Fourteen family events across the Valley between now and Thanksgiving weekend, most of them free, from Harlingen Market Days to the Birding Festival and McAllen's tree lighting. Every date checked, every event linked.

See the full guide

🔭 Free Telescope Night at UTRGV Edinburg, Wednesday Oct. 7

Plenty of us haven't looked through a real telescope since a school field trip. UTRGV's HEB Planetarium sets up its telescopes on the Quad at the Edinburg Student Union this Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 8 to 10 p.m.

It's free, guided and open to the public, families included, with no registration. The night runs weather permitting, so check the UTRGV events calendar if the sky looks cloudy.

Get the details

🌳 Kids Can Build a Family Tree in Brownsville, Saturday Oct. 10

The Historic Brownsville Museum's Second Saturday craft is all about family history. Kids and grown-ups make a family tree together, 10 a.m. to noon at 641 E. Madison St. Free, all ages.

One tip: ask an abuela or a tío this week for a few names and the towns they came from. The kids will hear stories they might not hear otherwise.

Get the details

☕ Well Refuge in La Feria Turns 2

The Bible bookstore and coffee hangout at 220 E. Oleander Ave. is celebrating all October with new specials, Bible study, Faith & Fitness, creative nights and a free Worship Flag Workout.

Get the details

Full disclosure: the owners are members of the church I pastor.

🥑 Pharr Avocado Festival, Saturday Oct. 10

Downtown Pharr turns into a street festival this Saturday, with food, music and a full lineup of live performances from 2 to 11 p.m. at Downtown Park, 118 S. Cage Blvd.

It runs late, so it works as a second stop if your morning is already spoken for.

See the City of Pharr's event page

😄 Smile for the Road

I told my kids we're going to the Avocado Festival on Saturday. They said it sounds guac-tastic. They're grounded.

📅 Plan Ahead: Next Weekend

Sat., Oct. 17, Brownsville: ¡Vive tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving! is a free family health day at the Gladys Porter Zoo, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with soccer, tennis, dance and yoga stations, free health screenings and healthy snacks.

Sun., Oct. 18, Harlingen: Run with the Heroes, the Harlingen Police Department's community run honoring first responders, at Arroyo Park from 8 to 10 a.m.

Both are in the Fall Guide, with organizer links

📨 Pass It On

Know a neighbor who'd like this? Forward this email, or send them to the956rundown.com/signup. It's free.

And come hang out with your Valley neighbors in our free Facebook group. That's where the weekend picks land first, every Thursday morning.

🌮 956 Readers' Choice: Best Tacos

Our first Readers' Choice category is best tacos in the Valley. Hit reply with your spot and the town it's in, or add it in our Facebook group. The most-named places go on the ballot in next Tuesday's issue, and everyone votes from there.

🦅 New Next Week: Valley Courage

Starting Oct. 13, every issue tells one true story of a Valley neighbor who did something brave. A caregiver, a teacher, a first responder, a business owner who reopened after losing everything. Furry friends count too. Know someone? Hit reply and tell us who they are and what they did, or post it in our Facebook group.

By sending a story, you confirm it's true and that it's yours to share, or that the person in it (or their family) is okay with it. It may appear in our newsletter, on our website and on our social media. We may edit for length, and we'll leave out anything private. See our Terms

💬 Quote of the Week

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

Fred Rogers

🏪 For Valley Business Owners

Is your business in our Valley directory? Listing it is free, and a real person approves every one. Add your business

Want to get in front of your neighbors every Tuesday? See how at partners.the956rundown.com

🙏 The Sunday Word

Some of us were born in the Valley. Some of us got here by a job, a marriage, a military order, or a parent who needed us close. About 2,600 years ago, a prophet wrote a letter to families who never chose the city they were living in, and it still speaks to the town you call home.

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7, ESV)

Read the full Sunday Word from Pastor Reyes Castillo

More from Pastor Reyes: his books, including Called by Name and Freedom Code, are at thewayofthewarrior.org/books. Tap a cover to hear a one-minute message about why each one was written.