Holiday Posadas and Luminaria Lighting Festivals around El Paso

The holidays are here and so are the annual celebrations of posadas and luminaria lighting festivals in and around El Paso.

Luminarias/Light Festivals:

This year the Mission Trail will glow with 5,000 luminarias being lit near dusk and line Socorro Road from the Ysleta Mission past the Socorro Mission, then to the San Elizario Plaza. The eight-mile route includes all three Mission Trail churches, the oldest continuously active churches in the United States. Some shops and restaurants along the trail will remain open after hours for open houses or shopping. Special activities usually are held at the Tigua Cultural Center.

• Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015
• 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Admission is free
• Information: 851-1682 or elpasomissiontrail.com.

La Fe Clinic will light up Scenic Drive with more than 4,000 luminarias for its 24th annual event. Sightseers are invited to donate canned and dry goods or cash or checks made to “Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe” to benefit families served by La Fe. Scenic Drive will be open only to one-way traffic during the event, accessible from Richmond/Alabama streets in Central El Paso. Cars proceed slowly westward with lights off to view the luminarias and the city lights of El Paso and Juárez. Drivers will also get to view Santa and his elves and a live Nativity scene. Volunteers and sponsors are always needed.

• Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015
• 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Admission is free
• Information: 545-7190.

Posadas:

The San Elizario Genealogy & Historical Society will host its free event beginning at 4:30 p.m. with Las Posadas in front of the San Elceario chapel with Christmas carols and Christmas Fair and luminaria lighting in Veterans Memorial Plaza. Food and refreshments will be available for a small donation. For more information: (915) 851-1682 or epcounty.com/sanelizariomuseum.

St. Anthony’s Seminary Posada, at Crescent and Hastings in Central El Paso, will celebrate their posada at about 6:30 p.m. nightly from Dec. 16-23, 2015 with a rosary, songs by Los Franciscanos and procession, followed by the breaking of piñatas. The posada is conducted in Spanish. The seminary’s famous Nativity scene will be on display through Christmas Day. For more information: (915) 566-2261.