A note regarding COVID-19
Upcoming Events in Big Bend Country
El Paso
“Tom Lea and Contemporaries”
Sept. 4-Jan. 26
El Paso Museum of Art, 1 Arts Festival Plaza
Tom Lea was one of the most prolific Southwestern artists of the 20th century. This exhibit features landscapes, portraits, and mural studies that highlight the correspondence between artists to tell the story of a tightly knit creative community, which made El Paso a central point for rich cultural exchange. Along with Lea, artists include Manuel Acosta, Lois Denton, Freemont Ellis, Leola Freeman, Carl Hertzog, Peter Hurd, Ada Miller, Audley Dean Nicols, Urbici Soler, and Henriette Wyeth. A gallery tour with Adair Margo, founder of the Tom Lea Institute, takes place on Oct. 10.
Van Horn
Trans-Pecos Big Buck Tournament
Nov. 29-Dec. 16
El Mercado, 604 E. Broadway St.
Participate in a hunting tournament with animals qualifying from all Trans-Pecos regions.
Del Rio
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Dec. 6
Downtown, South Main Street
Beautifully lit Christmas floats, Santa Claus, elves, and music ring in the Christmas season in Del Rio. The mayor turns on the switch that lights up the Christmas tree and all the beautiful lights in the park. There are arts and crafts vendors on site.
Monahans
Lighted Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Dunes
Dec. 6-7
Ward County Event Center, 1525 E. Monahans Parkway
This celebration offers a variety of activities for everyone in the family, including an ice skating rink, live stage performances, craft and food vendors, and a chance to meet Santa Claus. Children’s festivities include cookie decorating, ornament making, face painting, party jumpers, and a surprise appearance by the Grinch.
Van Horn
Lighted Christmas Parade and Shopping Bazaar
Dec. 7-8
Downtown, 1801 W. Broadway St.
Van Horn rings in the season with the annual Christmas tree lighting and parade, plus the Christmas Bazaar and fun for the whole family.
Canutillo
La Frontera Print Fest
Dec. 7
The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso, 7051 S. Desert Blvd.
La Frontera Print Fest unites 10 artists from El Paso to create an unforgettable panoramic print of Sister Cities. The artists create a panoramic print with ten panels using relief linocut printing, featuring the beauty of the borderland region, recreating important areas, icons, and landscapes. During the live printmaking performance, there’s an art vendor market.
visitelpaso.com/events/la-frontera-print-fest-2024-panoramic-print-day
Del Rio
Wild Game Dinner and Gun Raffle
Dec. 7
The Del Rio Civic Center, 1915 Veterans Blvd.
This annual fundraiser is one of the biggest events hosted by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, attracting a large crowd of locals and visitors. There’s wild game dishes, a winter fair, entertainment, and a gun raffle.
Monahans
Resolution Run
Jan. 11
Monahans Sandhills State Park, Park Road No. 41
Run through the scenic Sandhills of Monahans with distance options including 5K, 10K, and the Mile Health Walk. Participants of all ages and fitness levels are welcome, and the first 100 registrants receive a free T-shirt.
El Paso
Travel the World in Architecture: Downtown El Paso
Jan. 31
Aloft El Paso Downtown, 303 Texas Ave.
The storied architecture of El Paso contains symbols of both pre-Columbian and modern styles. This tour provides a comprehensive look into the diverse architecture of downtown El Paso.
I Love El Paso
Feb. 13
St. Rogers Depot, 420 N. Campbell St.
As the founder of Rocketbuster Boots, one of the world’s most iconic custom boot makers, Nevena Christi has become an El Paso legend. Marty Snortum, the owner of Marty Snortum Studios, is considered one of the Southwest’s top photographers. Join a conversation with the couple as they discuss how they balance marriage and family life while achieving international acclaim in their artistic endeavors. Enjoy charcuterie tastings.
Valentine
Valentine’s in Valentine
Feb. 15
Old Mercantile, North of the railroad tracks on North Main Street
This West Texas tradition, celebrating its 13th year, is a throwback celebration that combines live music, small town vibes, and good old-fashioned surprises. Held in a refurbished mercantile store from the early 1900s, situated next to a rodeo corral, the venue alone adds its own charm and mystique to the annual celebration.
Alpine
Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Feb. 20-22
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. This year’s event commemorates 39 years of cowboy poetry in Alpine, with a range of both free and ticketed performances.
El Paso
Discover Public Art Treasures
Feb. 28
Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine, 137 Rick Francis St.
Ginger Francis, one of the earliest and most ardent supporters of Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso, leads a tour of the remarkable art on campus. This tour reveals how each piece of art is intricately connected to the borderland ethos, unfolding a rich narrative as you explore the campus.
Terlingua
Women’s Hiking Retreat in Big Bend
March 6-9
Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park
Join the women of Journey Land and Soul for a transformational women’s hiking retreat to explore the mountains and desert of Far West Texas. Alongside an intimate and supportive group of growth-oriented women, embark on two days of exhilarating hikes through Big Bend National Park. Meditation, mindful movement, sound healing, sunset dinners, and stargazing are all part of the experience.
