By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PARADE
Save the date for the 13th Annual Port Isabel Pachanga! This big, vibrant community festival will be held October 11–12, 2025, and promises two evenings packed with food, Tejano, Country, and Conjunto music, rides, and cultural celebration—all free and open to the public. To make the event even more exciting this year, Lucha Libre wrestling will be added to the lineup on Sunday night. What started out as a one-day neighborhood gathering has blossomed into a two-day, citywide celebration of Port Isabel’s community spirit.
From Washington Park to a New
Location
It all began in 2011 at Washington Park as a fall community celebration. People came together to enjoy local food, music, and family activities. About 30 food vendors participated, many offering dishes inspired by the state of Durango. Popular contests—including jalapeño-eating, grito contests and costume competitions—gave participants a chance to shine, while carnival rides and games entertained both the young and the young at heart.
As the Pachanga’s popularity grew, it soon outgrew Washington Park. In 2017, the festival moved to Laguna Madre Park on Port Road, which offered more vendor space and parking.
By 2022, the Pachanga had expanded into a two-day event, featuring bigger bands and more vendors. The following year, food trucks and extended hours rounded out the growth at Laguna Madre Park, where the festival expects to return once improvements are complete. According to City Manager, Jared Hockema: “This is a special year for us. After not holding the Pachanga last year, we are excited to bring this event back.
It’s such an exciting event, and it keeps expanding. We have a great musical lineup, plus the addition of luchadores.
We hope everyone joins us for both days!”
This year the Pachanga will be held at 302 2nd Street, right off Highway 100, across from Sutherlands and next to the Port Isabel Health Clinic. Ample parking will be available in the Sutherlands/Las Palmas Shopping Center, and a portion of 2nd Street will be closed for vendor unloading and pedestrian safety.
EVENT SCHEDULE
Music:Saturday, October 11, 2025
Ruby Anne: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Rustic Rose: 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Loca Pasion: 10:30 PM – Midnight
Music/ Lucha Libre
Sunday October 12, 2025
Lucha Libre: 6:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.
Infusion Live Band: 7:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Ruben Vela Jr.: 9:30 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.
About two dozen food and artisan goods vendors will line the festival grounds. Admission is free; however, tickets for beverages, rides, and games will be available for purchase.
The Pachanga runs Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., with live music each night. The festival is fully accessible, and staff in black “Event Staff” shirts will be available to assist attendees.
A Celebration of Community Culture
With something for all ages, the 2025 Pachanga invites locals and visitors alike to gather for food, fun, and family memories under the South Texas sky.
Interested in being a vendor? Call (956) 433-1015 for information.
Port Isabel Pachanga in the Park
When: Oct. 11 (6 p.m.–12 a.m.) & Oct. 12 (6 p.m.–11 p.m.)
Where: 302 2nd Street, Port Isabel (next to Sutherlands)
Admission/Parking: Free; ride and beverage tickets available
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