The Historic Brownsville Museum hosts a free, all-ages family tree craft this Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at 641 E. Madison St.

Wild Birds Unlimited McAllen hosts a free talk on the Valley's pollinators this Saturday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 3 p.m., with pinned insect specimens and a Q&A.

Fourteen family-friendly events are coming to the Rio Grande Valley between now and Thanksgiving weekend — and most of them are completely free.

The lineup kicks off October 2–4 with the 35th annual Sandcastle Days on South Padre Island, followed by the Conjunto Festival in Los Fresnos the same weekend.

October also brings Pharr's Avocado Festival, the Port Isabel Pachanga with lucha libre wrestling, a free family health day at Brownsville's Gladys Porter Zoo, and the South Texas International Book Festival in McAllen.

November heats up with the Texas Butterfly Festival Community Day in Mission, the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in Harlingen, Turkey Trots in both McAllen and Brownsville, and Veterans Day ceremonies honoring local heroes.

The season wraps up November 28 with McAllen's tree lighting and the South Pole Illuminated Festival — a perfect way to welcome the holiday season with the whole family.