The winter event season will be a welcome respite after El Paso’s hottest summer on record. From the city’s Winterfest to the county’s Lights at the Lake, here’s our roundup of the big events happening across the border to celebrate the holiday season.
Magic of light: From Friday through Dec. 31, families can drive-through a holiday-themed light display and more than 2 million lights at the Camp Cohen parking lot, located at 9700 Gateway North Blvd. Magic of Light will be open from 5.30pm to 9pm Monday to Thursday and 5.30pm to 10pm Friday to Sunday until December 7th. Tickets start at $25 per vehicle at the gate. Discount when you buy online. The event is a new attraction at the El Paso Winterfest Festival, sponsored by Family Entertainment Holdings and Destination El Paso.
El Paso Winterfest: Winterfest, the City of Epaso’s annual winter holiday event, will be held on Saturday, November 18 at 4:30 p.m. in downtown San Jacinto Plaza with music from the Fort Bliss 1st Armored Division Band and St. Anthony’s Franciscanos Choir. to start. The tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Cher Legaterites Parade at 6 p.m. Winterfest features light displays, ice skating, music and entertainment, art and food sales, and more every day through January 1st at San Jacinto Plaza. Art Festival Plaza near the El Paso Museum of Art. Free admission; ice rink prices vary. Special activities at the El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso History Museum, El Paso Zoo, El Paso International Airport, and El Paso Streetcar.
Sunbowl Parade: The Glasheen, Valles & Inderman Injury Lawyers Sun Bowl Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, along Montana Avenue from Ochoa Street to Copiah Street. This year’s theme is “Rock and Roll Extravaganza,” and the grand marshal is Tuff Hedeman, a bull riding champion and professional rodeo cowboy from El Paso. The parade will be broadcast live on KTSM Channel 9 and online at ktsm.com.
Holiday Lights on the Lake: The Holiday Lights on the Lake Spectacular, presented by El Paso County and Fred Loya Partners, begins Friday, Nov. 24 at 5 p.m. at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive, and features the popular Fred Loya Synchronized Lights.・The show will once again be the centerpiece. The holiday exhibit will be open for walk-through or drive-thru from 5:30pm to 10pm daily through December 24th. Friday through Sunday from 6pm until 9pm, he will perform a synchronized light show.
Holiday movies at Plaza Theater: As part of Winterfest, holiday movie favorites like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “A Wonderful Life” will be coming to the Plaza on various days and times from Sunday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Dec. 24. It will be shown at Theater Kendle Kidd Performance Hall. El Paso Museum of Art auditorium. Free admission.
Socorro City Winterfest: The City of Socorro Illumination Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 at Sanchez Middle School and ends at the Rio Vista Community Center. Winterfest will be held in the city center with food sales, games, rides, arts and crafts, live entertainment, photos with Santa, and more.
CLas Cruces City Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony: The event will be held at the Las Cruces Plaza, 100 N. Main Street, Las Cruces, on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., with the tree lighting at 7 p.m. There will be live music, entertainment, food trucks and activities. Free admission. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” will be performed at 8 p.m. at the Rio Grande Theater, 211 Main Street, Las Cruces. Movies are $5 per person.
Other upcoming events include the annual Luminaria Festival and Posada Celebration at San Elizario and the Centennial Lions Club Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Event at Horizon. Details pending.
This list will be updated as more events are announced. To be added, please send your announcement to cramirez@elpasomatters.org.