Fall is a great time for El Paso and the surrounding area with lots of fun festivals, from music and wine to apple, chile and family events.
In El Paso, there are several traditional festivals, including Chalk the Block, Di?a de los Muertos, and the Way Out West Country Festival.
In Mesilla, families can plan for a fun day, complete with bubble painting and bubble wand making on Saturday, Aug. 23. Those who like picking fruits can look forward to the largest apple festival in New Mexico this October. And one of the bigger festivals, the Hatch Chile Festival, will take place in the quaint town of Hatch, New Mexico.
Here is a closer look at these festivals for the fall in El Paso and the surrounding area.
Family Day Fiesta in Mesilla
Mesilla is always a fun day trip, especially with the upcoming Family Day Fiesta. The fiesta, a fun annual event, will be hosted by the Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Mesilla Plaza in West Las Cruces, and Reynolds Store Visitor Center located at 2350 Calle Principal in Mesilla.
Enjoy mariachi music, folklorico dancing, creative and kid-friendly activities, and a chance to explore the culture and history of Mesilla. From 11:30 a.m. to noon, in partnership with the Town of Mesilla and the Calavera Coalition, the plaza will be a bubble extravaganza with bubble machines, bubble painting, bubble wand making, giant bubble wands, and more. This fiesta also celebrates the first anniversary of the Reynolds Store Visitor Center, a mercantile dating back to the 1860s.The Wonders on Wheels Mobile Museum, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, will also be at the plaza throughout the day, offering tours of the exhibit “Eight Sites, One History: Explore the Past at New Mexico Historic Sites.”
St. Anthony's Seminary's annual bazaar set for Labor Day weekend
The St. Anthony's Seminary traditional bazaar will take place during Labor Day weekend at 4601 Hastings Drive in Central El Paso. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 through Monday, Sept. 1. Expect plenty of food for sale, including enchiladas, flautas and gorditas. Also play Loteria and other games. Admission is free.
Hatch Valley Chile Festival returns Labor Day 2025 weekend
The 2025 Hatch Chile Festival, now going on its 53rd year, will take place Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31, in the heart of Hatch Valley, New Mexico. The annual celebration draws thousands of chile lovers and features carnival rides, local vendors, fair food, and interactive games for all ages. The parade will kick off the festivities at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. Music will start both days at 11 a.m. on the main stage.
Horizon City Wine Festival set for September
El Pasoans are invited to enjoy a variety of wines from all over the world at the Horizon City Wine Festival Saturday, Sept. 13, at Jardines Arco Iris, 500 Peyton Road. Doors will open at 2 p.m. General admission tickets start at $27.50 plus fees, available at tickets.thecitymagazineelp.com
El Paso Film Festival to feature Kevin Smith
Acclaimed filmmaker and pop culture icon Kevin Smith will be the featured guest for a special one-night-only event, An Evening with Kevin Smith, on Sept. 25 at the Plaza Theatre. The event is part of the El Paso Film Festival, which will be from Sept. 25-27 and is entering its eighth year.
The Smith Master Class will be at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Smith event are $23.35 plus fees, available at Ticketmaster.com.
Single tickets for the El Paso Film Festival are available at the Plaza Box Office and Ticketmaster.com, starting at $13.10 plus fees.
Way Out West Country Festival set for Downtown El Paso
Multi-platinum country music star Dustin Lynch will headline the 9th Annual Way Out West Country Music Festival in Downtown El Paso.
The festival will be Saturday, Sept. 27. Tickets, ranging from $52 to $169, plus fees, are available at epwayoutwest.com and the Plaza Theatre Box Office. Military discounts are available exclusively through GovX.com.
Carrizozo Community Festival
The New Mexico town of Carrizozo will have its Community Festival from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12th Street and McDonald Park.
The festival will include arts and crafts, a parade, food trucks, live music, classic cars, kids’ activities, and street dancing. It will also feature a disc golf tournament at Disc-O-Zozo in Carrizozo Community Park. Information: 575-973-3239.
Apple Festival set for October in New Mexico
The largest apple festival in New Mexico will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5, at the Nichols Ranch and Orchards, 236 Cottonwood Canyon Road in La Luz, New Mexico. Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 4, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.
Kids and adults alike will enjoy picking apples and shopping for pies, cider, and enjoying music and food truck fare. The Runyan Ranches Petting Zoo and more than a hundred arts and crafts vendors will return. Information: nicholsranchandorchards.com
Chalk the Block returns in October
The region's largest public arts festival, the 18th annual Chalk the Block, featuring nearly 200 artists, will be Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, in Downtown El Paso.
The festival draws more than 45,000 attendees, with impressive art on sidewalks and a variety of vendors. Free admission.
Di?a de los Muertos celebrates culture in November
Di?a de los Muertos, a colorful cultural festival with parade, artisan vendors, and food trucks, will be centered around the newly opened Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) on Saturday, Nov. 1. The MACC is at 201 W Franklin Ave. in Downtown El Paso.
The parade is over a mile long and features more than 60 entries of floats, ballet folklorico performers, musicians, and community organizations. This year's theme will be Alebrijes, the brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures.
WinterFest 2025 set for late November
El Pasoans looking forward to WinterFest 2025 can mark Saturday, Nov. 22, on their calendar.
Celebrating its 10th year, the largest holiday celebration kicks off the weekend before Thanksgiving and is the start of the holiday season in El Paso. The season kicks off with the Scherr Legate Lights Parade and the lighting of the Christmas tree at San Jacinto Plaza and continues with a festive plaza through Jan. 4, 2026.
Mari?a Corte?s Gonza?lez may be reached at 915-546-6150; [email protected]; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok