Here’s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week.
Halloween Events
City of El Paso Halloween Carnivals
El Paso Parks and Recreation will host free Halloween Carnivals throughout the city from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, and Friday, Oct. 31. Families can enjoy jumping balloons, games, activities, candy and music at recreation centers in every region. Costumes are encouraged for these family-friendly events.
Thursday, Oct. 30
- Gary Del Palacio Recreation Center, 3001 Parkwood St.
Friday, Oct. 31
- Mission Valley:
• Officer David Ortiz Recreation Center, 563 N. Carolina Drive
• Pavo Real Recreation Center, 9301 Alameda Ave.
• Seville Recreation Center, 6700 Sambrano Ave.
• Sylvia A. Carreon Recreation Center, 709 Lomita Drive
• Valle Bajo Recreation Center, 7380 Alameda Ave. - Eastside / Far Eastside:
• Marty Robbins Recreation Center, 11620 Vista del Sol Drive
• Michelle T. Adjemian Recreation Center, 9031 Viscount Blvd.
• The Beast Urban Park, 13501 Jason Crandall Drive - Westside / Downtown:
• Armijo Recreation Center, 700 E. Seventh Ave.
• Chihuahuita Community Center, 417 Charles Road
• Don Haskins Recreation Center, 7400 High Ridge Drive
• Galatzan Recreation Center, 650 Wallenberg Drive
• Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center, 901 N. Virginia St. - Central / Northeast:
• Chamizal Recreation Center, 2119 Cypress Ave.
• Mountain View Park – Rae Gilmore Recreation Center, 8501 Diana Drive
• Nolan Richardson Recreation Center, 4435 Maxwell Ave.
• San Juan Recreation Center, 701 N. Glenwood St.
• Wayne Thornton Recreation Center, 3134 Jefferson Ave.
• Veterans Recreation Center, 5301 Salem Drive
KLAQ Halloween Parade
A spooky tradition returns for its 40th year as KLAQ hosts its annual Halloween Parade from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Eastwood Park, 3110 Parkwood St. Presented by One Source Federal Credit Union and FloWar Life Essentials, the event will feature floats, marching bands, costume contests and an after-party on the park grounds. Participants can compete in categories including best float, costume and business entry, while the Buzz Adams Morning Show leads the procession on its own themed float. The parade is free to attend and open to the public, with family activities, food vendors and candy giveaways along the route. Information: klaq.com
EPCC Halloween events
El Paso Community College is celebrating Halloween across its campuses this month with a lineup of free and low-cost events open to the public. The festivities range from lighthearted family fun to spine-tingling scares:
- Thursday, Oct. 30: Fall Festival at the Valle Verde Campus (Americana Village, 919 Hunter Drive) from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission is free for students and children younger than 12, while adults can enter with a $5 fee or a Tejano Mercado donation.
- Friday, Oct. 31: Halloween Zombie Haunted House at the Northwest Campus (6701 S. Desert Blvd., Northwest Library) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event invites the community to explore a spooky setting created by students and staff.
Each event offers a unique way for students, families, and community members to get into the Halloween spirit while celebrating with EPCC.
Humane Society of El Paso’s Adopt-O-Ween
Families and pet lovers are invited to celebrate Halloween during the Humane Society of El Paso’s Adopt-O-Ween Trunk or Treat from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at 4991 Fred Wilson Ave. The free event will feature animal adoptions, a vendor fair, trunk-or-treating, costume contests for kids and dogs, raffles, food trucks and face painting. Visitors are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy a festive evening while supporting local animals in need. Raffle tickets will be available with on-site donations. Information: Humane Society of El Paso Facebook
Opera UTEP’s ‘Trick or Treat’
Opera UTEP will present its fall Opera Showcase, “Trick or Treat,” with two performances Friday, Oct. 31, at the Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall on the University of Texas at El Paso campus, 500 W. University Ave. The family-friendly production will feature music from “The Halloween Tree,” “The Devil and Daniel Webster,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Orpheus in the Underworld,” “Dido and Aeneas” and more. Performances begin at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., with spoken narration and supertitles in English and Spanish to guide audiences through each scene. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors, military, students and UTEP alumni, and free for children younger than 12 as well as UTEP students, faculty and staff. Parking is complimentary in the Sun Bowl Parking Garage. Information: utep.edu
Other Events This Week
Junior League Christmas Fair
The Junior League of El Paso’s holiday tradition, A Christmas Fair, returns for its 52nd year with the theme “An Enchanted Christmas,” from Friday, Oct. 31, to Saturday, Nov. 2, at the El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. The event will feature a forest-inspired marketplace filled with shopping, entertainment and family activities — including photo opportunities with Santa Claus. The annual event serves as the League’s largest fundraiser, with proceeds supporting local programs such as Girls on the Run International and the JLEP Wellness Collaborative, which partners with organizations like La Nube and the Rio Grande Cancer Foundation to promote community wellness. A VIP preview shopping night will kick off festivities on Oct. 30. Information and schedules: achristmasfair.com
Altar de Muertos at County Courthouse
The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso and El Paso County will host the unveiling of the Día de los Muertos altar from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio Ave. The event celebrates one of Mexico’s most emblematic traditions, honoring loved ones who have passed. The family-friendly program will feature the unveiling of the Altar de Muertos, recognition of winners of the “Calaverita Literaria” contest, and complimentary pan de muerto and hot chocolate. Admission is free. Information: conepaso@sre.gob.mx
‘Noche de Calaveras’ at La Nube
La Nube will host an adults-only celebration honoring Día de los Muertos during “After Hours @ La Nube: Noche de Calaveras” from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. Guests are encouraged to wear festive Day of the Dead attire, from sugar skull face paint to flower crowns, as they enjoy live music, karaoke and a catrina costume contest. The event will also feature hands-on STEAM activities inspired by Día de los Muertos traditions and traditional snacks and sweets. The first 250 attendees will receive an exclusive Día de los Muertos tote bag. The event will take place at La Nube, 201 W. Main Drive in Downtown El Paso. Information and tickets: la-nube.org
Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival
The Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival invites the community to Downtown El Paso on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a daylong celebration of life and remembrance. The event, hosted by the Mexican American Cultural Center and the city’s Museums and Cultural Affairs Department, runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 201 W. Franklin Ave. Attendees will take in a mile-long parade featuring floats, folklórico dancers, musicians and community groups starting at 4 p.m. Free cultural programming will take place across the Downtown Arts District museums, alongside an artisan market and food truck plaza highlighting local vendors. The festival, rooted in Mesoamerican traditions and the observance of All Souls’ Day, offers families an opportunity to honor loved ones while experiencing one of El Paso’s largest public celebrations. Information and parade route map: epmacc.org
El Paso Winefest
The 12th Annual El Paso Winefest returns Nov. 1-2, bringing together wine, food and live entertainment for a weekend of culinary celebration. The grand tasting event Saturday, Nov. 1, will feature more than 500 wines alongside dishes from 25 local restaurants, with both general admission and VIP tickets available. On Sunday, Nov. 2, the gastronomic battle will showcase Michelin-star chefs mentoring culinary students in a timed competition judged by bloggers, the public and industry leaders. Proceeds from the festival benefit the RotaCare free medical clinic in El Paso’s Lower Valley. Tickets range from $75 to $250, with weekend passes and group packages also available. Information: elpasowinefest.com
EPSYO Fall Concert
The El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra will kick off its 17th anniversary season with a Fall Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Abraham Chavez Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza. The performance will feature more than 230 young musicians from across El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and Southern New Mexico, showcasing the region’s top emerging talent in orchestral music. The EPSYO, a division of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, includes four ensembles that support students at varying stages of musical development. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for children ages 4-12. The venue enforces a clear bag policy. Information: epso.org
Coming Up
• ‘Jurassic Park’ in concert: The El Paso Symphony Orchestra presents “Jurassic Park in Concert” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Plaza Theatre, 125 W. Mills Ave. Audiences can relive Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic film on the big screen as a full symphony orchestra, conducted by James Welsch, performs John Williams’ legendary score live to picture. The event blends the film’s groundbreaking visual effects and thrilling adventure with the power of live orchestral performance, creating an immersive cinematic experience. Tickets range from $55 to $100. Information: epso.org
• Las Artistas ‘Mimosas & Masterpieces’ Show: Las Artistas Fine Arts & Crafts Show celebrates its 55th anniversary with a new “Mimosas & Masterpieces” VIP Experience Nov. 15-16 at the Epic Railyard Event Center, 2201 E. Mills Ave. The region’s longest-running juried art show will feature more than 100 artists showcasing works in painting, sculpture, glass, jewelry, ceramics and more. Guests can purchase the $40 VIP experience to enjoy early access from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, complete with complimentary mimosas and artist meet-and-greets. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, with general admission at $10 and free entry for children. The weekend will also include live entertainment, food vendors, and a silent auction benefiting arts education. Information: lasartistas.org
Mark Your Calendar
• WinterFest: The city of El Paso’s WinterFest holiday event begins Saturday, Nov. 22 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Downtown. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Nov. 22 at San Jacinto Plaza with the Scherr Legate Lights Parade starting at 6 p.m. WinterFest features holiday lights displays at San Jacinto Plaza, Cleveland Square Park and throughout the Downtown Arts District, ice skating, fiestas, movies, pictures with Santa, and a slew of special events. Full schedule to be announced. Information: epwinterfest.com
• El Paso Matters 9.15K: The El Paso Matters 9.15K will leave the starting line at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at San Jacinto Plaza in Downtown El Paso. More than just a race, the 9.15-kilometer course highlights community pride by honoring the region’s area code, with proceeds supporting El Paso Matters’ nonprofit journalism. Runners, walkers and supporters are invited to participate in this celebration of local stories and connection, with the event blending fitness, identity and civic engagement. Registration is now open. Information:elpasomatters.org
The post El Paso events: Halloween fun mixes with Día de los Muertos, Winefest appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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