Little Nashville Finds New Home on 3rd Street
Little Nashville in Mercedes has a new home - and judging by the enthusiasm and energy of its participants – it's a change for the better.
The country-and-western theme event has been a staple in Mercedes since its inception in 2019. For the first seven years of the event’s history, it was staged on the corner of 4th and Ohio Streets. Little Nashville was recently moved one block north to a revamped and improved 3rd Street.
The new location features additional power outlets, decorative overhead lighting – and perhaps most importantly – more room for street dancing.
“The EDC wanted to improve 3rd Street and create more of a destination-type feel,” said Hector Rocha, the president of the Mercedes Chamber of Commerce Board. “I think it brings a different kind of perspective for Mercedes.”
The Mercedes Economic Development Corporation funded the 3rd Street improvements, with the project undertaken last year and completed in late 2025. Rocha says the improvements to 3rd include the installation of electrical power T-boxes, which provide extra capacity for complex wiring in lighting and controls.
The street was also smoothed over and now has a wider feel than it had before. Sidewalks were upgraded. The new lights strung over 3rd give Little Nashville more of a festival-type feel. As always, the event features plenty of local vendors that offer food, drink, and products of many varieties and interests.
Then there’s something that’s priceless. It’s the feel of the community getting together.
“I think the event maintains a level of unity,” Rocha said. “It’s knowing your neighbor and building up your community.”
Tapping Into Western Theme
Mercedes is well known regionally for its history of boot-making and being the host city for the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show.
It made sense for the Mercedes chamber to start a monthly celebration featuring the western heritage and history of the city. Little Nashville is held on the last Thursday of every month and usually takes the summer months off due to the South Texas heat and humidity. The Winter Texan months usually are the high-water marks for attendance, with the seasonal visitors bumping up the total attendance to about 300 festival enthusiasts.
Little Nashville features local and regional bands playing country music. The new 3rd Street provides ample room for street dancing and plenty of fun. Rocha describes Little Nashville – which has no admission fees – as a break-even event staged to promote the city and help local small businesses.
“The goal is to drive commerce and showcase our local businesses,” he said. “We (chamber) basically break even and lean into that western theme Mercedes is known for in the Valley.”
Little Nashville also compliments the yearly Texas Street Festival held yearly in downtown Mercedes over the Labor Day Weekend. The latter event draws several thousand people with well-known Tejano and country bands and artists. The two events bring energy and exposure to downtown Mercedes.
And now with a new-and-improved venue on 3rd Street, Little Nashville is in an even better position to become more of a focal point for Mercedes
- Ric Cavazos
