Here’s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week.
El Fresco Music Series
The El Fresco Music Series returns at 7 p.m. Friday, May 23, to Downtown El Paso for the first of four free outdoor concerts hosted by the city of El Paso and El Paso Live. This year’s series will take place at the El Paso Convention Center plaza and continue June 27, July 11 and Aug. 29. With a “Ritmo & Rodeo” theme, each El Fresco event will feature a mix of country and Latin music performed by local bands, celebrating the region’s diverse musical heritage. Attendees can expect live performances, food vendors and a family-friendly atmosphere.
Movies at the Park
The city of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department begins its Movies at the Park summer series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 23, offering free outdoor screenings of family-friendly films at neighborhood parks throughout the city. The series begins with a screening of “Inside Out 2” at Braden Aboud Memorial Park, 4325 River Bend Drive. Residents are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks. Showings are scheduled every other Friday at 7:30 p.m. through early September. The series resumes Friday, June 6, with a screening of “Moana 2” at Grandview Park, 3100 Jefferson Ave. Information and movie schedule: elpasotexas.gov
Latinx Muralism Exchange
The El Paso Museum of Art, 1 Arts Festival Plaza, will host “Latinx Muralism Exchange: El Paso, TX / Los Angeles, CA,” a three-day event Thursday, May 22 to Saturday, May 24 exploring the role of muralism in shaping Latinx identity and borderland culture. The free, public convening will feature artist panels, workshops, demonstrations and mural tours that spotlight the influence of public art as a form of resistance, reflection and community storytelling. With participation from artists and cultural leaders from both El Paso and Los Angeles, the exchange aims to foster cross-city dialogue and celebrate the legacy and future of Latinx muralism. Registration is open. Information: epma.art
Cool Canyon Nights
The outdoor music series Cool Canyon Nights continues Thursdays through July 31 at the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater with concerts, food trucks, vendors and giveaways. This week, May 22, catch Gabrielle Torres on the patio stage starting at 6 p.m. when the gates open, and Joshua Lucero on the main amphitheater stage at 7 p.m. Free admission and parking. VIP tickets available. VIP tickets: Townsquare Media
‘Paint: Rachelle Thiewes’
The El Paso Museum of Art, 1 Arts Festival Plaza, will present “Paint: Rachelle Thiewes” from May 30 through Sept. 21 in the Woody and Gayle Hunt Family Gallery. The exhibition showcases Thiewes’ recent work, which draws inspiration from the hues of lowrider automobile paint. Blending elements of jewelry and sculpture, Thiewes uses steel, silver and automobile paint to explore cultural identity and surface luminosity in unexpected ways. A nationally acclaimed metalsmith and longtime UTEP educator, Thiewes’ influence can be seen in collections and classrooms across the country.
Coming Up
Parks After Sunset: El Paso County Parks and Recreation will bring free family fun to local parks this summer with its Parks After Sunset movie series, running from June 3 through July 1. Each event will feature a film screening at sunset, with additional festivities including pet adoptions and microchipping services by the county’s Animal Welfare Department. The Sheriff’s Office will provide family activities, and two special “splash-down” nights June 3 and July 1 will allow attendees to cool off in fire truck spray zones before the movie begins. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets and snacks, and swimsuits are recommended for the splash events. Alcohol and tobacco are prohibited. The series will begin Tuesday, June 3, with a screening of “Luca” at Gallegos Park, 7361 Bosque Road. Information and film schedule: epcounty.com
Family Day: Pride at Museum of History: The El Paso Museum of History, 510 N. Santa Fe St., will host its sixth annual Family Day: Pride event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7. The free event will feature a queer-owned vendor market, hands-on activities and a community resource fair with organizations including Sun City Pride, Borderland Rainbow Center, and PFLAG El Paso. A new pop-up exhibit will spotlight the Diamond Lil Club, a prominent LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub that operated in Downtown El Paso from the 1960s to the 1980s. Information: epmuseumofhistory.org
Mark Your Calendar
Locos Live and Patriots Tribute: Join the El Paso Locomotive FC for a Locos Live 90s Party Night celebrating the soccer team’s season with food, drinks, live music, activities and a margarita bar from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at the El Paso Convention Center Plaza. The event is free and open to the public. Before the event, watch the Locomotive take on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Jägermeister Cup at 7 p.m. at Southwest University Park. The game will feature a tribute to the El Paso Patriots, the city’s soccer team in the 1990s and early 2000s named after the Patriot missile system at Fort Bliss. A pre-match autograph session will be held in Section 101, with a table display detailing the Patriots’ history. Information: eplocomotivefc.com
Pages & Pints: Celebrate El Paso’s punk roots and literary scene at Pages & Pints, a free, family-friendly event hosted by El Paso Matters Book Club and Old Sheepdog Brewery from 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at Old Sheepdog Brewery, 3900 Rosa Ave. Inspired by the book “Chuco Punk: Sonic Insurgency in El Paso” by Tara López, the event will feature a Q&A and book signing with the author, a market with local writers, vendors and live music. Guests can also enjoy food trucks, craft beer and a welcoming atmosphere for readers, music lovers and families. Pets are welcome. Information: elpasomatters.org/bookclub
Sal y Limón Festival: Downtown El Paso will come alive with music, food and family fun at the fourth annual Sal y Limón Street Festival from 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 7. The all-ages event in the area around San Jacinto Plaza will feature live lucha libre wrestling, mariachi performances, and DJs and musical acts, including a headline performance by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, known for their viral hit “La Chona.” More than 10 local taco vendors, two main stages, interactive art and shaded rest areas will round out the festivities. General admission and VIP ticket packages are available, with VIP access including premium amenities and front-stage views. Information and tickets: salylimonfestival.com
El Paso Opera’s Bon Appétit!: El Paso Opera invites audiences to indulge “Bon Appétit!,” a two-act musical performance blending song and cuisine Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, 1 Ardovino Drive in Sunland Park. The show, which will be staged at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14, includes dessert and a beverage, and features food-themed tunes performed by the company’s resident artists. In the second act, mezzo-soprano Cherry Duke reprises her role as Julia Child in a live staging of “Bon Appétit!” The show offers a light-hearted experience for all ages, celebrating the joy of food, music and laughter. Information: epopera.org
Viva! El Paso: Viva! El Paso returns this summer to McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre, celebrating the region’s rich history through music, dance and storytelling. The colorful outdoor musical, which begins June 21, highlights the four cultures that have shaped El Paso — Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Western American — brought to life by a cast of more than 50 performers. The long-running tradition offers a vibrant showcase of the city’s heritage against the scenic backdrop of the canyon. Performances run Fridays and Saturdays from late June through August.
Femme Frontera Film Festival: The Femme Frontera Film Festival returns for its ninth year with an expanded lineup of free programming, screenings and community events at the new Mexican American Cultural Center, 201 W Franklin Ave., in Downtown El Paso. Taking place June 7-8, the festival will feature three curated film blocks along with live performances. This year’s event also includes a special screening of “Traces of Home,” a work-in-progress documentary by Palestinian-Mexican filmmaker Colette Ghunim, followed by a workshop on intergenerational trauma. All events are free and open to the public. Information: femmefrontera.org
Banned Histories Summer Camp: The El Paso Museum of History will host its Banned Histories Summer Camp from Monday, June 23, to Friday, June 27, offering students an interactive exploration of often-overlooked social movements. The camp will engage participants in hands-on activities focused on the Chicano, civil rights, gay liberation and disability rights movements. Students will explore the connections between these historical movements and contemporary issues, culminating in the creation of zines to share with the community. The camp runs from 8 a.m. to noon each day at the museum, located at 510 N. Santa Fe St. Application required. Information and application: epmuseumofhistory.org
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