Special Events

Loteria Nights at San Jacinto

Enjoy Loteria Nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17 at San Jacinto Plaza! Guests can take part in the traditional Mexican game Lotería under the lights of WinterFest and visit with different booths for crafts and activities.

Parks & Recreation

Event	Date	Time	Location	Description
Sweet WinterFest	November 1 through November 21	10 a.m.	South El Paso	Participants will be decorating WinterFest candy canes that will be given out during the Scherr Legate Lights Parade.
Create your own STAR to welcome Santa to the WinterFest	Wednesday, November 18	12:30 p.m.	Hilos de Plata Senior Center, 4451 Delta Dr.	During this workshop, you will get information about our upcoming Winterfest and create your own star to welcome Santa to El Paso Winterfest. Free hot chocolate, coffee, Christmas cookies, and materials for the STARS while supplies last.
Light the way for Santa	Thursday, November 19	1:00 p.m.	Eastside Senior Center, 3200 Fiero Dr.	Participants will create illuminated foam star wands to distribute during the Scherr Legate Lights Parade. These festive stars will help light the way for Santa. Supplies are limited.
Tree of Gratitude	November 23-30	Center hours of operation, M-Th 9-5 p.m., Fri-Sat. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Nolan Richardson Recreation Center, 4435 Maxwell Ave.	Keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive all month long! Grab a blank autumn leaf cutout from the basket, write down one thing, person, or local neighbor you are deeply grateful for this year, and pin it to our bare community tree. Let’s watch our bare branches bloom into a vibrant display of community appreciation.
Ornament Crafting, Hot Chocolate and Cookies	Tuesday, December 1	6:00 p.m.	Seville Community Center, 6700 Sambrano Ave.	Make your own ornament and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.
Basketball 3 Point Contest	Tuesday, December 1	6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.	Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center	Traditional 3-point basketball shooting contest. Donations of pet supplies, such as blankets and pads, for shelter pets will be accepted.
Christmas Movie Night	Tuesday, December 15	5:00 p.m.	Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center, 701 N Virginia St.	Enjoy a Christmas movie showing on a large screen. Free hot chocolate served.
Snow Place Like the Court: Pickleball Beginners Clinic	Wednesday, December 2	9 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Galatzan Recreation Center, 650 Wallenberg Dr.	The Beginners Pickleball Clinic will provide players with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Pickleball: basic techniques, drills, strategies, rules, and at the same time play pickleball games.
Name Boot Scootin’ Family Jam	Tuesday, December 8	6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.	Pavo Real Recreation Center, 9301 Alameda Ave.	Free line dance lessons, holiday activities, arts & crafts market.
Christmas Carol Celebration	Tuesday, December 8	10 a.m.	Memorial Senior Center	The City Senior Choir will perform Christmas songs for a joyful morning.
Holiday Family Fun Day	Thursday, December 10	5:30 p.m.- 7 p.m.	Sylvia A Carreon Community Center, 709 Lomita Dr.	The Holiday Family Fun Day will offer a festive experience for families featuring holiday-themed games, arts and crafts, and interactive activities. The event will bring families together to celebrate the holiday season through recreation, creativity, and community engagement.
Let it Snow	Wednesday, December 10	5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.	Wayne Thornton Community Center at Grandview, 3134 Jefferson Ave.	The public will be taught a recipe to make snow out of shaving cream and baking soda.
The Beast Winter Celebration	Saturday, December 12	9:00 AM - 1:00 PM	The Beast Urban Park, 13501 Jason Crandall Dr.	Guests can enjoy live performances, participate in exciting holiday games and activities, admire creative entries in the Christmas tree contest, and connect with informational vendors offering helpful resources for the community.
Christmas Movie Night	Tuesday, December 15	5:00 p.m.	Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center, 701 N Virginia St.	Enjoy a Christmas movie showing on a large screen. Free hot chocolate served.
Posada	Wednesday, December 16	10 a.m.	Happiness Senior Center	Join us for a Winter celebration with a nativity play, Super Bingo, and more.
Santa visits the Grandview Senior Center	Wednesday, December 16	10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.	Wayne Thornton Community Center at Grandview, 3134 Jefferson Ave.	Senior participants can take pictures with Santa. Coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies will be served, while supplies last.
Crafting with Santa	Thursday, December 17	5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.	Wayne Thornton Community Center at Grandview, 3134 Jefferson Ave.	Take a picture with Santa and make a holiday Craft
Cookies with Santa.	Thursday, December 17	5:00 p.m.	Marty Robbins Recreation Center, 11620 Vista Del Sol Dr.	Santa’s here; join us for an evening of Christmas cheer, take a picture with Santa, and enjoy hot cocoa with cookies.
Mini Christmas Trees	Thursday, December 17	All Day	4430 Maxwell Ave.	Make a miniature Christmas tree for your tabletop. Supplies provide. While supplies last.
WinterFest Trivia & Holiday Culinary Experience	Thursday, December 17	9:00 AM – 11:00 AM	Pavo Real Senior Center, 9311 Alameda Ave.	Join us for a special WinterFest Trivia & Holiday Culinary Experience for older adults! Enjoy holiday-themed trivia, friendly competition, seasonal food and dessert tastings, and opportunities to socialize and celebrate the season. Prizes will be awarded to trivia winners
A Holly Jolly Winter Day	Monday, December 21	10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.	Polly Harris Senior Center	Participants will bring a tray of cookies to exchange with others, will have a snowball fight with yarn balls, and will sing Christmas Carols Karaoke
Cozy Community: What Warms Your Heart?	Monday, December 21	10 a.m.-2 p.m.	Nolan Richardson Recreation Center, 4435 Maxwell Ave.	Stop by our community interactive display this winter season! Grab a paper mitten, stocking, or hot cocoa mug cutout from the basket, write down a favorite winter memory, something you are grateful for, or a warm wish for your neighbors, and pin it to our shared fireplace board to help fill our center with community warmth.

El Paso History Museum

Event	Date	Time	Location	Description
Rotulista Christmas Cards	Saturday, December 5	11 AM to 2 PM	El Paso Museum of History, 510 N Santa Fe St.	Join artist and rotulero Rogelio Rosiles for a drop-in, family-friendly workshop where you can create your own rotulismo-inspired Christmas cards!
Third Thursdays – Cacao Tasting	Thursday, December 19	5:30 PM to 7:30 PM	El Paso Museum of History, 510 N Santa Fe St.	Join the El Paso Museum of History for a tasting of artisan and traditional Mexican chocolate! Tickets available for purchase through EPMuseumofHistory.org $15 per person

El Paso Museum of Archaeology

Event	Date	Time	Location	Description
Paws, Claws, and Claus	Thursday, December 10	6-8pm	San Jacinto Plaza	Get crafty with EPMArch at Winterfest. Let's get wild and create greeting cards inspired by our amazing local wildlife living in our region.

El Paso Mexican American Cultural Center

Event	Date	Time	Location	Description
WinterFest Opening: Tamalitos	Saturday, November 21	1-5:30 pm	MACC	Get ready for the holiday season and create your own tamalito ornament! In this free, all ages activity, you will create a mini tamal and bring it to life with googly eyes, pipe cleaners and more embellishments to give your tamalito friend a personality of their own! No registration required and while supplies last.
MACC OPEN HOUSE: Community Art-build Piñatas	Saturday, December 5	11 am-5:00 pm	MACC	Let’s make piñatas! Stop by the MACC during our MACC OPEN HOUSE hours and help us build piñatas from scratch! Learn the craft of piñata-making as you prepare with us for our annual Arts District Posada. Piñatas created with the community will be used during our posada happening during our 3rd Thursday on December 17.
Third Thursday - Arts District Posada	Thursday, December 17	4-7:30 pm	Arts District	Join us in celebration of our Arts District Posada with hands-on activities, food, music and winter fun for the whole family. Create your very own mini corn husk piñata using traditional-inspired materials and colorful decorations. Then head over to the El Paso Museum of Art to join us as we visit each site caroling along the way and finally breaking our piñatas at the Mexican American Cultural Center.