Get ready for six weeks of lights, holiday spirit, and family-friendly entertainment. Winterfest, one of El Paso’s most celebrated holiday events, is back beginning November 19.

All the signature festivities and activities we’ve come to expect from Winterfest are back, and that includes the ice-skating rink -- minus the fake, synthetic ice they experimented with last year. More on that is below.

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The Skating Rink

El Paso Winterfest
El Paso Winterfest
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Arguably the Winterfest activity El Pasoans look forward to most is lacing up and hitting the outdoor ice-skating rink. Last year the city experimented with a synthetic ice rink that got quite the chilly reception.

In an admission that using fake ice was a flop, skaters will be gliding on real ice this year, according to one of the news stations.

Additionally, the rink will be bigger and in a different location: across the street in the Convention Center Plaza. A light show, snow machines, themed nights, live entertainment, and a VIP Igloo Chill Zone will be part of the mix as well.

San Jacinto Plaza

Winterfest
Winterfest
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San Jacinto Plaza will be transformed into a dazzling Instagram-worthy Winter Wonderland decked out with more than 400,000 mini-lights, oversized decorations, and a 55-ft holiday tree.

The park will also be the site for two new events; Holiday Fiestas at San Jacinto Plaza, and several Holiday Food Fests.

Tree Lighting and Light Parade

Joanna Barba
Joanna Barba
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Coupled with the Lights Parade, the tree lighting ceremony is the largest single event in downtown El Paso. This year, they will take place on Saturday, November 19. Festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m.

San Jacinto Plaza will again play host to the holiday entertainment that will culminate with the lighting of the Christmas tree at 6 p.m.

The spectacular nighttime parade featuring numerous floats, vehicles, and walking groups all lit up and tricked out in colorful lights will step off at 5:30 pm. at Campbell and Texas, and arrive at the plaza shortly after the switch is flipped and the Christmas tree lit.

Holiday Movies at the Plaza

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Holiday Movies at the Plaza is another family-friendly event coming back. The historic theater will host free-to-see movies on Sundays. Organists will perform holiday music on the original Plaza Mighty Wurlitzer Organ a half hour before each movie.

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