The city of El Paso is abuzz with the return of WinterFest, its annual holiday season celebration, which kicks off on November 22nd and runs through January 4, 2026. San Jacinto Plaza will become a spectacle of illumination, featuring over one million lights, a 55-foot holiday tree, and various oversized decorations, as crews begin the setup on Friday. According to KFOX-TV, festivities will be open daily from 5 to 11 p.m., with this year marking the event's 10th anniversary.
The WinterFest tradition continues with the much-anticipated ice rink, set at the El Paso Convention Center Plaza, and holiday movies at the Plaza Theatre. Starting November 22nd, El Pasoans can embrace the ice for a general admission of $12, which includes skates. Denver, the rink is becoming a prominent feature of the WinterFest tradition, transforming the Convention Center Plaza into a winter hub. In a statement obtained by the El Paso Times, Jose Garcia, President and CEO of Destination El Paso, expressed enthusiasm for the event's return and its significance to the community.
Joining the festivities on November 22nd is the Rink at WinterFest, backed by GECU, and followed by the Market at WinterFest and the Holiday Food Village at 2 p.m. The Tree Lighting Ceremony is set for 6 p.m. the same day. According to KFOX-TV, the Scherr Legate Lights Parade will feature Santa Claus and over 70 illuminated floats combined with marching bands and dance groups along a downtown route stretching for a mile.
Additional attractions including Holiday Fiestas with local artist performances, photos sessions with Santa and free holiday screenings at the El Paso Museum of Art, stating guests can look forward to special events, promo nights, and themed nights throughout the season, Stephanie Quiroz, GECU Vice President of Community Engagement, highlighted the bank's honor in sponsoring The Rink at WinterFest as a community-centered initiative, expressing pride in supporting events that bring families together. Her comments were reported by SSBCrack.com, stressing that the holidays are a season of connection and celebration, a notion that aligns with the rink's atmosphere.
