Editing El Paso, Texas (section)

==Arts and culture==
{{Main|Culture of El Paso}}

The culture of El Paso, Texas is influenced heavily by the mixing of American and Mexican cultures, due to the city's position on the U.S. Mexico border, its large Chicano population, and its history as part of Hispanic America and Mexico.

===Annual cultural events and festivals===
The Amigo Airsho is one of El Paso's premier events, and is ranked as one of the top-10 air shows in the country, filled with air entertainment and ground activities. Acts include the Franklin's Flying Circus, where performers walk on the wings of an airborne plane. Ground activities include a jet-powered school bus. After 31 years of being held at Biggs Army Airfield, the show was moved to Dona Ana Airport in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23781006/amigo-airsho-will-be-flying-out-dona-ana|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130918062449/http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23781006/amigo-airsho-will-be-flying-out-dona-ana|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2013|title=Amigo Airsho will be flying out of Doña Ana airport in 2014 | newspaper=El Paso Times |access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:El Paso's Upper Valley by the Rio Grande.jpg|thumb|Great River Raft Race held annually on the [[Rio Grande]] in El Paso's upper valley]]
The KLAQ Great River Raft Race is an annual event celebrated on the second to last Saturday of June. Participants are encouraged to ride the river and float the Rio Grande with family and friends. The organizers encourage the building of unique rafts that get down the river, with prizes and trophies awarded for the most points earned, best-looking crew, and best-decorated raft. The race starts at the Vinton Bridge and ends 3 miles downstream at the Canutillo Bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://klaq.com/events-el-paso/klaqs-great-river-raft-race/22-june-2013-rio-grande//|title=KLAQ's Great River Raft Race | access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref>

The Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo is the 17th-oldest rodeo in the nation and El Paso's longest-running sporting event. Consistently ranked as one of the top 50 shows in the country by the [[Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association]], this charitable event is a true celebration of western culture and heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elprodeo.com/|title=Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo | access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:EP Public libray.jpg|thumb|Cleveland Square in [[downtown El Paso]] is where many of the festivals are held annually.]]

La Fiesta de las Flores is one of the oldest Hispanic festivals in the Southwest. The three-day fiesta is held each year during the Labor Day weekend and emphasizes El Paso's Hispanic heritage and culture. The festival attracts 20,000 to 30,000 visitors from El Paso County, New Mexico, West Texas, and the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fiestadelasflores.org/annual-events/fiesta-de-las-flores/|title=Fiesta de las Flores|access-date=August 26, 2013|archive-date=August 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829201020/http://fiestadelasflores.org/annual-events/fiesta-de-las-flores/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Activities included in the fiesta are crowning of the queen, a Fiesta Parade, Senior Appreciation Dance, Military Appreciation Day, and live entertainment. The fiesta is also well known for the authentic regional cuisine, arts and crafts, games, and services available for the enjoyment of all attendees. Over 80 booths, sponsored by local vendors and nonprofit organizations, create the Hispanic ambience and culture.

The El Paso Balloonfest is an annual event celebrated on Memorial Day weekend and is self described as "3 days of hot air balloons filling the El Paso skies, 3 afternoons of concerts and fun in the sun at [[Wet N' Wild Waterworld]] in Anthony, Texas". Over 60 balloons take to the air from TFCU launch field, which is adjacent to the water park. After the balloons launch, visitors have a weekend of water rides, swimming, concerts, and grilling. The concert aspect of the event features local bands, starting at noon, and different headlining artists in the afternoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://klaq.com/balloonfest/|title=KLAQ Balloonfest|access-date=August 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192548/http://klaq.com/balloonfest/|archive-date=October 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Overnight camping has been added for 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://klaq.com/klaq-balloonfest-camping-faqs/|title=KLAQ Balloonfest Camping FAQs|work=THE Q ROCKS|date=May 7, 2014 |access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref>

The El Paso Sun City Pride is the largest annual [[LGBT]] event in the region, attracting thousands every June.  The event was established in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.suncitypride.org/about-us|title = About Us|website=Suncitypride.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://visitelpaso.com/events/festivals/sun-city-pride-festival#:~:text=What%20began%20as%20a%20small,Paso%20and%20its%20surrounding%20areas |title=Sun City Pride Festival - Destination el Paso &#124; el Paso, Texas |access-date=June 24, 2020 |archive-date=June 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624221901/https://visitelpaso.com/events/festivals/sun-city-pride-festival#:~:text=What%20began%20as%20a%20small,Paso%20and%20its%20surrounding%20areas |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Music festivals===
The annual El Paso Downtown Street Festival is held during the last weekend of June in downtown El Paso near the El Paso Convention Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://klaq.com/events-el-paso/el-paso-downtown-street-festival-2013/28-june-2013-judson-f-williams-convention-center/|title=El Paso Downtown Street Festival | access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> It is the oldest musical festival in the city and brings local, regional, and nationally known acts.

The annual Neon Desert Music Festival is a two-day event usually held on the last Saturday and Sunday of May on five stages in downtown El Paso, stretching from San Jacinto Plaza to Cleveland Square.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neondesertmusicfestival.com/|title=Neon Desert Music Festival | access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> The festival brings over 30 acts from the worlds of indie rock, Latin, and electronic dance music.

The outdoor concert series, started in 1983, is held annually at the [[Chamizal National Memorial]] and draws over 60,000 attendees. It features local and international performers with wide-ranging musical genres: Classical, Country, Tejano, rock and others. The evening concerts are showcased every Sunday afternoon and start in early June and end in the middle of August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mcad/summerprograms.asp|title=Music Under the Stars|access-date=August 26, 2013|archive-date=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825091112/http://www.elpasotexas.gov/mcad/summerprograms.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The only El Paso musical festival not held downtown, instead it is held at Ascarate Park. The Sun City Music Festival is a two-day event dubbed as the largest electronic dance music festival in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://suncitymusicfestival.com/|title=Sun City Music Festival 2015 in El Paso, Texas|work=Sun City Music Festival 2015|access-date=July 16, 2015}}</ref>

The Texas Showdown Festival is an annual event celebrating musicians and tattoo artists under one roof.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texastattooshowdownfestival.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624080214/http://texastattooshowdownfestival.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2012|title=Texas Showdown Festival|access-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> Dubbed as the world's largest tattoo and musical festival, the event is held usually the last weekend of July at the El Paso County Coliseum.

===Comedy festivals ===

The ChucoTown Comedy Festival is the first comedy festival established in the El Paso region, bringing together comedy enthusiasts to celebrate in downtown El Paso. Launched in 2024, the festival showcases a diverse lineup of local comedians and headlining acts from across the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yee-Ha-Ha-Ha: How Austin Made Texas a Comedy Powerhouse |url=https://thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/13/yee-ha-ha-ha-how-austin-made-texas-a-comedy-powerhouse/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHN6i1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYDdmZ4yJnklWoXNug_28mZTnsjvmuB-6fKawfLWo4M57D39aeSNjIW0iA_aem_STv-PzeFqJ3mfWpJqdqpFg |website=The Barbed Wire |date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=December 17, 2024}}</ref> Founded by ChucoTown Comedy, the festival is the culmination of a year-round production of comedy shows, building anticipation and support within the local and regional comedy community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comedywham.com/reviews/chuco-town-comedy-festival-september-20-21-2024/|title=Chuco Town Comedy Festival – September 20-21, 2024|publisher=Comedy Wham}}</ref>

===Performing arts===

[[File:Viva El Paso 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Viva! El Paso performance at the [[McKelligon Canyon]] Amphitheatre]]
The outdoor musical extravaganza ''[[Viva! El Paso]]'' is performed in the McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre. It is locally produced and chronicles the 400-year history and cultural evolution of the El Paso region. The show is performed each Friday and Saturday night in June, July, and August. It has entertained local residents and out-of-town visitors for over 35 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viva-ep.org/ |title=VIVA! EL PASO |year=2011 |access-date=February 8, 2014}}</ref>

The El Paso Symphony was established in the 1930s, and is the oldest performing-arts organization in El Paso and the longest continuously running symphony orchestra in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epso.org/|title=El Paso Symphony | access-date=March 26, 2013}}</ref> It has received both national and international recognition as a result of its very successful tours of Germany in 1996 and Turkey in 2000, and continues to represent the El Paso region with pride and distinction.
The El Paso Symphony Orchestra Association season is anchored by 12 classical concerts. Special events serve as outreach toward new audiences.

Ballet was largely nonexistent in El Paso until the arrival of [[Ingeborg Heuser]], a professional ballerina from Germany, in the 1950s. Heuser taught ballet at UTEP for 47 years and founded the city's first professional ballet company, firstly known as Texas Western Civic Ballet and eventually as ''Ballet El Paso''. The company dissipated due to financial trouble in 1997 and Heuser retired from UTEP soon after.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=2891483|title=Ingeborg Heuser Brought Professional Ballet to City 29 (2011) – Borderlands – Library Research Guides at El Paso Community College|first=Rachel|last=Murphree}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digie.org/en/media/14362|title=Ingeborg Heuser &#124; wall|website=Digie.org|access-date=February 15, 2022}}</ref> The El Paso Youth Ballet was founded in 2009 by Heuser's student, Marta Katz, following Heuser's departure from the university. With students from the youth ballet, Heuser staged her last ''Nutcracker'' in 2006. The youth company continues to perform the ''Nutcracker'' and other preprofessional pieces in and around the El Paso area. The company provides the only platform for young ballet dancers to train and perform at such a level within the city since the folding of Ballet El Paso.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasoconservatoryofdance.com/el_paso_youth_ballet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830232832/http://elpasoconservatoryofdance.com/el_paso_youth_ballet|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2014|title=El Paso Conservatory of Dance}}</ref>

El Paso City Ballet is a current professional ballet company in El Paso, providing local employment for professional dancers in the field of ballet. The company performs a variety of classical and contemporary works choreographed by Artistic Director Lisa Skaf and artists from the US and Latin America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasocityballet.org/index.html|title=El Paso City Ballet – Home|work=El Paso City Ballet|access-date=September 14, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202181055/http://www.elpasocityballet.org/index.html|archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> It has been active since 2005, performing yearly productions.

===Theaters===
[[File:Plaza Theater at Night.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Plaza theater at night|Plaza Theater at night]]

The [[Plaza Theatre (El Paso)|Plaza Theatre]] is a [[National Register of Historic Places|National Historic Building of Significance]] built in 1930.<ref name="Plaza Theatre">{{cite web|url=http://elpasolive.com/venues/plaza_theatre|title=Plaza Theatre|date=August 17, 2018|website=El Paso Live}}</ref> It features the 2,050-seat [[Plaza Theatre (El Paso)|Kendall Kidd Performance Hall]], and the smaller 200-seat [[Plaza Theatre (El Paso)|Philanthropy Theatre]]. It hosts [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions, musical concerts, individual performers, and the annual [[Plaza Theatre (El Paso)|Plaza Classic Film Festival]].<ref name="Plaza Theatre"/>

The [[Abraham Chavez Theatre]] is a 2,500-seat [[concert hall]] adjacent to the [[Williams Convention Center]]. Its exterior resembles a ''[[sombrero]]'' and features a three-story glass main entrance. The theatre is named after Maestro Abraham Chavez, who was the longtime conductor of the El Paso Symphony. Inside, the theatre has a {{convert|5000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} lobby and a 40-by-56-ft stage, as well as 14 dressing rooms. The theater's seating is in three levels. Also, a meeting room is adjacent to the theater.<ref name="Plaza Theatre"/>

Events held at Chavez Theatre include [[concerts]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] shows, [[graduation]] ceremonies, performances of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and other special events.

[[McKelligon Canyon]] is a {{convert|90|acre|m2|adj=on}} park, located in the Franklin Mountains, open to hikers and picnickers. In the canyon, McKelligon Canyon Amphitheatre is surrounded on three sides by canyon walls; the 1,500-seat amphitheater is used for concerts and special events, such as ''Viva! El Paso''.{{Sfn|Metz|1999|p=13}}

The El Paso Playhouse, a community theatre, provides entertainment and educational experiences to a diverse multicultural population through the high-quality production of plays and theatrical events. The playhouse provides a venue for artists, technicians, patrons, and community members to participate in the arts through regularly scheduled season productions and holiday performances. The theater is affiliated with Kids-N-Co, a theater for child actors to children's performances .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elpasoplayhouse.com/|title=El Paso Playhouse|date=August 17, 2018|website=elpasoplayhouse.com|access-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310135858/https://www.elpasoplayhouse.com/|archive-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The University of Texas, El Paso Dinner Theatre located inside the University of Texas, El Paso campus, and was founded in 1983 and is entirely produced, designed and directed by students. The theatre presents 4 fully staged musicals each season and a fully staged student produced musical.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.utep.edu/liberalarts/udt/about/index.html|title=The UTEP Dinner Theatre|date=August 27, 2018|website=utep.edu}}</ref>

===Area museums===
[[File:CuevaOlla.jpg|thumb|right|El Paso Museum of Archaeology, diorama shows [[Cueva de la Olla (archaeological site)|Cueva de la Olla]] (cave of the pot – a large pot-shaped storage container for grain), Paquimé, [[Sierra Madre Occidental|Sierra Madre]] of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]]]

The [[Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens]], located on the grounds of UTEP, includes a comprehensive collection of El Paso Brown, Native American pottery, as well as educational exhibits for students.

The [[El Paso Museum of Archaeology]] is located on the eastern slope of [[North Franklin Mountain]], west of Gateway South Blvd. on TransMountain Rd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasotexas.gov/arch_museum/default.asp|title=El Paso Museum of Archaeology|access-date=March 26, 2013|archive-date=March 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328090617/http://www.elpasotexas.gov/arch_museum/default.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its grounds include native plants of the American Southwest, as well samples of Native American shelters, in an unspoiled location. The museum includes [[diorama]]s for school children that illustrate the culture and geology of the American Southwest, such as [[Hueco Tanks]] in El Paso County. One diorama (see image to the right) is of the Cueva de la Olla<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741048049|url-access=registration|quote=de la Cueva de la Olla paquime.|title=John Noble, ''Mexico'' |publisher=Lonely Planet|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741048049/page/365 365]|access-date=September 14, 2014|isbn=9781741048049 |last1=Noble |first1=John |year=2008 }}</ref> (cave of the pot) which is located in the [[Sierra Madre Occidental|Sierra Madre]] of [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]], an example of the Paquimé culture.<ref>{{YouTube|PyFsyYuS9sQ|Cultura Paquime: Sitios Arqueologicos – Paquime Culture Documental Documentary}} see minute 0:32 of 4:18 total</ref>

The [[El Paso Museum of Art]] is located next to the [[Plaza Theatre (El Paso)|Plaza Theater]] adjacent to San Jacinto Plaza, the public square downtown. It contains works of Southwestern artists such as [[Thomas C. Lea, III|Tom Lea]].

Other area museums include:
* [[El Paso Holocaust Museum and Study Center]]
* International Museum of Art El Paso
* [[El Paso Museum of History]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasotexas.gov/history/|title=El Paso Museum of History|publisher=elpasotexas.gov/history|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=October 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017121825/http://www.elpasotexas.gov/history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Fort Bliss Museums and Study Center<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bliss.army.mil/Museum/fort_bliss_museum.htm|title=Fort Bilss Museums and Study Center|publisher=www.bliss.army.mil/Museum|access-date=February 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211224725/https://www.bliss.army.mil/Museum/fort_bliss_museum.htm|archive-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref>
* Insights El Paso Science Museum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insightselpaso.org/|title=Insights El Paso Science Museum | publisher=Insights El Paso Science Museum |access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
* The [[Magoffin Homestead]], dating from 1875, is now a state historic site.
* The [[National Border Patrol Museum]] is located adjacent to the El Paso Museum of Archaeology.
* Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasorails.org/|title=Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso|publisher=elpasorails.org|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106025602/http://elpasorails.org/|archive-date=January 6, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The Gene Roddenberry Planetarium<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grplanetarium.weebly.com/|title=The Gene Roddenberry Planetarium –  | publisher=grplanetarium.weebly.com/ |access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>
* Lynx Exhibits<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lynxexhibits.com/|title=Lynx Exhibits |access-date=February 10, 2014}}</ref>

===Sites within the city limits===
[[File:Asia exibit entrance.jpg|thumb|right|Asia exhibit entrance at the El Paso Zoo]]
* [[Ysleta Mission]] is recognized as the oldest continuously operated parish in the State of Texas.
* [[Cathedral Parish of Saint Patrick (El Paso, Texas)|Cathedral of Saint Patrick]] erected in 1916 is the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso]].
* [[Chamizal National Memorial]]
* [[El Paso Zoo]] – a {{convert|35|acre|adj=on}} facility housing 220 species.<ref>{{cite web|title=Complete animal List |url=http://www.elpasozoo.org/overview.asp?selection=animal_overview |publisher=El Paso Zoo |access-date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024032253/http://www.elpasozoo.org/overview.asp?selection=animal_overview |archive-date=October 24, 2008 }}</ref>
* [[Magoffin Homestead|Magoffin Home State Historic Site]]
* [[Plaza Hotel (El Paso)|Plaza Hotel]]
* [[Union Depot (El Paso)|Union Depot]]
* [[El Paso High School]]
* [[University of Texas at El Paso]] The university's distinctive style is a type of fortress architecture, Dzong, found in the present and former Buddhist mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas, Bhutan and Tibet.<ref>{{cite web |title=ON BHUTANESE AND TIBETAN DZONGS |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/jbs/pdf/JBS_05_02.pdf |website=himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=53233|title=Bhutan on the Border|access-date=September 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311095954/http://admin.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=53233|archive-date=March 11, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>