Here’s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week.
High School Graduations
High school graduations continue this week, with ceremonies scheduled at venues including the Don Haskins Center, Abraham Chavez Theatre and local campuses. Attendees at the Don Haskins Center should note the venue’s clear bag policy and list of prohibited items, which includes noisemakers, large signs, balloons and outside food or drink.
Below is a day-by-day schedule of graduation ceremonies happening this week across El Paso County. Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place at the Don Haskins Center.
Friday, May 30
- 9 a.m.: Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Abraham Chavez Theatre, 1 Civic Center Plaza
- 2 p.m.: Canutillo High School
- 5:30 p.m.: Tornillo High School, 430 Oil Mill Drive
- 7 p.m.: San Elizario High School, 13981 Socorro Road
- 8 p.m.: Ysleta High School, Hutchins Stadium, 8600 Alameda Ave.
Saturday, May 31
- 8 a.m.: Valle Verde Early College High School
- 11 a.m.: Riverside High School
- 3 p.m.: Parkland High School
- 7 p.m.: Hanks High School
Sunday, June 1
- 9 a.m.: Bel Air High School
- 1 p.m.: Del Valle High School
- 5 p.m.: Eastwood High School
- 6 p.m.: Anthony High School, UTEP Magoffin Auditorium
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
Cool Canyon Nights
Fire and Ice will bring a tribute to Pat Benatar to McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre on Thursday, May 29, as part of the Cool Canyon Nights concert series. The free event opens with a performance by local band Stellar at 6 p.m. on the EPCC Career and Technical Education Stage. Music fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the scenic venue and secure seating. Cool Canyon Nights concerts are family-friendly and feature food and beverage vendors. Schedule: Cool Canyon Nights.
Selena & Salsa Market
Union Plaza Park, 117 Anthony St., will host the Selena & Salsa Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 31. The free, family-friendly event celebrates the Queen of Tejano with a live tribute band, a Selena-themed vendor market, and a look-alike contest for adults and children. Attendees can sample local flavors during a salsa tasting competition and enjoy food truck fare, photo ops and a Kids Zone hosted by La Nube STEAM Discovery Center. Information and schedule: Downtown El Paso Management District.
Curbside Opera
El Paso Opera’s Curbside Opera series returns this week with a trio of free outdoor performances designed to bring live music directly into the community. This mobile production brings professional opera performances directly into community spaces, making the art form more accessible to audiences who might not attend traditional theater shows. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy a sunset performance. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening. This week’s schedule includes shows Wednesday, May 28, at Eastwood Park, 3110 Parkwood St.; Saturday, May 31, on Boy Scout Lane in the Upper Valley; and Sunday, June 1, at Memorial Park, 1701 N. Copia St. Information: epopera.org
Coming Up
Parks After Sunset: El Paso County Parks and Recreation will bring free family fun to different county parks this summer with its Parks After Sunset movie series, running some Fridays from May 23 through July 25. Each event will feature a film screening at sunset, with additional festivities including pet adoptions and microchipping and “splash-downs” that 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. 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
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
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
Mark Your Calendar
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
Pride at La Nube: La Nube will host its first-ever Pride celebration from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, with a night of music, science and self-expression for adults ages 18 and older. The event includes after-hours access to all exhibits, a drag show, a live DJ, hands-on STEAM activities, snacks and a complimentary drink. Tickets are $40 for non-members and $35 for members. A portion of proceeds will benefit Sun City Pride. Information and tickets: la-nube.org
2025 Pride Parade: El Paso’s 19th annual Pride Parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 21. The procession will step off at the corner of Mills Avenue and North Ochoa Street, travel west on Mills, then north on Campbell Street before heading east on Montana Avenue and ending at Houston Park. A family-friendly picnic will follow the parade at Houston Park, featuring live music, food, nonalcoholic beverages and drag performances. Pop-up canopies are welcome, but staking them into the ground is not permitted. Those interested in vending must request approval in advance by emailing epscp.festi@gmail.com. Freelance vendors will not be allowed. Information: suncitypride.org
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.
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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