Annual Events & Festivals - Annual Events And Festivities
From exciting autumn rodeos to summer evening concerts and dizzying college football games, there is almost always something to do in El Paso for just about any interest and age group. The scenic Franklin Mountains provide a stunning natural venue for such events as the Poppies Celebration each March, while many arts festivals and holiday happenings take the stage right downtown. There are plenty of sporting events going on at the UTEP campus, including men’s and women’s basketball games during the winter and the nationally known Sun Bowl in December.
Several of these events span the course of more than one month, in which case they are listed in the month in which they begin. There are far too many entertaining goings-on in El Paso to be mentioned here in one chapter, so this is a roundup of some of the most popular and oldest traditions that the city has to offer. Not included in this list are the scores of fine and performing arts events, as well as many university and professional sporting events that go on in El Paso throughout the year. Be sure to check out the Arts chapter and the Parks and Recreation chapter for more information on those events. As well, admission prices for these events vary from year to year, so call ahead or check the Web sites listed for current pricing information.
1. El Paso Puzzler Mountain Bike Race
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 845-1097
Description: El Paso’s only endurance mountain bike race is hosted by the Border Mountain Bike Association. It runs along a 50-mile single-track with several climbs and descents, and a shorter 35-mile route is also offered. Food and prizes are distributed during the event.
2. Provost Gun Show
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 241-1761
Address: 6331 Alabama Ave.
Description: This gun, small antiques, and Southwest art show includes new, used, and antique firearms and accessories, knives, coins, Southwest jewelry, military surplus, and other outlawish collectibles. Food concessions are available and parking is usually free. Anyone age 18 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
3. Race For The Cure
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 566-9745
Address: 9700 Gateway North
Description: The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Series, the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world, raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship, and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease. As well as being a road race for runners, the Komen Race for the Cure is an opportunity for thousands of women, men, and their families, running or walking, to spread the breast cancer message within El Paso. Up to 75 percent of the funds raised in El Paso go toward providing breast health research, diagnostics, screening, treatment, services, and education for uninsured or underinsured women.
4. Spring Home Show
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (800) 756-4788
Description: The El Paso Association of Builders presents this show, which features booths providing exhibits, demonstrations, and seminars aimed at the needs of homeowners, whether building a home or remodeling. One of El Paso’s largest home improvement events, this home show attracts homeowners each year with events, attractions, and contests for incomplete home remodels, making homes more energy efficient, and buying or building a brand new house.
5. Astc Mardi Gras
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (575) 646-4515
Description: Get into the Cajun spirit at the American Southwest Theatre Company (ATSC)’s annual “little bit naughty, little bit nice” Mardi Gras gala featuring live music, dancing, food, a cash bar, and a king and queen contest. The ASTC is a non-profit organization that works in conjunction with New Mexico State University’s Department of Theatre Arts. All gala proceeds will benefit ASTC’s programs, which include guest artists and community outreach events.
6. Bourbon Street On Cincinnati Avenue
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 534-0600
Description: Every year in El Paso on Fat Tuesday, Cincinnati Avenue, El Paso’s popular nightlife district in the UTEP area, comes alive with beads and booze for the Mardi Gras celebration. Each year, 7,000 to 10,000 revelers flood in on the lively party district to experience the exciting street festival. Many of the local bars and restaurants offer heavy drink discounts and unique Mardi Gras drink specials.
7. Texas Vs. The Nation
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (972)934-2211
Address: 2701 Sun Bowl Dr.
Description: Texas vs. The Nation is a post-season Division I-A Collegiate Senior All-Star Bowl football game, which pits top Texas college players against top players from around the United States. Related events go on throughout the week including a “Legends of the Game” golf tournament and a dinner headlined by Hall of Fame pro football players.
8. El Paso Marathon
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 487-6775
Address: 300 West San Antonio St.
Description: Shed your layers at the start and pack dry clothes and your favorite post-race snack for the finish, or grab a jacket and stand alongside to cheer on the runners! The Michelob Ultra El Paso Marathon spans a full 26.2 miles, while the Good Time Stores Half Marathon is 13.1 miles long. Both races start early and go through Kern Place, the UTEP campus, and on through the scenic Upper Valley. The full marathon continues toward Sunland Park Casino into New Mexico before heading back to El Paso, finishing at the same location as the start. Proceeds from the marathon benefit several local charities and organizations.
9. Franklin Mountains Poppies Celebration
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: This all-natural event includes nature talks, wildlife displays, educational exhibits, demonstrations, crafts, music, and refreshments. The celebration runs all day and includes great local music and entertainment. Be sure to wear your strong boots for the tequila tasting in the afternoon.
10. Generation 2000
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 880-5777
Description: Generation 2000 is a two-day fair that promotes children and parents working together. Dozens of special events, booths, games, and interactive exhibits are aimed at entertaining and educating children of all ages. In the past, these have included miniature golf, giant bubbles, a science area, clowns, mural painting, huge sand tables, and a beading area.
11. Siglo De Oro Drama Festival
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 532-7273
Address: 800 South San Marcial St.
Description: This festival celebrates the “Golden Age” of Spanish dramatic arts, during which visionaries like Lope de Vega, Miguel de Cervantes, and Calderón de la Barca left a beautiful and passionate heritage of classical drama that has enriched the world. The Chamizal’s Student Outreach Program gives hundreds of students every year the chance to examine the modern world through the relevant eyes of the past and to understand the ways that people and emotions have remained the same through the centuries. Over the past three decades, the Siglo de Oro Drama Festival has hosted more than 250 productions from 15 countries, involving more than 150 directors and 3,000 cast members, playing before a combined audience of 125,000.
12. Sunland Derby
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (575) 874-5200
Address: 1200 Futurity Dr.
Description: Horse racing has always been a popular pastime in the El Paso area, with tracks like Sunland Park and Ruidoso hosting some of the most prized races in the world. The Sunland Derby is considered Sunland Park’s signature horse-racing event of the year. A field of three-year-old thoroughbreds runs a course over 1 1/8 miles long to an exciting finish. The track offers a $100,000 bonus on any three-year-old winner with any other previous graded earnings, for a winner’s share of $500,000.
13. German Spring Bazaar
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 568-0259
Description: Every March, the German Catholic Church of Fort Bliss hosts this annual bazaar where hobby craftspeople display and sell their various goods, and German food and drink specialties are offered. This is an excellent chance to sample some authentic German fare or pick up a few crafty souvenirs or knickknacks. All proceeds from the bazaar are donated to the charity organizations “Aid for the Needy” and “Helping Hands” to benefit the poor on both sides of the border.
14. Día De Los Niños, Día De Los Libros
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 543-5468
Address: 4201 East Paisano Dr.
Description: In 1997, at the request of renowned children’s author Pat Mora, the El Paso Public Library and the Parks and Recreation Department began the tradition of holding an annual festival to celebrate the youth of El Paso. Since the festival’s inception, organizers have given away more than 50,000 books and goodie bags filled with fruit, toys, and educational materials to the children who have attended. This effort helps bring the love of books and reading to children who might not otherwise have that opportunity. Festivities usually include fun-filled activities like game booths, jumping balloons, free books and goodie bags, an entertainment stage, and a parade. Food and drink vendors are also on hand passing out tasty treats for everyone.
15. Featherfest
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 584-0563
Address: 4220 Doniphan Dr.
Description: Featherfest is a nature celebration that leads visitors on a trip through the local surrounds and gives an up-close taste of the history of the area. Take a tour, listen to presentations by local experts, find fun with lots of family activities, and get a good look at the developments at El Paso Desert Botanical Garden and the Chihuahuan Desert Experience at this event, held in Keystone Heritage Park, which has 189 species of migratory and local birds and a 4,500-year-old archaeological site.