Tag Archives: winterfest

City officials are inviting community members to enjoy the final weekend of the WinterFest season before it wraps up on Sunday, January 5.

Festivities begin from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. To close out the season, a unique Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings read and ride event on the El Paso Streetcar will take place at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 5.

Beginning at 4 p.m., visitors can get a free piece of Three Kings Cake at the Main Public Library downtown and then ride the streetcar and enjoy holiday stories.

Visitors who take part in the read and ride event will get an opportunity to win four free tickets to see Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Touring) LIVE at the Plaza Theater.

Riders will also be able to get a free ticket to ride the El Paso Locomotive FC Sun City Express train on the pedestrian pathway (area between the ballpark and convention center).

The festive lights at the plaza will remain lit until January 5, and will return in November 2020.

For more information and to see a calendar of events planned for the final weekend of WinterFest, visit the WinterFest website.

Sponsored by the Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital, WinterFest provides an opportunity for the community to enjoy ice skating, take a ride on the El Paso Locomotive FC Sun City Express train, shop at local vendor booths and downtown businesses, grab a bite to eat at the Holiday Café, watch free movies at the Plaza Theatre, enjoy winter-themed attractions and events, and stroll around to see thousands of festive holiday lights in and around San Jacinto Plaza.

With the annual Winterfest set to get underway this weekend, residents are invited downtown to enjoy holiday shopping and free activities at the City’s museums and the main public library.

Winterfest, presented by the Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital, is from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, in Downtown El Paso.

Click here for more information about Winterfest 

The day is filled with the following events:

• Downtown Art and Farmers Market, Pedestrian Pathway, Noon to 8 p.m.

The Downtown Art and Farmers Market will move to the Pedestrian Pathway (area between the Convention Center and the ballpark). Find the perfect one-of-a kind gift from more than 80 vendors. Visitors can enjoy a meal before the lighting of the tree celebration and parade. Visitors can also bring lawn chairs to enjoy various local singers and entertainers.

• Holiday Crafts at the El Paso Museum of History, Noon to 4 p.m.

Free winter-themed crafts including El Paso-themed holiday cards, paper star ornaments, and more.

• Winter Snowflakes at the El Paso Museum of Art, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Kick off the El Paso WinterFest Festivities at the El Paso Museum of Art with Music and make create a one-of-a-kind snowflake ornament to take home. Drop-in anytime during this free event. Designed for ages 4 and up. Come back after the parade for a live DJ set with Sinestésico from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• El Paso Public Library, Main Branch, 3-6 p.m.

Enjoy live music and story time at the Main Library. Warm up with cookies and hot chocolate before the parade and tree lighting. The Library will be open until 8 p.m.

• El Paso Locomotive FC Presents the Sun City Express, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

All aboard the Sun City Express for a festive train ride along the Pedestrian Pathway. Train rides will be free on Saturday. Starting Sunday, November 24, visitors can catch the train on the Pedestrian Pathway between the Convention Center and the ballpark. Tickets can be purchased for $2 per person at the EP Locomotive FC Depot near the Santa Fe entrance to the pathway.

The community is invited to celebrate the start of Winterfest, presented by the Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital, on Saturday, November 23, in Downtown El Paso, with the Scherr Legate Celebration of Lights Parade at 5:30 p.m. followed by the San Jacinto Plaza Holiday Tree lighting ceremony.

The 22-year-old light parade features a variety of floats and decorated vehicles decked out in colorful lights, as well as cheerleaders, marching groups, and more. This year the nearly one-mile course includes 52 entries participating in the march through downtown led by the float of parade sponsor Scherr Legate.

The light parade and San Jacinto Lighting ceremony have become an El Paso tradition, with tens of thousands of people enjoying the light parade and the ceremonial lighting.

The light parade started in 1998 as the Holiday Light Parade. That same year, El Pasoan Corrine Boyce donated the first live Holiday Tree at San Jacinto Plaza to the City in memory of her late husband Charles “Chuck” Boyce.

El Paso Parks and Recreation staff removed the 50-foot Afghan Pine tree from the front yard of Boyce’s home and replanted it at San Jacinto Plaza.

The day’s festivities include the popular ice-skating rink, a winter-themed café, a holiday market on the pedestrian pathway, and various booth and food vendors, as well as the Sun City Express Train.

For more information on the parade and to access a route of the parade, visit the Winterfest website.  The public can also view the events on the CW Channel (cable channel 8) of KVIA-TV ABC 7.

El Paso WinterFest, presented by The Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital, returns to the region for its fourth year. 

“WinterFest has now become a signature holiday celebration in our region. I believe it’s the best in Texas,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. “With the partnership of various community partners, the City will once again create an exceptional and memorable experience for families and visitors.”

WinterFest kicks off on Saturday, November 23 and will run through Sunday, January 5, 2020.

The season launches with the traditional Scherr Legate Celebration of Lights Parade and Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at San Jacinto Plaza. The family-friendly celebration will encompass downtown including the Arts Festival Plaza.

The WinterFest season will feature the popular annual ice-skating rink, a holiday tree, a winter-themed café, shows, festive decorations, and more.

“El Paso Live is excited to host the ice skating rink, special events, a variety of holiday shows and other fun attractions for people of all ages to enjoy at WinterFest again this year,” said El Paso Live General Manager Bryan Crowe. “We are proud to be a part of this increasingly popular holiday tradition.”

San Jacinto Plaza will light up the heart of downtown and will host holiday entertainment every weekend. There will be a host of winter-themed attractions, holiday shopping, seasonal food and drinks, and so much more.

Events and special programming in this year’s celebration will be announced in the coming weeks.

“City staff has been working hard planning for a great WinterFest season,” said Managing Director of Museums & Cultural Affairs, Libraries and Tourism, Tracey Jerome. “We want to present a spectacular experience for everyone. Winterfest supports our economy and gives visitors a chance to visit unique downtown businesses.”

The City of El Paso and El Paso Live have partnered with the El Paso Downtown Management District (DMD) to make the event come alive. Ten City departments, including the El Paso International Airport and the El Paso Zoo, have come together to make a memorable WinterFest season.

More information is available at www.epwinterfest.com

The free Holiday Movies at the Plaza Theatre return for the eighth year as part of the third annual WinterFest!

The movies are sponsored by Texas Gas Service in partnership with the El Paso Community Foundation, the Plaza Classic Film Festival and El Paso Live.

Volunteer organists Ken Fedorick, Richard Garven and Laurie Koval will perform on the Wyler Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ before each program.

The series opens with Elf, starring Will Farrell, at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 18, followed by a double bill of the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Robert Zemeckis’ animated The Polar Express, starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, November 25.

The movies continue two weeks later with 1947’s Miracle on 34th Street, starring then child-actor Natalie Wood, at 3:30 pm Sunday, December 9, followed by a double bill of 1983’s A Christmas Story at 1 p.m. and Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, December 16.

The series concludes with two wintry titles, Disney’s Frozen at 1 p.m. and Ice Age at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 6, the last day of WinterFest.

Additionally, 2019 Festival Passes will be on sale for the discounted price of $175 from Black Friday (November 23) to New Year’s Eve (December 31). Next year’s Plaza Classic Film Festival runs August 1 through 11. Keep an eye on their website for details.

Go to plazaclassic.com and epwinterfest.com for more information.

Here’s the schedule:

Sunday, November 18

2:30 p.m. — Organist Laurie Koval

3 p.m. — Elf (2003)

Sunday, November 25

2:30 p.m. — Organist Richard Garven

3 p.m. — How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

3:30 p.m. — The Polar Express (2004)

Sunday, December 9

3 p.m. — Organist Ken Fedorick

3:30 p.m. — Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Sunday, December 16

12:30 p.m. — Organist Ken Fedorick

1 p.m. — A Christmas Story (1983)

3 p.m. — Organist Richard Garven

3:30 p.m. — It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Sunday, January 6

12:30 p.m. — Organist Laurie Koval

1 p.m. — Frozen (2013) 

3 p.m. — Organist Richard Garven

3:30 p.m. — Ice Age (2002)

The Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting applications from organizations that would like to participate in this year’s Winterfest Celebration of Lights Parade.

The annual Celebration of Lights Parade takes place on Sunday, November 18.

There are only 60 slots available for the parade and business and groups interested in participating are required to complete an application.

The parade, scheduled to begin at 5:55 p.m. from San Jacinto Plaza, is the only light parade in the city and, along with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, draws nearly 85,000 people to the downtown area.

The parade is part of El Paso WinterFest presented by The Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital which returns to the borderland for its third year with a bigger, better and brighter season from November 18 through January 6, 2019.

For more information on the parade and/or application process, call the Parks and Recreation Department at (915) 566-1217.

El Paso WinterFest returns to the borderland for its third year with a new theme that city officias say is “bigger, better and brighter” for the season.

The event, presented by The Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital, runs from November 18 through January 6, 2019.

“Each year we aim to expand this holiday celebration, and with the collaboration of various community partners, we will create an exceptional, memorable experience for our community’s families and their extended family and friends who might be visiting our city for the first time,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez.

Preparations are underway to officially kickoff the season on Sunday, November 18, with the traditional Celebration of Lights Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony at San Jacinto Plaza.

WinterFest has been expanded and will encompass the downtown area including the Arts Festival Plaza, located between the El Paso Museum of Art and the Plaza Theatre, San Jacinto Plaza and soon to be renovated Paseo de Las Luces.

This year, WinterFest is going “Winternational,” actively inviting visitors from across the border and the region to join in on the holiday fun. Travelers visiting the El Paso International Airport will be welcomed with the holiday season as WinterFest has expanded into one of the gateways to the city.

The event will once again feature an ice skating rink, a life-size snow globe and a winter-themed café. In addition, there will be a host of winter-themed attractions, holiday shopping, and seasonal food and drinks, as well as holiday lights, and more.

“The City continues to be focused on improving quality of life and quality of place. Providing entertainment, recreational activities and exceptional amenities for our community to enjoy is a priority,” said Deputy City Manager Cary Westin.

“Winterfest also supports our local economy because it draws families and visitors to the downtown area and introduces them to businesses that are unique to El Paso.”

San Jacinto Plaza will light up the heart of downtown El Paso and will host holiday entertainment every Thursday through Sunday of the season. Also, new features will be incorporated into this year’s annual celebration and will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

El Paso Live and the City of El Paso have partnered with the El Paso Downtown Management District (DMD), and the El Paso Central Business Association (CBA). Both the DMD and CBA are instrumental in expanding and including more downtown businesses while engaging cross-border shoppers to participate and enjoy in the WinterFest festivities.

More information on WinterFest is available online at online.

The Holiday Movies at the Plaza Theatre are back for the season and admission is free.

The El Paso Community Foundation Plaza Classic Film Festival is teaming up again with WinterFest and Texas Gas Service to show six movies over four Sundays.

In addition to the movies, El Paso Live will again be hosting the WinterFest, presented by The Hospitals of Providence and Providence Children’s Hospital.

Downtown Arts Festival Plaza and surrounding areas will come to life November 18th through January 1st with lights, food, holiday shopping, festivities and the coolest thing of all, an outdoor ice skating rink located near the Plaza Theatre.