Experience the magic of the holiday season in El Paso, TX, with a wide variety of festive events that captivate both locals and visitors. The Sun City Lights Parade illuminates downtown streets with dazzling floats and energetic marching bands, creating a lively river of lights. WinterFest offers a unique winter oasis in the desert, complete with an outdoor ice skating rink and ice sculpting workshops.
Don't miss the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, where a towering evergreen adorned with Southwestern-inspired ornaments symbolizes unity and holiday cheer. Whether you're looking for family fun, cultural festivities, or mesmerizing light displays, El Paso's holiday events promise an unforgettable celebration.
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The Top Christmas Events in El Paso
- Sun City Lights Parade
- WinterFest
- Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
- A Christmas Fair
- Lights On The Lake
- A Elvis Christmas Tribute Show
- Magoffin Home Christmas Tour
- The Nutcracker
- Plaza Hotel Holiday Light Show
El Paso Holiday Light Displays
Sun City Lights Parade
What to Expect:
Illuminated floats and marching bands parading through downtown
Description:
El Paso's streets come alive with the Sun City Lights Parade, a dazzling procession of illuminated floats and energetic marching bands. This annual tradition transforms downtown into a river of light and music. Spectators can marvel at the intricate designs adorning each float, representing local businesses and organizations. The parade route follows a historic path once traveled by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. You'll feel the excitement build as the sounds of brass and percussion fill the air, creating a lively atmosphere unique to El Paso's holiday season.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
What to Expect:
Massive tree adorned with Southwestern-inspired ornaments
Description:
El Paso's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony showcases a towering evergreen adorned with unique Southwestern-inspired ornaments. The tree stands as a symbol of unity, bringing together diverse communities in celebration. Attendees can participate in a community art project, creating ornaments that reflect El Paso's rich cultural heritage. The ceremony features performances by local choirs singing traditional Mexican carols, honoring the city's strong Hispanic roots. As the switch is flipped, thousands of energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the tree, casting a warm glow over the gathered crowd and marking the official start of the holiday season in El Paso.
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Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Lights On The Lake
What to Expect:
Floating light displays on Ascarate Lake
Description:
Lights on the Lake transforms Ascarate Lake into a glowing spectacle, with floating light displays reflecting off the water's surface. This unique event brings holiday cheer to El Paso's largest body of water, creating a mesmerizing scene visible from the shoreline. Visitors can rent paddleboats to get an up-close view of the illuminated sculptures, many of which depict local wildlife. The event honors the lake's importance to the region's ecosystem, raising awareness about water conservation in the desert climate. As you stroll along the lakeside path, the gentle lapping of water against the shore provides a soothing soundtrack to the visual display.
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Plaza Hotel Holiday Light Show
What to Expect:
Synchronized light display on a historic Art Deco hotel
Description:
The Plaza Hotel Holiday Light Show transforms the facade of this historic Art Deco building into a canvas of light and color. Thousands of LED lights synchronize with holiday music, creating a dynamic display that brings the building to life. Visitors can tune into a dedicated radio station to hear the accompanying soundtrack while watching from San Jacinto Plaza. The show pays tribute to the hotel's rich history, including its role in housing WWII soldiers during leave. As the lights dance across the building's distinctive architecture, you'll witness a harmonious blend of El Paso's past and present, all set to a festive beat.
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Plaza Hotel Holiday Light Show
El Paso Holiday Markets and Shopping
A Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Blend of traditional and contemporary Southwestern holiday crafts
Description:
A Christmas Fair in El Paso showcases a unique blend of traditional and contemporary Southwestern holiday crafts. Local artisans display their wares, from hand-painted ornaments to intricately woven textiles inspired by Native American designs. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked pan dulce and tamales. Visitors can join workshops to learn traditional Mexican paper flower making, a skill passed down through generations. This fair celebrates El Paso's position as a cultural crossroads, where American and Mexican holiday traditions intertwine. Your senses will be delighted by the vibrant colors and textures of the Southwestern-inspired holiday decor.
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El Paso Holiday Shows and Entertainment
A Elvis Christmas Tribute Show
What to Expect:
Combines Elvis's rock 'n' roll with traditional Christmas music
Description:
An Elvis Christmas Tribute Show in El Paso delivers a high-energy performance blending the King's rock 'n' roll hits with beloved Christmas classics. This unique show reimagines holiday favorites with Elvis's signature style, creating an unforgettable musical experience. Audience members can join in a holiday-themed dance contest during intermission, showcasing their best Elvis-inspired moves. The show pays homage to Elvis's connections to the Southwest, including his time stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso. The theater vibrates with the powerful vocals and driving rhythms, transporting you to a 1950s Christmas celebration with a distinctly El Paso twist.
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A Elvis Christmas Tribute Show
The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Incorporates local cultural elements into the classic ballet
Description:
El Paso's production of The Nutcracker infuses the classic ballet with unique local cultural elements. Traditional characters are reimagined with Southwestern flair, and the score incorporates subtle nods to regional music. Dancers perform against backdrops inspired by the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande, creating a distinctly El Paso setting for the beloved tale. Audience members can participate in a pre-show workshop to learn basic ballet moves featured in the performance. This adaptation honors the city's bicultural heritage, blending European classical dance with Mexican and Native American influences. The theater comes alive with the swish of tutus and the graceful movements of dancers, presenting a familiar story through a new cultural lens.
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El Paso Other Holiday Activities
WinterFest
What to Expect:
Ice skating rink in the heart of the desert
Description:
WinterFest brings a touch of winter to the desert landscape of El Paso. The centerpiece of this event is an outdoor ice skating rink, offering a rare opportunity for desert dwellers to glide across the ice under the warm Texas sun. Visitors can try their hand at ice sculpting workshops, learning to create frozen art in an unlikely setting. The event pays homage to El Paso's cultural diversity with international holiday traditions showcased throughout the festival grounds. WinterFest transforms the city center into a cool oasis, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert.
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Magoffin Home Christmas Tour
What to Expect:
Victorian-era Christmas decorations in a historic adobe home
Description:
The Magoffin Home Christmas Tour offers a glimpse into 19th-century holiday celebrations within the walls of an authentic adobe structure. This unique blend of Victorian and Southwestern styles creates a one-of-a-kind Christmas atmosphere. Visitors can try their hand at making traditional Victorian Christmas crackers, learning about holiday customs of the past. The tour highlights the Magoffin family's role in shaping El Paso's early development, with stories of their Christmas traditions passed down through generations. As you explore the rooms, each decorated to reflect different periods of the home's history, you'll be transported back in time to Christmases past in the Old West.
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Nearby Events
Holiday Market at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing (Sunland Park)
What to Expect:
Open-air market set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains
Description:
The Holiday Market at Ardovino's Desert Crossing offers a shopping experience unlike any other, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Franklin Mountains. This open-air market features local vendors selling artisanal goods, from hand-crafted jewelry to small-batch salsas. Visitors can sample regional wines while browsing the stalls, each offering a taste of El Paso's unique flavors. The market takes place on the grounds of a historic 1940s-era restaurant, adding a touch of nostalgia to the proceedings. Ardovino's Holiday Market captures the essence of a borderland Christmas, blending American and Mexican holiday traditions in a picturesque desert setting.
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Holiday Market at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing