Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding is the hottest new water sport, and South Padre Island offers year round, worldclass kiteboarding conditions. The Laguna Madre’s waist deep water and consistent winds offer beginner to expert riders near perfect flat-water conditions to hone their skills with no worries about swimming in. Advanced kiteboarders will enjoy riding the Laguna Madre and the waves of the Gulf of Mexico.

Windsurfing Blowout
This USWA (U.S. Windsurfing Association) event invites all recreational windsurfers to compete in course slalom and distance races. Finalists are sent to compete in higher divisions. Now a nationally recognized event, it’s become quite the Island spring time tradition....Not too shabby for what started as a friendly competition for a bunch of guys from Colorado who needed something to do when the slopes melted. May 2-3

Texas International Fishing Tournament
Fishing Tournament For 70 years, the Texas International Fishing Tournament has taken pride in creating an atmosphere of friendly fishing competition and wholesome family fun. The five day event, scheduled for July 31 - August 3, 2008, offers fishing divisions that include bay, offshore and tarpon. TIFT is open to anglers of all ages and is the largest saltwater fishing tournament in Texas.

Over 1,500 participate in the tournament each year weighing in fish that range from redfish, trout and flounder to every species imaginable in the offshore division. All eyes in the Valley are focused on TIFT during the five days of fun filled activities with live coverage provided by local television and radio stations.

TIFT anglers represent an extremely desirable market group. Most are residents of the Rio Grande Valley with disposable income ad a genuine enjoyment of outdoor activities. During the five day tournament anglers staying on South Padre Island and in Port Isabel have a direct spending effect in excess of $1.5 million – not including tournament expenses. In addition to the actual number of TIFT registrants, thousands of spectators also turn out to view weigh-in activities.

Originally instituted to promote the Rio Grande Valley as a whole, TIFT has become a family tradition that exemplifies the best the Valley has to offer. For more information about Texas’ oldest and most established fishing tournament call (956) 943-8438 or e-mail BettyTIFT@aol.com Visit the tournament web site at www.tift.org

Ladies Kingfish Tournament
The Ladies Kingfish Tournament has been an Island tradition for many years. The 27th Anniversary tournament is scheduled for August 8-10, 2008. This Ladies Only tournament is divided into two divisions, bay and offshore. Qualifying fish include redfish, trout, flounder and snook for bay, and backfin tuna, dolphin and bonito for offshore. Like TIFT, the tournament is open to anglers of all ages.

Prizes are awarded to the top three places in each category, as well as Grand Champion Bay and Grand Champion Offshore.

Several local lady anglers got together over twenty-five years ago and decided they wanted a tournament of their own after spending years traveling with their husbands to tournaments. The first tournament was called Yellow Rose of Texas with approximately 20 anglers fishing in the offshore only tournament. Two years later the name was changed to Ladies Kingfish Tournament (LKT) and a new Island tradition was born. In 1993, the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce took over the coordination of the growing event.

Over the years, the tournament has grown, and today you can see mothers and daughters fishing together, and maybe a few grandmothers and granddaughters. Become a part of another Island tradition – call (956) 761-4412 for more information or check out the Chamber website

SPI Bike Fest™ Motorcycle Rally
It’s the 15th anniversary of the South Padre Island Bike Fest™ that is billed as the "Roar by the Shore.” Come here to ride, or at the very least, to check out the miles and miles of chrome, leather, sweat and the full-throttle lust for life. Some of the events will include a concert, Poker Run, Tattoo Contest, Tire Toss, Slooow Race, Bike Wash, Weenie Bite, Scavenger Hunt, parade & photo, fireworks show and several non-biker events.

Did you know SPI BikeFest™ is sanctioned by the American Motorcycle Association and is an open rally that welcomes all motorcycle brands? Did you also know over 1,200 bikes and 2,000 people went on the México Fiesta Run to Nuevo Progreso, México? Just imagine - this was only a small number of the registered participants at the rally. What a turnout for this event.

If you have never done something like this, it is guaranteed you will never be the same. If you have participated in past years, don’t miss being a part of the 15th Anniversary, which promises to be the biggest and best ever! For more information go to www.spibikefest.com October 9-12, 2008

Fireworks
SisBoomBah! Every Friday night is the Fourth of July on the Island. At 9:15 sharp, a silent barge in the center of the Bay releases it’s payload into the summer sky. With the firework light reflecting off the water, it’s a breath taking display that will kick off your weekend the right way. (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

Kite Festival
It’s pure kid-joy at the end of a string. The summer blue sky will be filled with diving, darting, fluttering and hovering kites. Experts and natural born show-offs will be on hand to teach you the fine art of hand-held sky ballet. South Padre Island is host to the SPI KiteFest in February and the SPI Kite Festival & Competition in November of each year. Call 800- SOPADRE for exact dates.

Sand Castle Days
It’s art and architecture in the sand. Get down and gritty along with sandcastle wizards who will inspire you to build sky scraping turrets and mind-bending arches. At the end of the day, go splash off in the Gulf and admire what your hands and buckets hath wrought. Prizes awarded for the most exemplary effort. October 17-19, 2008

Sports Events
Run, swim, bike and play on the Island. South Padre Island is host to many sports events throughout the year. Volleyball tournaments on Memorial Day and Labor Day week-ends, a bicycle tour from Brownsville to South Padre Island in May, surfing competitions in April and June, and triathlon and marathon races in August and October just to name a few. South Padre Island also plays host to the Invitational Division 1 Basketball Tournament on Thanksgiving weekend. So, lace up those sneakers, and set that daily workout routine aside for a seaside change of venue. For additional information on sporting events call 1-800-SOPADRE or go to www.sopadre.com

Taste of the Island
The 19th Annual Taste of the Island, one of the most looked forward to events of the year, will be held on January 27 at the beautiful South Padre Island Convention Centre from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The 2007 event was a huge success with over 1,100 people attending. Area restaurants will be on hand to showcase their excellent food items and live music will be provided for your listening enjoyment.

Ticket information is available at the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce office located at 600 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island.

For more information please call the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce at 761- 4412 or check out www.spichamber.com