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The Sun Bowl Association (SBA), along with Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso, announced that one of El Paso’s most loved holiday traditions will be renamed the Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso Sun Bowl Parade, which will once again run on Thanksgiving morning along Montana Ave. 

This year marks the 83rd edition of the longstanding parade.

“As the title sponsor of the Hyundai Sun Bowl football game for the last nine years it was always a thrill to be part of this special event that I couldn’t even afford a ticket to as a boy,” said owner of Hyundai of El Paso, Oscar Leeser.  “So, it gives me great pleasure to end the longest running sponsorship of the Sun Bowl [football game], to now become the title sponsor of the Sun Bowl Thanksgiving Day Parade.”

The contract with Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso is a two-year deal with the option of automatic renewal after the two years are up. The previous parade sponsor partnered with the SBA for 14 years.

“We cannot thank Mr. Oscar Leeser enough for his longstanding loyalty to the Sun Bowl Association and to the community,” said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the SBA. “[Oscar] Leeser has been a great partner for us over the past nine years and we are excited to continue our relationship and to see this parade continue to be one to the best community events in the southwest region.”

Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso will now supply the monetary funds necessary to put together amazing floats and the needed resources that assist in making this 80-plus-year event such a great success.  Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso will also work with the SBA to secure a Grand Marshal of the parade each year.

Past Grand Marshals include, WWII Veterans (2017), former W.B.A. light middleweight Boxing Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (2013), legendary UTEP men’s basketball player Nolan Richardson (2014), former UTEP men’s basketball coach Don Haskins, former PGA player Lee Trevino and the 1966 NCAA Champion-UTEP men’s basketball team (2015).

The Sun Bowl parade started its humble beginnings on New Year’s Day in 1936 and has stood the test of time as an annual tradition here in El Paso.

The Sun Bowl Association made the switch to a Thanksgiving Day celebration in 1978 and has been the tradition since.

“I am proud and honored to be the first to sponsor two of El Paso’s greatest events.  I would like to thank the Sun Bowl Association for the great partnership, I am so happy to be able to continue to give back to our great city,” said Leeser.

For complete information on the newly named Oscar Leeser’s Hyundai of El Paso Sun Bowl Parade go to the SBA website or click on the link.

On Monday, the Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced the winner of the 82nd Annual Sun Bowl Parade poster contest.

Parade officials selected Julian Vidales, of El Paso as the winner.

“When looking through the entries, we determined that Mr. Vidales’ design had everything we were looking for in a FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade poster,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas.

“We want to thank and congratulate Mr. Julian Vidales for his great work.”

Artists from all across the El Paso region were given a unique opportunity to make a name for themselves while being given a chance to win some nice prizes. The contest ended last week, and the judging was done by various employees and board members from the Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union and was based on creativity, clarity and relativity to the parade theme, which is “Amazing Feats.”

As the winning entry, Vidales’ poster design is the official 2018 FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade poster and is now in the process of being printed for distribution.

Vidales also receives four tickets to the parade breakfast, which is held before the parade on Thanksgiving Day, as well as a pair of tickets to the Hyundai Sun Bowl football game, which will be held on December 31, 2018.

“We invite everyone to pick up a copy of the poster at any FirstLight Federal Credit Union branch or at the Sun Bowl Association office,” Olivas said.  “They should be ready for distribution by Monday, October 8.”

The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced on Tuesday that WWE Superstar Sin Cara will be the Grand Marshal for the 82nd Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade.

“With the theme of our parade being ‘Amazing Feats’ we figured we needed to choose someone who has accomplished something big and amazing,” said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association. “How much more amazing does it get than making it to one of the biggest stages in the world, the WWE? To have someone from El Paso who is so successful and inspirational as our Grand Marshal is amazing in itself.”

Sin Cara was born on September 5, 1977 in El Paso.  Growing up in El Segundo Barrio, he began wrestling at Burges High School where he was an accomplished state champion multiple times. He went undefeated during his senior year and was nominated to be “Athlete of the Year” in El Paso.

Sin Cara has forged a strong international following and has become very popular for his masks as well as for his high-flying wrestling style.  He made his WWE debut on August 12, 2011.

“When I finally made it to the WWE, I knew I accomplished something amazing and all the hard work paid off,” Sin Cara said.

Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Sin Cara knew he needed to do everything he could to reach his dream. While working towards his goal of becoming a professional wrestler in the early 2000s, under the ring name “Mistico”, Sin Cara worked in his grandfather’s funeral home in Juarez, Mexico and gained a degree in embalming and funeral director services in Mexico.

Watching Luchadores as a child, Sin Cara knew exactly which direction he wanted to go.

Luchadores are traditionally more agile and perform more aerial maneuvers than professional wrestlers in the United States, who more often rely on power and hard strikes to subdue their opponents.

The difference in styles is due to the independent evolution of the sport in Mexico beginning in the 1930s and the fact that Luchadores in the cruiserweight division (peso semicompleto) are often the most popular wrestlers in Mexican lucha libre.

Luchadores execute characteristic high-flying attacks by using the wrestling ring’s ropes to catapult themselves towards their opponents, using intricate combinations in rapid-fire succession, and applying complex submission holds. Aerial maneuvers are almost always performed to opponents outside the ring, allowing the luchador to break his fall with an acrobatic tumble.

In WWE, the soaring Superstar birthed a new legacy, wowing viewers around the world with spectacular displays of agility and airborne attacks as well as joining forces with Kalisto to form the championship-winning tandem of The Lucha Dragons.

Watching Sin Cara take to the air to send Superstars spinning, whirling and scrambling for recovery is more than just observing a world-traveled competitor in his natural element; it’s to witness the impossible.

The 82nd Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 22, 2018 with a start-time of 10 a.m. (MT).

The parade runs down Montana Ave from Ochoa Street and ends at Copia Street.

Back in 1935, the El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the parade and it was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978, when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day.

The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws tens of thousands of spectators. The Sun Bowl Parade is the largest community event in the west Texas, New Mexico and Mexico area, it brings together service clubs and civic organizations as well as all sectors of business and industries within the community.

For more information on the parade go to the Sun Bowl Association website.

Artists from all across the El Paso region have a unique opportunity to make a name for themselves and win prizes via the recently-announced “FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade Poster Contest.”

“We wanted to continue to find ways to keep the community involved with our parade and wanted to find a way to give back,” said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director for the Sun Bowl Association.  “We have some of the best artists around and we know we will receive some amazing entries.”

An entry can be submitted starting on Tuesday, July 17 with the final entries being accepted on Saturday, Sept. 15.  Entries can be submitted at digitally via email at sunbowl@sunbowl.org or can be dropped off at the Sun Bowl Association office, which is located at 4150 Pinnacle Street, Suite 100.

The poster must be 11” x 17” and must be original art. Any mixed media is suitable for reproduction, including computer-generated graphics. Copyrighted artwork and photos on a poster will automatically disqualify an entry.

The winning entry will be the official 2018 FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade poster and will be printed for distribution. The artist and winning poster will also be featured on the FirstLight Federal Credit Union and Sun Bowl websites along with their social media pages.

In addition, the winner will receive four tickets to the FirstLight Sun Bowl Breakfast, which is held before the parade on Thanksgiving Day, as well as a pair of tickets to the Hyundai Sun Bowl football game, which will be held on December 31, 2018.

“We look forward to seeing the entries we will receive,” Olivas said.  “I am sure it will be fun and challenging to judge and pick a winner.”

The judging will be done by various employees and board members from the Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union.  Judging will be based on creativity, clarity and relativity to the parade theme, which is “Amazing Feats.”

“We are excited to see the wealth of talent in the community produce something unique for this year’s parade,” said Natalia Flores, Marketing Manager, FirstLight Federal Credit Union. “It will be amazing feat in itself, having a local artist produce the winning poster.”

The winner will be announced via press release on or before Oct. 1, 2018.

For more information and a complete list of Rules and Regulations of the contest, please go to www.sunbowl.org or call Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas at 915-533-4416.

The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced Wednesday morning that the theme for the 82nd Annual Sun Bowl Parade is “Amazing Feats.”

“This theme allows those entering a float to be very creative and gives the builders lots of freedom to show that creativity,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas.  “We are excited to see what kind of ideas come up and hope that everyone has fun with this theme.”

Themes  for  individual  floats  should  be  built  around  the  parade theme of “Amazing Feats.”

Can you think of an “Amazing Feat” from any time in history?  Examples of some “Amazing Feats” for a float can include accomplishments found in the Guiness Book of World Records, feats from History books or Biblical feats, such as Moses parting the Red Sea.

Other ideas can include eating records, engineering feats or athletic records like the world record for most footballs kicked in one minute or the longest shot-put. Another example of an “Amazing Feat” is UTEP winning the 1966 National Championship in basketball.

Float entry applications are due at the Sun Bowl Association office, which is located at 4150 Pinnacle Street, Suite 100 in El Paso, Texas, no later than September 8, 2018. A mock-up of the float, or of the artwork, along with a written description of the float and sponsor information should be sent along with the entry form and certificate of insurance no later than September 8, 2018.

The El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the Parade in 1935. The parade was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978 when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day. The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws tens of thousands of spectators every year.

For more information on the parade, visit the Sun Bowl Association website.  To view our coverage and galleries of previous Sun Bowl Parades, click here.

On a bright, sunny late November morning, tens of thousands of El Pasoans took to the streets in the annual Sun City tradition of the Sun Bowl Parade.

Our very own Andres Acosta was there to capture the magic and the majesty of the 81st parade and brings them to you now via this ‘Story in Many Pics’

On the day before Thanksgiving, volunteers from around El Paso get ready to show-off the parade floats they have dedicated hundreds to thousands of hours of their time making.

According to parade officials, the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade draws more than 250,000 people from the region each year. They line Montana Avenue before sunrise for the best view of this Thanksgiving Day tradition. What they may not realize is that while they eagerly wait for the parade to begin, hundreds more people behind the scenes work to make it possible.

Sun Bowl Association Special Events Director Joe Daubach has been organizing the parade for the last 15 years and it’s a job that he cannot do alone. The Sun Bowl Association has seven full-time staff members, each a role in putting it together. Although, it takes many more people to put on such a grand event.

“I direct other folks, but when you really look at it, it’s the volunteers that truly make it happen,” Daubach said.  “We have over 800 volunteers that put the parade together.”

From float builders to street cleaners, volunteers are the heart and soul of what keep the parade going. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alone, coordinates 600 volunteers. They wait at each block on Montana Avenue from Ochoa to Copia streets and clean them as soon as the parade passes through.

Another 100 volunteers help keep the procession in order ensuring it runs smoothly.

Maruyi Hughes, of El Paso, has been a volunteer for the Sun Bowl Association for seven years now, building floats for her organization. Hughes runs the Edison Hope Leadership Christian Academy, a non-profit homeschool, and encourages her students and their families to participate in the parade. Growing up in El Paso, she remembers how special it was for her to see the parade as a child.

“When I was little, going to see the parade was like going to Disneyland. I remember when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse used to be the Grand Marshals of the parade. We didn’t have much, but we had the parade to look forward to,” Hughes recalls. “I remember what it was like for me, so I do this now to give back to the community.”

Daubach is thankful for Hughes and her non-profit organization, and the assistance they provide for the parade. Involvement by non-profit groups are important to the Sun Bowl Association, since it is also a non-profit.

“I think that’s a really key part with some of these float builders, that they use it as part of a community service project,” Daubach said. “To be able to show the community what they do aside from their organization, it’s pretty neat that they get to experience that.”

Volunteering for the parade has become a tradition of its own for many. Many of the people involved with organizing the parade have watched the parade since they were children. Those people became volunteers because their parents and grandparents were volunteers. It’s a family tradition that continues to be passed from generation to generation.

Daubach was hired in 2002 and had never organized a parade, but he’s received valuable help from well-respected and treasured Parade Chairman, Jim Lawrence. Lawrence, who was born in Deming, N.M. and moved to El Paso at the age of three, has served as a mentor to Daubach these last 15 years, providing guidance throughout the organizing process.

“Having someone like Jim mentor me and explaining the do’s and don’ts, what to focus on, what not to focus on has been invaluable because he’s lived through so many parades,” Daubach mentioned. “He really knows how to do things that help not only me, but everybody.”

Lawrence has been involved as a volunteer with the parade for 48 years, and has seen the parade in different stages of its life. From a young boy standing on the sidewalks, watching the parade in awe, to designing and building floats, the parade remains special to him.

“It’s in my blood. Being involved with the parade all this time, I’ve seen many floats, many specialty units, and it’s special every year,” Lawrence recalls. “It’s a parade centered around the community, and I think it makes families and children really happy to come out each year and see what we’ve put together for them.”

Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas has worked with Lawrence for many years. He’s grateful for the dedication Lawrence continues to provide for the Sun Bowl Association year-after-year. Before Lawrence was appointed Parade Chairman, he was set to retire as a volunteer, until Olivas convinced him otherwise. Lawrence is an irreplaceable asset to the organization.

“Jim is an invaluable person to the Sun Bowl Association,” Olivas mentioned. “He’s just a tremendous individual and if he had left us before Joe took over, I honestly don’t think we’d have a parade. That’s how valuable he continues to be for this organization.”

Volunteers make a tremendous impact not only on the parade, but on the organization as a whole. Though the parade is the largest event put on by the Sun Bowl Association, volunteers are crucial in assuring that each event put on by the association is successful. Without volunteers the organization would not exist.

“There’s no way seven people can put on the events, not just the parade, but all the events we have. We depend on every volunteer that help us throughout the year,” Olivas says. “We couldn’t exist without their help. These volunteers who ask nothing in return just want to contribute to the community, and of course the Sun Bowl Association is all about putting on community events. Without them, we wouldn’t have a job.”

The 81st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade kicks off on Thursday, November 23 at 9:45 a.m. on Montana Avenue between Ochoa and Copia streets and will also be televised locally on KTSM Channel 9.

The theme for this year’s parade is American Folklore. A fitting theme for the volunteers, because what’s more American than giving back to the community?

If you would like to sign up to become a volunteer for the Sun Bowl Association, click on the volunteer link.  To view a gallery of last year’s parade, click here.

Author: Elenie Gonzalez – Sun Bowl Association.

The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced on Wednesday, Sept. 27 that 14 World War II veterans from El Paso, will lead the 81st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade as Grand Marshals.

“With this year’s theme being ‘American Folklore’ we thought it’d be great to have real heroes lead our parade,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We have a great working relationship with Fort Bliss and appreciate the team there helping us get connected with these veterans.”

The theme for this year’s annual parade is “American Folklore” celebrating the history and legends of the United States.  The parade is scheduled for Thursday, November 23.

The Grand Marshals will ride in the FirstLight Federal Credit Union float to kick off the parade, which starts at 9:45 a.m. (MT) at the corner of Montana and Ochoa and ending at the intersection of Copia and Montana.

There were 16,112,566 members of the United States Armed Forces during World War II. There were 291,557 battle deaths, 113,842 other deaths in service, and 670,846 received non-mortal wounds. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, around 558,000 American veterans from the war are estimated to still be alive as of 2017.

During this conflict, 464 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 266 of them posthumously.

ABOUT THE PARADE

Review Stands: Tickets will be available at the Sun Bowl Association Office, all Circle K Stores and FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches for $10.00. New Location for Review Stands – 1600 Montana Ave. (Emergence Health Network).

Step off Time: 9:45 a.m. (MST)

Parade Route: Montana Avenue; beginning at Ochoa and ending at Copia (2.7 miles)

Anticipated Units: 100 units including floats, equestrian units, clowns, marching bands, drum and bugle corps units, dignitaries, Grand Marshal, and a wide variety of specialty units from Mexican / Indian dancers to military ceremonial units.

Television: Live coverage of the Parade on local affiliate television KTSM Channel 9 (NBC). Television coverage starts at 10 a.m. (MT).

For more information on the parade go to the Sun Bowl Association website at www.sunbowl.org/parade.

The 80th Annual Sun Bowl Parade is in the books, and tens of thousands of El Pasoans lined Montana Avenue to watch colorful event.

Our very own Andres Acosta was there as well, and brings you his view in this ‘Story in Many Pics.’

With the theme “80 Years Around the World” it seems fitting that someone who has broken many barriers and milestones would be the Grand Marshal for the 80th Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, which is set for Thursday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m.

The 80th edition will feature El Pasoan and Flight Operations Directorate Division Chief for the Flight Integration Division at Johnson Space Center Ginger Kerrick as the Grand Marshal on Thanksgiving Day.

Kerrick has worked at NASA for 25 years, including 4 years as the first non-astronaut Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) and 8 years as a Flight Director in charge of Mission Control for numerous International Space Station (ISS) and Shuttle missions.

“We are honored and truly thankful to have a person in such high standing with NASA come back to her hometown to be the Grand Marshal for the 80 annual parade,” said Karl Murphy, President and CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union. “Ms. Kerrick is the epitome of hard work and we are so grateful that she would place time aside to come and celebrate a longstanding tradition here in El Paso.”

“This is a special event that everyone in El Paso has enjoyed each and every year for the past 80 years,” Sun Bowl Association Executive Director said. “So many peopleare involved in putting this together, which shows the community we have here, andit’s always a great sight when over 250,000 people line the sidewalks MontanaAvenue.”

The parade route runs on Montana Avenue from Ochoa to Copia. Tickets to sit in the review stands, located on Montana Avenue adjacent to the First Baptist Church, can be purchased at FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches, Circle K locations and the Sun Bowl Association office.

The El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the Parade in 1935. The parade was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978 when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day. The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws an annual crowd of over 250,000 spectators.

The Sun Bowl Parade is the largest community event in the west Texas, New Mexico and Mexico area and brings together service clubs and civic organizations as well as all sectors of business and industries within the community.

What: FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade

Theme: “80 Years Around the World”

When: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016

Start Time: 10 a.m. (MT)

Where: Montana Ave. from Ochoa to Copia

To view pictures of last year’s parade, click HERE.

The 80th edition of the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade will feature El Pasoan and Flight Operations Directorate Division Chief for the Flight Integration Division at Johnson Space Center Ginger Kerrick as the Grand Marshal on Thanksgiving Day.

Kerrick has worked at NASA for 25 years, including four years as the first non-astronaut Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) and 8 years as a Flight Director in charge of Mission Control for numerous International Space Station (ISS) and Shuttle missions.

“We are honored and truly thankful to have a person in such high standing with NASA come back to her hometown to be the Grand Marshal for the 80 annual parade,” said Karl Murphy, President and CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union. “Ms. Kerrick is the epitome of hard work and we are so grateful that she would place time aside to come and celebrate a longstanding tradition here in El Paso.”

With the theme “80 Years Around the World” it seems fitting that someone who has broken many barriers and milestones would be the Grand Marshal for the 80th Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, which is set for Thursday, Nov. 24 at 10 a.m.

The 46-year-old Kerrick was born and raised in El Paso and is a graduate of Hanks High School before moving on to Lubbock, Texas where she attended Texas Tech University to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in physics.

“Growing up in El Paso, I watched the Sun Bowl Parade every Thanksgiving Day,” said Kerrick. “To have the honor of being Grand Marshal, and travelling a route that is less than a quarter of a mile from Price’s Creameries where my father spent his entire career – I am overwhelmed with humility and gratitude.  Thank you so much, El Paso!”

After graduating from Texas Tech, Kerrick took on her first task with NASA when she was hired for a summer internship in 1991.  She was working with the safety department in a calibration and materials testing laboratory.  She joined NASA full-time as a materials research engineer in 1994 and after a year on the job, she was told that she met the requirements to apply to become an astronaut.

Kerrick did apply to become an astronaut but was denied the opportunity because of a medical disqualification–kidney stones.  She was working with the Mission Operations Directorate as an instructor for the environmental control and life support system of the International Space Station when she received the news of being selected for an interview and the news of the disqualification.

After fighting through the disappointment of being disqualified she decided to move forward with her career and understood that she could

still make a great impact as an instructor. Kerrick continued to move up as she worked with the Russian training program as an integration instructor and was working with Johnson Space Center, the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and the Russian space program.  Making many visits to Russia, Kerrick eventually learned the language fluently.

Kerrick made history in 2001 when she became the first non-astronaut capsule communicator, which is the Flight Control position that relays information from Mission Control to the crew.  She became a dual-certified flight director in 2005, supporting both the International Space Station and shuttle missions, which made her the first female Hispanic flight director in NASA history.

“I am in awe of what this woman has done with the opportunities she has been given,” Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas said.  “El Paso should be proud to have the first ever Hispanic female flight director. Ginger [Kerrick] is very proud of her hometown and it’s an amazing honor to have her back to be the Grand Marshal. She made history and is a great fit for the parade’s theme: 80 Years Around the World.”

Date: Thursday, November 26, 2016

Parade Theme: “80 Years Around the World”

Step-off Time: 10:00 a.m. (MST)

Parade Route: Montana Avenue; beginning at Ochoa and ending at Copia (2.7 miles)

Anticipated Units: 100 units including floats, giant helium balloons, equestrian units, clowns, marching bands, drum and bugle corps units, royalty, dignitaries, celebrity Grand Marshal, and a wide variety of specialty units from Mexican/Indian dancers to military ceremonial units.

Television: Live coverage of the parade will be broadcast on local affiliate television KTSM Channel 9 (NBC).

Anticipated Crowd: More than 250,000 spectators lined Montana last year to witness the parade. Approximately the same amount of people are expected for this year’s parade.

The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union are excited to announce the theme of the 80th annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade. This year attendants will have the chance to watch the parade themed “80 Years Around the World.”

Those interested in submitting an entry for a float should create their theme around a historical or monumental event from the past 80 years and will need to fill out and turn in a 2016 Float Packet to Sun Bowl Special Events Director Joe Daubach. The Float Packet can be found online at www.sunbowl.org and all forms can be emailed to Daubach at joe@sunbowl.org. The deadline to submit an application to enter a float is Sept. 8.

Any additional organizations interested in taking part in the parade can also download the applications from the Sun Bowl website. Categories that can participate in the parade are marching bands, JROTC units and specialty units. The deadline to submit an application for a marching band or specialty unit is Oct. 16.

“This year marks the 80th time this parade will flow down the streets of El Paso in what has become a city and family tradition,” said CEO/President of FirstLight Federal Credit Union Karl Murphy. “We invite everyone who can to join in the parade and hope that this evolves into the best parade to date.”

Held on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 24, the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is the city’s largest attended event and is celebrating 80 years of parades. The annual event includes more than 100 different units including floats, marching bands, dignitaries, the Sun Court, as well as a various other specialty units such as Mexican-Indian dancers and military units.

“This is a special event that everyone in El Paso has enjoyed each and every year for the past 80 years,” Sun Bowl Association Executive Director said.  “So many people are involved in putting this together, which shows the community we have here, and it’s always a great sight when over 250,000 people line the sidewalks Montana Avenue.”

The parade route runs on Montana Avenue from Ochoa to Copia. Tickets to sit in the review stands, located on Montana Avenue adjacent to the First Baptist Church, can be purchased beginning October at FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches, Circle K locations and the Sun Bowl Association office.

The parade is televised locally on the NBC affiliate, KTSM Channel 9.

For more information or questions about unit entry call 915-533-4416.

Parade History: The El Paso Downtown Lions Club organized the Parade in 1935. The parade was held on New Year’s Day from 1936 until 1978 when the event was rescheduled for Thanksgiving Day.

The holiday pageant is planned, coordinated and produced by volunteer efforts and draws an annual crowd of over 250,000 spectators. The Sun Bowl Parade is the largest community event in the west Texas, New Mexico and Mexico area and brings together service clubs and civic organizations as well as all sectors of business and industries within the community.

What: FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade

Theme: “80 Years Around the World”

When: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016

Start Time: 10 a.m. (MT)

Where: Montana Ave. from Ochoa to Copia

The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced the winners of the 79th edition of the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade in Sunday’s edition of the El Paso Times.

There were nine award winners including the overall winner (Sweepstakes Award), “Evolution of Flight,” which was built and presented by the El Paso Sports Commission and El Paso Electric. There was also an ROTC award winner and a marching band award winner selected.

The rainy conditions on Thanksgiving morning did not stop the community from enjoying a longtime tradition as over 240,000 people lined Montana Ave. from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. to view over 80 entries.  Rain poured down on the parade route the night before the parade was to take place and it also came down for about the first 20 minutes of the parade.

“Going down the parade route we saw lots of kids and adults standing in water, sitting in chairs with water flowing under them, which brought me back to why we do this event,” said Sun Bowl Association Special Events Director and parade organizer Joe Daubach.  “This is more than an event. It is a tradition! Why else would someone stand in the rain and water puddles? Not only is it a tradition for those watching but it is for those putting it together as well.”

2015 Award Winners

Sweepstakes Award (Overall Winner) – “Evolution of Flight” presented by El Paso Sports Commission and El Paso Electric Company

Queen’s Award (Most Outstanding Large Float) – “Capturing Moments” sponsored and built by Menchies

Grand Marshal’s Award (First Runner-up Large Float) – “Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519 Inventor-Visionary” presented by Western Refining and built by El Paso Downtown Lions Club

General’s Award (Most Outstanding Small Float) – “Space Shuttle” presented by El Paso County Challenge Academy

President’s Award (First Runner-up small float) – “Time Travel” by the El Paso Cowboys Football Team

Judge’s Award (Best Special Effects) – “Extraordinary Inventions” sponsored and built by FirstLight Federal Credit Union

Governor’s Award (Best Presentation of the Parade Theme) – “iPad” presented by Catholic Diocesan Schools

Duchess Award (Best Showmanship) – “Stay on the Nice List, Don’t Drink and Drive” sponsored and built by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the District Attorney’s Office

Princess Award (Most Appealing) – “Santa’s Workshop” sponsored and built by Evolve Federal Credit Union

ROTC Award Winner – Jefferson High School

Marching Band Award Winner – Franklin High School