City Considers Extending Downtown Christmas Festivities

The holiday season in Downtown El Paso might be more festive than ever this year.

93.1 KISS-FM has learned the City of El Paso is looking at modifying the kick off date of the annual downtown Christmas celebration. The plan under consideration is to extend the holiday lighting program a full two weeks earlier than last year.

If approved, all of the festivities, including the traditional tree lighting ceremony at San Jacinto Plaza, will get underway the Saturday before Thanksgiving on November 17. The move would align the Celebration of Lights at San Jacinto Plaza, Celebration of Lights Holiday Market, and Lights Parade with the opening of Winterfest 2018.

Rick Isaias, Lead Public Affairs Coordinator for the city, confirmed via email the city is seriously eying the change. According to Isaias, the extended time frame of the signature holiday attractions is “part of [the city’s] efforts to enhance the public’s [downtown] experience.”

Paseo de las Luces

Last year the city added the Mills Street Holiday Walkway to compliment the lights at San Jacinto Plaza. Documents obtained by KISS-FM show this year the downtown experience will include adding Paseo de las Luces to the holiday lighting program.

Paseo de las Luces, or walk of lights, will feature stringed lights that zigzag overhead and run along the entire stretch of South El Paso Street from the Plaza Theatre to the Paso del Norte International Bridge.

A signature archway like the ones recently installed in Kern Place and Manhattan Heights, new trees, and improved sidewalks are also part of the project.

I'm told crews have been busy little elves trying to get it all done before the end of October so it can make its big debut the night of the Celebration of Lights and Lights Parade. "An announcement related to the start date of the festivities will be made soon," said Isaias