A virtual "tent city" springing up overnight in the parking lot of Harlingen's new Chick-Fil-A.
The restaurant's grand opening set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday drawing fans as far away as San Antonio.
All of the overnight campers are hopting to be among the first 100 customers and win a free one-year's supply of Chick-Fil-A.
The restaurant chain has the one-year giveaway at opening of each of its restaurants.
It's the first time for some of the campers but San Antonio resident Christine McGinnis said it's her 14th time at a Chick-Fil-A grand opening.
McGinnis and her mother drove four hours be first in line early Wednesday morning.
They came prepared and even made a game to pass to the time.
"I made a Chick-Fil-A bingo game," McGinnis said going through her gear.
Brownsville resident Juanita Anderson read about the grand opening offer on-line.
She said she took the day off from work. Both she and a family member got numbers 20 and 21 in line.
They brought an ice chest, chips, sandwich items and their laptop to pass the time.
"We're here to have fun...just to be with the crowd and get some free meals for the year," Anderson said with a laugh.
Overnight campers have to register inside the store where they'll receive a wristband.
The Chick-Fil-A is providing gifts, meals and and activities for the overnight campers and their families.
Campers will also be allowed to use the restaurant's restroom.
Franchise owner Francisco Castellanos says he's pleased with the response.
He told Action 4 News that he hopes to open more restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley soon.
"You can see some of the activity that's already in place," Castellanos said. "They'll get free chick-fil-a for a year...It's a tradition that we do in every restaurant around the country and so you expect to see a lot more folks through the day lining up."
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT