Here’s a roundup of some culture and civic events in the borderland in the coming week.
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 open through Saturday. Information: elpasomatters.org
Texas Tech Health El Paso Lighting Campus for Hope
Texas Tech Health El Paso will host its Third Annual Lighting Campus for Hope celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at its campus, 130 Rick Francis St. The free public event will feature holiday lights, live music and other family-friendly activities, including a fireworks show and photos with Santa.
READ MORE: Turning the soil: El Paso cancer center breaks ground
El Paso Electric and the Electric Company Charitable Foundation are expected to announce a gift to the Building Hope Campaign, which supports construction of the upcoming Fox Cancer Center. The celebration highlights the experiences of local cancer patients and follows Texas Tech Health El Paso’s September groundbreaking for the center, part of a $50 million fundraising effort that has secured $45 million in commitments to date.
Meet Santa at the Library
Families will have several chances to meet Santa Claus this month as the El Paso Public Libraries hosts a series of WinterFest-themed events across its branches. Beginning Saturday, Dec. 6, children can share wish lists, listen to holiday stories and enjoy free refreshments during meet-and-greet sessions scheduled at eight library locations through Dec. 20. Santa will visit the Clardy Fox Branch Library, 5515 Robert Alva Ave., and the Esperanza Moreno Branch Library, 12480 Pebble Hills Blvd., at 11 a.m. All gatherings are free and open to the public. Schedule and information: elpasolibrary.org
City of Socorro WinterFest
The city of Socorro hosts its Wicked WinterFest from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, offering an evening of community festivities at the Rio Vista Community Center, 901 N. Rio Vista Road. The evening will feature a 6 p.m. parade, a tree-lighting ceremony, live entertainment, vendors and a Santa meet-and-greet. Information: hello@costx.us or 915-860-8615.
Lights on the Lake
Lights on the Lake returns to Ascarate Park, offering nightly holiday light displays through Jan. 6. El Paso County Parks & Recreation will open the season with a lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, preceded by a canine “paw-rade” at 5 p.m. The evening will feature live music, food trucks and a drone light show. A separate family event, Cookies with Santa, is scheduled for Dec. 13 with activities beginning at 5 p.m. The annual Lights on the Lake installation will illuminate the park at 6900 Delta Drive from 6 to 10 p.m. nightly. Admission is free.
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Winter Market
The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Department of Cultural Preservation will host its annual Winter Market during the first weekend of December at the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center, 305 Yaya Lane. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The market will feature Tribal vendors from several Pueblos as well as social dance performances and family activities. Information: 915-859-7700
Resler Canyon 20th Anniversary
The Frontera Land Alliance will mark the 20th anniversary of the Wakeem/Teschner Nature Preserve at Resler Canyon with a trail race and family walk beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. The event, held at the 91-acre preserve protected by the nonprofit, includes a 5K run and walk beginning at 8 a.m. and a one-mile family walk starting at 8:30 a.m. Gates open at 7:15 a.m. at the Cadiz Street and Fiesta Drive trailhead. Frontera staff say the anniversary highlights two decades of community-driven conservation at the site and aims to raise awareness of ongoing efforts to protect open space in the region. Information: fronteralandalliance.org
EPSO ‘Christmas Fantasia’
The El Paso Symphony Orchestra presents “Christmas Fantasia,” a concert blending the wonder of Disney’s “Fantasia” with the spirit of the season Dec. 5-6 at the Plaza Theatre, 125 W. Mills Ave. Conducted by Bohuslav Rattay and featuring the University of Texas at El Paso Choral Union, the program offers a musical journey filled with festive favorites and classical music. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. each night. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The venue now operates as a clear-bag and cashless facility. Information: epso.org
‘A Tale of Two Artists’
The International Museum of Art and the Magoffin Home will celebrate the legacy of two early El Paso artists and friends, Octavia “Tia” Magoffin Glasgow and Leola Warnock Freeman, with the opening of “A Tale of Two Artists” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the museum, 1211 Montana Ave. The exhibit explores the women’s artistic journeys and the social dynamics that shaped their creative paths. The opening reception will also feature an interactive activity led by the Magoffin Home and the debut of the museum’s new pop-up gallery, “Woman As Artist,” which highlights other early women artists of the region. Admission to the International Museum of Art is free, and the exhibit will remain on view in the Turney Gallery.
WinterFest events
• The Rink: WinterFest’s ice skating rink welcomes skaters through Jan. 4 outside the El Paso Convention Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza. The Rink at WinterFest, presented by GECU, is free to view and costs $12 for those who want to skate. Regular hours run evenings Monday through Friday and expand on weekends, with extended daytime hours during Thanksgiving week and the late-December holiday period. WinterFest will also offer sensory-friendly sessions each Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. to provide a calmer environment for guests who need it. Hours, FAQ and more: epwinterfest.com/the-rink
• Holiday Fiestas: Holiday Fiestas bring regional performers to the stage at San Jacinto Plaza each weekend, with shows presented by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department in front of the Lagartos sculpture. The series continues throughout the weekend with Image Dance Academy, Kid-N-CO, CO2 Live and DJ Javi performing Friday, Dec. 5; Posada del Consulado Mexicano and La Imperial Sonora perform Saturday, Dec. 6, and a Baila El Paso event with Azúcar takes place Sunday, Dec. 7. Performances conclude Dec. 21. Information and complete schedule: epwinterfest.com
• Pictures with Santa: Families can take free, on-the-spot holiday photos with Santa Claus at San Jacinto Plaza from 6 to 9 p.m. every Friday through Sunday. The drop-in photo station — no appointments required — continues through Dec. 21 and delivers images directly to visitors’ phones, adding a simple, festive stop to WinterFest’s downtown activities.
• Free holiday movies: Free holiday films return to the Plaza Theatre this season as part of WinterFest, presented by the El Paso Community Foundation’s Plaza Classic Film Festival in partnership with El Paso Live. The series features “It’s a Wonderful Life” at 2:30 p.m. and “Elf” at 6 p.m. Dec. 7; and “The Polar Express” at 3 p.m. and “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at 6 p.m. Dec. 21. All screenings are free, with an organist performing 30 minutes before showtime. Information and schedule: epwinterfest.com
Coming Up
• Segundo Barrio mural tour: Los Murales de Segundo Barrio Tour will offer a free, two-hour guided walk through one of El Paso’s most historic neighborhoods beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. Led by renowned El Paso muralist Jesús “Cimi” Alvarado, the tour begins at the Father Rahm Mural near 111 W. Father Rahm Ave. and will explore the themes, artists and cultural symbolism found throughout Segundo Barrio’s Mexican and Chicano mural tradition. Organizers advise that the roughly one-mile route is not suitable for those with limited mobility. Parking is not provided, though metered spaces are available throughout Downtown. Registration is required due to limited space. Information: tomlea.com
• Horizon City holiday celebration: Horizon City will kick off its holiday celebrations with a weekend of community events centered around its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade. Festivities begin Friday, Dec. 12, with a float contest at 6:30 p.m. at the Oz Glaze Senior Center, 13969 Veny Webb St., followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. near the skate park behind the center, where attendees can enjoy hot chocolate and treats. The Christmas Parade, themed “Christmas Around the World,” steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, with staging starting at 8:30 a.m. Choirs, bands, dancers and other performers are invited to participate, and vendors along the route must obtain permits. Information: 915-588-1639.
• Teen Adventure with WeHike: The El Paso Museum of Archaeology will host the concluding hike of its free Teen Adventure with WeHike program from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, offering an indoor and outdoor exploration of the region’s desert landscape and cultural history. Designed for individuals ages 12-19, the event includes a guided hike on nearby trails, weather permitting, and activities that highlight local archaeology, natural features and stories rooted in the area’s past. The program takes place at the museum, 4301 Woodrow Bean Transmountain Drive. Registration: wehikeadventure.org
Mark Your Calendar
• Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: The annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl returns at noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, to Sun Bowl Stadium, marking the 92nd edition of one of college football’s longest-running postseason traditions. This year’s matchup will feature a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against a current or former member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Teams will be selected Sunday, Dec. 7. Information and tickets: sunbowl.org
The post El Paso Matters 9.15K, Lighting Campus for Hope bring community together appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More