 BIG NEWS, HARLINGEN! 🎶

We’re officially a Music Friendly Texas Designated City 🎉🎤 The Texas Music Office presented the award to the City of Harlingen on July 16, marking a huge step forward in supporting our local music scene!

To celebrate, we hosted the Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program Seminar — an informative event for venues and event spaces that host live music. If you pay mixed beverage taxes, you could get money back through this incredible program!

Learn more about the program: https://gov.texas.gov/music/tmir

🎬 Movie Night at the Park! 🌟Friday, July 18 • 6:00 PM📍 Lon C. Hill Park — 1217 Fair Park Blvd, Harlingen,TX.Join us for ...
07/18/2025

🎬 Movie Night at the Park! 🌟
Friday, July 18 • 6:00 PM📍 Lon C. Hill Park — 1217 Fair Park Blvd, Harlingen,TX.

Join us for a fun, family-friendly evening under the stars! We’re showing Little Giants on the big screen, and you won’t want to miss this classic underdog comedy.

🏈 Come early to meet the Harlingen Prodigy, our hometown Semi-Pro Women’s Football Team! Snap some pics, get autographs, and show your support!

🍿 Free popcorn while supplies last.
🍔 Delicious food vendors on-site.
✨ Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and the whole family for this FREE community event!

Address

209 W. Jackson Avenue
Harlingen, TX
78550

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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Our Story

Then & Now Harlingen, Texas was destined to become a crossroads from the moment Lon C. Hill placed his frontier town next to the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway track in 1904. Railroad crews had nicknamed the rugged settlement Six Shooter Junction before the train even arrived. At the center of fertile farmland laced with irrigation canals, Harlingen weathered bandit raids and floods to become an unrivaled agriculture shipping center by the 1920’s. World War II brought an aerial gunnery school followed in 1952 by Harlingen Air Force Base – whose property has since been redeveloped into Texas State Technical College, University Articulation Center, and Valley International Airport – the region’s largest and busiest airport. Today, Harlingen’s palms, parrots and picture-perfect subtropical climate welcome visitors to a fun-filled getaway. Enjoy year round golf and amazing bird watching. Go shopping at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, or in Jackson Street’s antique district. Visit the Iwo Jima Monument and Memorial – this stunning outdoor sculpture is on the grounds of Harlingen’s Marine Military Academy, and is the original from which the monument in Arlington, Virginia was cast. Explore the World Birding Center brimming with colorful Green Jays, wild Parakeets, and chattering Chachalacas – all this and much more, only minutes from the beaches of South Padre Island and the legendary Laguna Madre Bay. A One-Stop Shop Harlingen is home to the newest Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, America’s most popular outdoor store. This store is a perfect combination of a museum, art gallery, aquarium, outdoor conservation education and entertainment. Each store is uniquely themed to the region in which they are located so that no two stores are alike. The Harlingen store offers 3 ½ football fields of shopping excitement, and a unique underwater themed restaurant and bar with twelve bowling lanes. The outdoors are brought inside with distinctive flora and fauna including massive log and rock work, large aquariums and water features stocked with native fish species, and beautiful hand-painted murals throughout. In contrast, Harlingen’s Historic Downtown brims with boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants. If you still haven’t had enough retail therapy, Harlingen also offers Valle Vista Mall and other retail developments. Just a few minutes down the road in Mercedes, Texas are the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets. This 140-outlet mall is the premier destination for shoppers looking for impressive savings on designer brands like Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sakes Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Banana Republic, Gap Outlet, Juicy Couture, Lacoste, BCBG Max Azria, and much more. Location is key when visiting the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). That is why Harlingen is a magnet for visitors and Winter Texans alike. Centrally located between the two other major cities in the RGV – McAllen and Brownsville – Harlingen is the ideal place to stay while experiencing what the entire Rio Grande Valley has to offer whether it is spending the day on the beaches of South Padre Island, visiting the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, shopping at the RGV Premium Outlets in Mercedes, or catching a White Wings baseball game – Harlingen’s own professional baseball team – at Harlingen Field. Outdoors 365 With an average temperature of 75 degrees during the winter months Harlingen is an outdoors destination 365 days a year. A birders paradise, Harlingen is one of nine World Birding Centers in the Rio Grande Valley. The Arroyo Colorado/Hugh Ramsey Nature Park is a lovely 55-acre tract with photo blinds, nature trails, a picnic area, ponds and streams. The Harlingen Thicket is a 40-acre tract with hiking trails, a remnant of Tamaulipas native brush, and an impressive plant variety in an urban setting. Both are excellent places to see the more than 30 species of birds that can only be seen in South Texas including the Altamira Oriole, Green Jay, Harris’s Hawk, and the Great Kiskadee. While all of Texas is home to some great hunting opportunities, Harlingen’s rich landscape and year-round greenery help develop some of the larger specimens to be found in the state. Nearby ranches offer professional hunts overseen by some of the best guides in the area. Wild game in the area include White-tailed deer, Javelina, Wild hogs, Dove, Quail, Ducks, and the exotic Nilgai – originally imported from India by the King Ranch. Anglers will enjoy all of the sport fishing available along the Gulf Coast, whether it is Redfish, Snook, Tarpon or Marlin, South Texas has them all. This tropical fishing experience is unlike anything else in the U.S. offering the same angling experience that fisherman travel the world to find. Fish the ankle deep flats in the Laguna Madre on Friday and explore the sapphire waters offshore in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. A combination of Harlingen’s convenient and affordable lodging and the professional guide services available are sure to make lasting memories. The Texas International Fishing Tournament is held August. In the last seven decades the tournament has become the largest on the Texas Gulf Coast, and is ranked in the top ten billfish tournaments in the world. Harlingen is also the perfect destination for golf. In fact, according to a poll by the National Golf Foundation, the Rio Grande Valley has more playable days of golf per year than anywhere else in the United States. Harlingen has four public golf courses and one private course. Just down the road are two 18-hole championship courses at Rancho Viejo Resort and a picturesque course along the Laguna Madre Bay – the South Padre Island Golf Club. Harlingen is #1 Ranked number one as the least expensive cities in the United States by the Council for Community and Economic Research, Harlingen offers a great vacation opportunity for any budget. Harlingen allows visitors to stay in affordable-quality accommodations, and dine in a variety of unique restaurants as they sit back, relax, and experience the best of South Texas – 365 days a year.