THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Fall 2018 23 TheCoastalBend.com Thanksgiving Eve Farmer’s Market & Celebration This regular Wednesday event be- comes a community holiday celebra- tion on Wed. Nov. 21, 5–8 p.m., the GROWLocalSTX Downtown Farmer’s Market Thanksgiving Eve at the Art Center of Corpus Christi, 100 N. Shore- line Blvd. Find locally grown produce and other food items, holiday crafts, and Santa Claus! The Gift of a Happy Thanksgiving Over his lifetime as a businessman and public servant in Corpus Christi, Joe Salem helped untold thousands of South Texans. He employed them, he invested in them, he represented their needs in the Texas Legislature, and most of all, he fed them. Seventeen years after he died at age 81, the 75th Annual Joe Salem Thanksgiving Dinner, Nov. 23, 12–2, will serve hundreds of neighbors in need at Sokol Corpus Christi Gym 5202 Kostoryz Rd. | For 11 years running the Thomas J. Henry law firm has held annual turkey giveaways for Coastal Bend families in need, an effort now spread to four cities—the Thomas J. Henry Annual Turkey Giveaway Sat. Nov. 17 in Cor- pus Christi [521 Starr St.], Alice [3001 S. Johnson St.], San Diego [404 N. Mier St.], and Freer [5348 E. Hwy. 44]. With the help of HEB, the giveaways have evolved into all-out Christmas festivals, complete with Santa Claus, petting zoos, inflatables, music and more. The Season of Gratitude & Giving These Coastal Benders will celebrate their Holiday Season serving the less fortunate. Joe Salem Dinner Joe Salem T.J. Henry Turkey Giveaway Food Truck Christmas Following an immensely popular inau- gural event last year, the 2nd Annual Food Truck Christmas Village, Sat. Nov. 24, noon–midnight, at Heritage Park in Downtown Corpus Christi. Enjoy a wide variety of delicacies from gourmet food trucks, live music and entertainment on the Jolly Stage, the Elves’Play Zone, lots of holiday cheer! Here Comes Santa Claus! …plus Mrs. Claus and an assortment of elves. Santa Claus will be the guest of honor at loca- tions throughout the Coastal Bend this season. La Palmera mall will burst with Christmas cheer on Wed. Nov. 7, 6–8:30 p.m., for Santa’s Arrival, which will feature an array of live performances in the Food Court and an illuminated parade around the mall’s outdoor perimeter. | The holiday shopping season will be commemorated with the arrival of Santa Claus at The Outlets at Corpus Christi Bay Sun. Nov. 18, 10 a.m., 500 N. Hwy. 77 in Robstown | For the 32nd year, the Christmas season will be celebrated in grand fashion at The Lighting of the Park, Lamar Park Shopping Cen- ter, Tues. Nov. 27, 6–8 p.m., Alameda St. at Dod- dridge. This shopping open house has become a favorite community event, complete with photos with Santa, live music, wonderful food, carolers, great shopping and more. | A generations-old tradition started by the Flour Bluff Volunteer Fire Department, carried on by Nueces County Fire- fighters, the 62nd Annual Christmas Float will tour sections of Flour Bluff and North Padre Island each evening during the holiday season. Lighting of Lamar Park Santa Claus Flour Bluff tour Flour Bluff Christmas Float