A note regarding COVID-19
Upcoming Events in Big Bend Country
Alpine
Trappings of Texas
Sept. 17-19
Museum of the Big Bend, 400 N. Harrison St.
The nation’s longest-running exhibit of premier Western art and custom cowboy gear celebrates its 40th year. Experience artist demonstrations and a live auction.
Sul Ross State University Rodeo
Sept. 24-26
S.A.L.E. Rodeo Arena, US 90 East
See the Sul Ross State University rodeo team’s world-ranking performers at the birthplace of college rodeo.
El Paso
Way Out West Festival
Sept. 26
Convention Center Plaza, 1 Civic Center Plaza
Way Out West Fest celebrates 10 years as one of the city’s most anticipated country music festivals. Featuring multi-platinum country artist Cole Swindell as this year’s headliner, the festival brings together live music across multiple stages, regional food and drink experiences, interactive activations, contests, dancing, and the vibrant energy that defines El Paso’s entertainment scene.
Alpine
Big Bend Bluegrass Festival
Oct. 2-3
Alpine Civic Center , 801 S. Holland Ave.
The fifth annual Big Bend Bluegrass Festival brings together exceptional bluegrass talent, rich musical heritage, and the unmatched, rugged charm of the Big Bend region. Located just a short drive from Big Bend National Park and the McDonald Observatory, the festival offers the perfect soundtrack to your desert mountain adventure.
El Paso
Chalk the Block
Oct. 3-4
Downtown, 114 W. Mills Ave.
Over 45,000 people visit this chalk art competition each year, where more than 100 local and touring artists from all disciplines compete. There’s also art installations, live dance and theatrical performances, art and food vendors, and access to hands-on activities and exhibits.
Girvin
Horsehead Crossing Celebration on the Pecos River
Oct. 9-10
Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River, 1000 Horsehead Road
A celebration of the “second most iconic spot in Texas history” sees reenactors, chuckwagons, cowboy music, Comanche dancers, and live cannon fire at the spot where Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight hit the Pecos River on their cattle drive that inspired “Lonesome Dove.”
pecoscountyhistoricalcommission.org/horsehead-crossing-celebration
Alpine
Big Bend Octane Fest
Oct. 9-12
The Stable Performance Cars, 511 W. Holland Ave.
High-performance vehicles cruise Big Bend’s scenic highways, promoting geared camaraderie while raising funds for the local community. There’s also the Poker Run and the Show-n-Shine car show.
El Paso
Amigo Airsho
Oct. 24-25
Biggs Army Airfield, 12716 Biggs St.
A weekend of speed, sound, and patriotic excitement comes to Fort Bliss with the Amigo Airsho. Performers include the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team, U.S. Army Golden Knights, world champion aerobatic pilot Kirby Chambliss, plus airshows and military demonstrations.
visitelpaso.com/events/annual-events-and-festivals/amigo-airsho
Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival
Oct. 24
Downtown , 125 W. Mills Ave.
The ninth annual Día de los Muertos Desfile and Festival is a celebration of life for those who have departed. The event is free and includes arts and cultural activities, altars and exhibits, local vendors, and performances. The parade features 60 entries of floats, performers, and local organizations.
Alpine
Center for Big Bend Studies Annual Conference
Nov. 6-7
Espino Conference Center, Sul Ross State University, 400 N. Harrison Ave.
The Center for Big Bend Studies Annual Conference brings together historians, archaeologists, folklorists, and other researchers studying the past and present of the Big Bend region and northern Mexico.
Artwalk
Nov. 20-21
Downtown, 204 E. Holland Ave.
Alpine’s biggest arts festival spans two days in November to showcase a variety of art exhibitions in many local businesses, all against a backdrop of festivities and live music.
Alpine Mountain Country Christmas
Dec. 4-5
Alpine Civic Center, 801 W. Holland Ave.
This festive community tradition features a holiday bazaar with approximately 50 vendors, live music, food, libations and Santa photos.
Van Horn
Van Horn Hollydays
Dec. 5
Van Horn Convention Center, 1801 W. Broadway St.
An annual Christmas tradition since 1994, Hollydays is the place to shop for gifts while ringing in the Christmas season with a parade and a fair.
El Paso
Witnessing War: Tom Lea in the Age of AI
Dec. 10
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, 500 W. University Ave.
Tom Lea Fellow Julia Hettiger, a writer, educator, and rhetoric and composition Ph.D. student from El Paso, centers the spectator in analyzing Tom Lea’s depictions of war. She examines what is lost and what is promoted when the U.S. government uses AI for military recruitment. Tom Lea’s work offers a window into the grim realities of war from an outside, neutral perspective, inviting audiences to witness them without direct wartime experience, something AI-generated graphics cannot replicate.
Odessa
“Tom Lea: Brushstrokes from the Frontlines of WWII”
Jan. 7-April 4
Ellen Noel Art Museum, 4909 E. University Blvd.
“Brushstrokes from the Frontlines” is a traveling exhibit featuring the work of the first embedded World War II artist correspondent for “LIFE” Magazine, Tom Lea. Lea’s illustrations are drawn from the frontlines of four major theaters of war andcapture the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Van Horn
Culberson County Stock Show
Jan. 15-16
Van Horn Community Center, 302 Jones St.
A stock show and sale is accompanied by family activities, old-fashioned barbecue, and a Western dance.
El Paso
Segundo Barrio Mural Tour
Jan. 29
Father Rahm Mural , 111 W. Father Rahm Ave.
El Segundo Barrio has been home to thousands of families in El Paso since the 1880s. The adobe-and-brick neighborhood has been described as the Ellis Island of the Border. Join Jesus Alvarado, a native muralist, and explore Mexican and Indigenous themes, as well as political statements. Afterwards, join along for an authentic, no-host Mexican lunch at El Chewco. Receive a free copy of our Magnificent Murals curriculum.
Alpine
Wildlife Weekend
Jan. 29-31
Museum of the Big Bend, 400 N. Harrison St.
Experience a full weekend of activities, information, and education on Texas wildlife with Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sur Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute, and many other conservation partners. This year’s focus is hawks and other raptors.
Guitar in the Big Bend
Feb. 4-6
Museum of the Big Bend, 400 N. Harrison St.
Hear world-class performances in Alpine and Marfa from celebrated visiting artists. There’s also a classical guitar master class, luthier showcase, and more.
Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Feb. 18-20
Sul Ross State University, 400 N. Harrison St.
Poets, musicians, songwriters, and wordsmiths come together for this eclectic event celebrating the oral traditions of the working cowboy.
El Paso
Veterans Create
Feb. 20
Military and Veteran Services Center, 10737 Gateway Blvd. W #350
Tom Lea drew animals throughout his career, from horses and bulls to his own dog, Boodle. Learn to draw man’s best friend with an art workshop led by UTEP associate art professor Tom Birkner in partnership with Emergence Health Network’s Military and Veteran Services Center. All supplies are provided. Veterans, family members, and anyone seeking a low-pressure creative experience are welcome. Free admission. Registration required.
Alpine
Far West Texas Comic Con
Feb. 27
Alpine Civic Center, 801 W. Holland Ave.
The ultimate pop culture experience of West Texas includes featured artists, voice actors, cosplay, K-pop dancers, and gaming tournaments.