31. Plaza Classic Film Festival
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 533-4020
Address: 125 Pioneer Plaza
Description: There is perhaps no better way to see old movies than on the big screen. The El Paso Community Foundation gives you the chance to watch all your favorites from the Golden Age on the silver screen, as they were meant to be seen. Movies of all genres are shown in the Plaza’s Main Theatre and the Philanthropy Theatre for 10 days each August.
32. Fiesta De San Lorenzo
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 851-2255
Address: 611 Avenida De San Lorenzo St.
Description: A traditionally Catholic festival, this event commemorates San Lorenzo, or Saint Lawrence in English. The annual celebration, which has origins in early Spain, is held one weekend each August at San Lorenzo Catholic Church in nearby Clint, Texas, with plenty of live music and food booths offering traditional foods. You will be dazzled by the colorful procession of the matachines, or Mexican mummer dancers wearing spectacular native costumes. A traditional procession goes from San Elizario Parish to the church grounds in the early morning hours, accompanied by the recitation of the rosary, hymns, and dancing. The procession is followed by a traditional Catholic Mass service at the San Lorenzo Catholic Church.
33. Shakespeare On The Rocks Festival
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 227-2397
Address: 8455 Alameda Ave.
Description: Shakespeare on the Rocks is a special production where performances take place in an intimate outdoor setting, feature scripts edited for modern audiences, integrate music and dance into the play, and feature the best local thespian talent. Both young and old are sure to enjoy the modern takes on the Bard’s most famous works at these delightful summer outings!
34. Southwestern International Prca Rodeo
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 755-2000
Address: 9700 Gateway North
Description: Rodeo is a staple in West Texas, and the Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo is one of El Paso’s finest rodeo events all year. Cowboy up with tickets to watch the macho bull riders take on the world’s fiercest animals, and razz on the exciting barrel racers as they speed around the arena. You’ll want to make sure to get your tickets early because they will sell out, as this is the best chance to see some of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the world wrangle it up!
35. Kermezaar
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 1211 Montana Ave.
Description: Kermezaar is a weekend arts and crafts festival that presents both local and national artists’ works. More than 70 artists are featured at this, El Paso’s largest art show, which is held for two weeks each August. From oil paintings to pottery to handcrafted handbags to fine jewelry, Kermezaar features some of the most unique handmade items available anywhere in El Paso. This event also serves as the International Museum of Art’s largest annual fundraiser, and the proceeds are used to keep the museum open free to the public, as well as helping to provide educational programming.
36. Celebration Of Our Mountains
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 542-1422
Description: Celebration of Our Mountains is a six-week-long festival of events designed to encourage appreciation of the region’s environment. Dozens of hikes, field trips, driving tours, nature walks, and other activities are offered to the public, most of which are free. This binational event highlights the natural and cultural history of the regional mountains—the Franklins in West Texas, the Sierra de Juárez in Northern Chihuahua, and the Cerro de Cristo Rey and the Organ Mountains in Southern New Mexico.
37. Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 521-1881
Description: One of the sub-events of Celebration of Our Mountains, the Chihuahuan Desert Fiesta will appeal to nature lovers and anyone interested in the unique El Paso surrounds. Held at Tom Mays Park, the event, which includes free entry to Franklin Mountains State Park, celebrates all things Chihuahuan Desert with a day-long program that highlights the unusual plant and animal life of the Southwest desert and the Rio Grande region. Activities include presentations by state park staff on topics such as helping protect threatened wildlife, the numerous bird species of the area, the restoration of vegetation along the Rio Grande, and more. Adventurous types won’t want to miss the free rock climbing tutorials, and a chili cook-off feeds the famished.
38. Mexican Independence Day
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 533-6311
Address: 800 South San Marcial St.
Description: As El Paso is inextricably linked with its Mexican sister city, Ciudad Juárez, so Mexican Independence Day is a huge celebration in El Paso every year. Honoring the day that Mexico began its rebellion against Spain, this festival includes a celebration at the Mexican Consul General with live music, dances by ballet folklóricos, and a fireworks display. Other events, such as theatrical performances, are held all over Chamizal National Memorial, an aptly symbolic location for the celebration along the U.S.–Mexico border.
39. Fiesta De Las Flores
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 532-3415
Address: 4100 Paisano Dr.
Description: Developed by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), this fiesta celebrates El Paso’s Hispanic culture and communities, and promotes Hispanic heritage and traditions in the region. Started in 1953, Fiesta de Las Flores now draws around 55,000 to 70,000 visitors a year, with more than 100 local businesses participating. Events include food and game booths, arts and crafts, a car show, the Fiesta de Las Flores Pageant, World Championship Huacha (washer throwing) Tournament, and evening concerts.
40. Amigo Airsho
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 562-6446
Description: With zooming jets and floating gliders, the Amigo Airsho is El Paso’s premier air show and an event that is sure to dazzle and entertain the whole family. This fun-filled day is chock full of innovative, safe, and exciting aerial performances, as well as other fun family activities. The Amigo Airsho organization is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of aviation and the military in the El Paso region through this event, as well as providing exciting entertainment that El Pasoans of all ages are sure to enjoy.
41. Boo At The Zoo
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 521-1881
Address: 4001 East Paisano Dr.
Description: Celebrate Halloween with the kids at El Paso’s largest spooky outdoor festival. The event is aimed at providing a safe trick-or-treating environment and gives kids the chance to get up close with lots of different animals while they’re at it. Vendors and booths provide plenty of entertainment, including pumpkin bowling, kiddie mazes, treat stations that are sponsored by local businesses, and, of course, costumes galore!
42. Concordia Walk Through History
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (915) 842-8200
Address: 3700 East Yandell St.
Description: Get into the spooky October spirit by visiting the ghosts of some of El Paso’s most notorious historical figures. Each year in October the volunteers of Concordia Cemetery invite the public to take a walk through Concordia Cemetery and visit the leading citizens, Buffalo Soldiers, ex-Mexican presidents, Jesuit priests, and gunfighters that are buried there. Wild West characters like John Wesley Hardin seem to come back to life as volunteers dressed in period costumes share dramatic recreations of their past lives. Even if you aren’t a history buff, this event is a great way to understand more about El Paso’s past in a family friendly environment.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 6900 Hueco Tanks Rd. #1
44. Sun Bowl Parade
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Description: Held since 1935, this annual Thanksgiving Day parade attracts some 250,000 spectators and features more than 100 entrants, including floats, marching bands, and mariachis. Dancers, clowns, horses, and balloons also make appearances. The parade, which begins at Montana Avenue and Ochoa Street and travels east to Copia Street, is held in conjunction with the Brut Sun Bowl, one of the nation’s largest college football bowl games.
City: El Paso, TX
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 3700 East Yandell St.