EL PASO'S HOLIDAY BEST
Living in El Paso or visiting for the holidays? Here are some festive suggestions from three UTEP alumni for moments of merriment throughout the holiday season.
Public Ice Skating
El Paso County Coliseum
4100 E. Paisano Dr., El Paso, TX 79905
*Open Saturdays from 12-3 pm. Please check their calendar to confirm dates & times.*
Click here for more Information.
The Rink at Downtown’s WinterFest
Downtown El Paso, between the Plaza Theater & El Paso Art Museum
Click here for more Information.
2023 Gobble Til You Wobble Virtual 1M 5K 10K | Anytime throughout November
Start your Thanksgiving with a run for a good cause. Great for all ages! Join the 7th Annual Gobble Till You Wobble 1M, 5K, and 10K. 15% of the registration fee will be donated to Feeding America, a nonprofit network of 200 food banks leading the fight against hunger in the United States, including our local food bank, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger. The registration is $19 and includes a medal, bib, and donation.
Click here to register and learn more.
The Plaza Theatre Shows | November–December
Throughout November and December, celebrate the sounds of the holidays at the Plaza Theatre. Enjoy some fantastic shows and concerts, such as the Nutcracker Ballet and the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, which will feature the remarkable voices of the UTEP Choral Union.
Click here for a complete list of events.
El Paso Rhinos Hockey Games | November–December
Experience the heart-pounding excitement of the North American Hockey League and the El Paso Rhinos this season. Tickets are available starting at just $5 and can be easily purchased online. Throughout November and December, the Rhinos are set to play 16 electrifying home games at the County Events Center, situated at 4100 E. Paisano. Take advantage of the thrilling action!
Upper Valley Market | Every Sunday, November–December
Support and shop with over 100 local businesses at El Paso’s artist and farmers market in the westside. The Upper Valley Market is the go-to place for the perfect gift this holiday season. It’s located at the Mesa Plaza (Hobby Lobby parking lot), 7930 N. Mesa St., and occurs every Sunday, 11am– 3pm.
They will also be hosting several themed markets:
Nov. 18 | 12–4pm Angry Owl Market
Dec. 2 | 11am–4pm Christmas at the Ranch at the Rio Grande Valley Ranch
Dec. 16 | 12–4pm Angry Owl Christmas Market
If you want to become a vendor or for more information, click here.
UTEP Basketball Games | Nov. 6– Dec. 30
Get into the festive holiday spirit by backing your UTEP Miners Men's and Women's Basketball Teams as they light up the Don Haskins Center this holiday season. Coach Golding and his Miners squad are gearing up for an exciting schedule of nine home games from November 6 to December 30. Adding to the excitement, UTEP Women's Basketball welcomes the legendary Keitha Adams back to the sidelines to guide the program.
Secure your tickets at utepminers.com/tickets or by calling (915) 747-UTEP. Let's make this holiday season a slam dunk!
Magic of Lights | Nov. 17–Dec. 31
Magic of Lights is a drive-through holiday light experience. Get your family in your vehicle and drive to see light displays at Camp Cohen Water Park, where you can experience different characters and themes.
Click here for more information.
Downtown El Paso’s WinterFest Opening Celebration | Nov. 18 at 5:30pm
Winterfest is an annual winter celebration where you will see the San Jacinto Plaza full of Christmas lights, ice skating, local vendors, and much more holiday fun. This year, Winterfest will kick off the season with a parade in Downtown El Paso on November 18.
Click here to learn more about Winterfest and the activities that will take place this year.
YMCA’s 47th Annual Turkey Trot | Nov. 23
The YMCA Turkey Trot is back for its 47th Annual 5K race. It will take place on Thanksgiving Morning on November 23. The race begins at 7:15am, and tickets are currently $40 through November 19. Signup information can be found at the race's website. It's a fantastic way to start your Thanksgiving Day with healthy and invigorating fun!
Thanksgiving Parade | Nov. 23
Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving if you don’t watch a parade. Luckily, El Paso has the Annual El Paso Sun Bowl Parade on Thanksgiving Day parade, which is held along Montana, near Central El Paso, starting at 10:00am. Get your family ready while the Turkey is in the oven, and plan to go to the parade in the morning.
Can’t make it? No worries, watch live from the comfort of your home.
Loya’s El Paso Christmas Light Show at Ascarate | Starting Nov. 24
The Loya’s El Paso Christmas Light Show is another El Paso tradition that used to be held at the Loya’s house on the east side but has now moved to Ascarate Park for a bigger show! This light show is synchronized with music, which makes the experience so much fun! Opening night this year is on November 24, at 6900 Delta Dr, El Paso, TX 79905.
Click here to stay updated on the times and dates of the show.
Skiing Near El Paso | Starting Nov. 25
Take a mini road trip to New Mexico and hit the slopes for skiing, snowboarding, or even snow tubing! The best part is that it is only about 2 hours away from El Paso; you can choose from Cloudcroft, NM, or Ruidoso, NM.
Ruidoso, NM: Click here to get more information.
Cloudcroft, NM: Click here to get more information. Ski Cloudcroft will also be open the weekend of Thanksgiving, November 25.
Eastridge Christmas Lights | Starting the first week of December (tentative)
You must go to Eastridge during the holiday season; it’s an El Paso tradition! Eastridge is a neighborhood right across from Eastwood High School, in which residents collaborate to put together holiday light displays—the best way to get in the holiday spirit. Our favorite is picking up a hot chocolate on the way and drinking it while driving around the neighborhood, admiring the lights. Usually, the lights are set up by the first week of December.
Dave Koz & Friends Annual Christmas Show | Dec. 12
There is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to celebrate in style with world-renowned jazz musician Dave Koz. He will perform this year at the Abraham Chavez Theatre in downtown El Paso.
Tickets go on sale on November 3. For more information, visit www.davekoz.com/tour.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Game & Festivities | Dec. 29
El Paso proudly hosts the second-oldest college bowl game in the country, and you absolutely won't want to miss the 90th edition of this legendary bowl game, all within the stunning confines of one of the nation's most picturesque stadiums. The game features a thrilling showdown between two renowned schools from the ACC and the Pac-12 conferences, promising to add another exciting chapter to the storied history of this bowl.
But the excitement doesn't stop at the game itself. The Sun Bowl Association offers a plethora of additional festivities surrounding this iconic event, including the annual Don Haskins Basketball Invitational, The Thanksgiving Parade, and numerous others. It's an all-encompassing experience that genuinely showcases the vibrant spirit of El Paso and its rich sporting traditions.
Ticket and other event information can be found at https://www.sunbowl.org/tickets/sun_bowl
This list is brought to you by our Miner Nation Contributors:
Alexandra Sanchez ’17, an El Paso native, currently works as a Digital Media Specialist at a local non-profit, Project Vida. She is a proud graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso with a bachelor’s in marketing. She further pursued her master’s degree in digital audience strategy from Arizona State University.
Anna Carrillo ’19, ’21, born and raised in El Paso, Texas, is a proud graduate of The University of Texas at El Paso, where she earned her bachelor’s in business marketing and a master's degree in leadership studies. With a strong belief in the power of leadership to bring about positive change and commitment to community service, Anna's current role as the Stewardship Manager at El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank allows her to engage and serve the community.
Christian Diaz ’20 was born and raised in El Paso. He is currently the Vice President of Economic Development for The Borderplex Alliance, and recently joined the Miner Nation Contributors program as a founding contributor in October 2023. Christian graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in sport management from Texas A&M in 2019, and earned his M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from UTEP.