There is a certain magic to being outdoors, in nature, during evening hours and into the night. There is a sense of relief that comes with the burst of activity just beyond the hottest afternoon hours, when people and wildlife relish in the cooler evenings. The beauty of the golden hour, with everything washed in a luminous yellow hue, is followed by the stillness of sunset. Twilight is the warmup for dusk, leading to what comes next in the full darkness of night, whether settling down for sleep or awakening for nocturnal activity.
Across the United States, many nature centers, state parks, and other parks have embraced those special evening and night hours as a key way to connect with nature. Quinta Mazatlán, owned and operated by the City of McAllen, is working to create more opportunities for visitors to enjoy evenings in the 12-acre urban sanctuary this summer.
Just as the thornforest has nectar for butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, there is an evening program or event for everyone at Quinta Mazatlán. On Tuesdays, the ‘Flashlight Nights’ program offers guests a chance to experience a night hike through the thornforest in search of toads, owls, scorpions, bats, and other nocturnal wildlife – it’s a combination of the thrill of exploring a dark forest with the peaceful stillness that comes with hearing crickets chirping and the wind in the trees.
The ‘Thursday Night Live’ series brings its own thrills, with events that focus on providing entertainment and education for the community. From presentations with live animals to mini-festivals like ‘Chicharra Fest’ (celebrating the RGV’s loudest insects), Thursday nights bring new events every week from July 3rd to August 7th, 2025.
There are even Saturday night events that focus on particular kinds of wildlife. ‘Mothing by Moonlight’ returns for its third year to introduce people to the pastime of mothing – using UV lights and white sheets to attract moths and other insects for closer viewing. The event features a dimly lit trail for guests to traverse as they visit different insect-viewing, activity, and craft stations – all in the atmosphere of the historical grounds of Quinta Mazatlán.
The Free Kids Photo Contest is a way for youth interested in nature photography to share their art. The contest is open for youth ages 5 – 18. All photos are due August 16th, so start taking photos now as the days continue to get longer. The golden hour before sunset and night shots are great submissions.
There are plenty of other places to explore at night too. Most City of McAllen parks are open until 10 or 11 p.m. (check your local parks hours for confirmation), with plenty of trails, planted areas, and open spaces to enjoy. Visit gismap.mcallen.net to find parks and trails near you.
Here are some ideas for how to enhance your next evening exploration.
- Pick a sunset spot to enjoy watching the sun go down. It could be a park bench with views of a tree-line, under a tree to enjoy the foliage turning to silhouettes, or from a patio for a cityscape sunset.
- Set up a mothing station where you live. All you need is a UV lightbulb, a white sheet, and a way to hang up the sheet so the light shines onto it. Leave it up for a few hours after sunset and see what you can find.
- Turn off the lights and listen. Try to notice how many different wildlife sounds you hear, how the wind sounds passing through different tree leaves, and what other ambient noises you hear in the night.
- Try to find nocturnal wildlife. You might be surprised by how much life is around, even in cities. In McAllen, for example, people regularly hear or see Eastern Screech-Owls in neighborhoods. Investigating flowering plants can reveal sleeping native bees or actively foraging moths.
If you want to beat the heat but still enjoy being outdoors, try exploring nature in the evening or after dark – it’s a rewarding experience that can help bring your day to a fun and peaceful close. Visit quintamazatlan.com to learn about upcoming evening or night programs, or visit your local park in the evening.
