Celebrate the Holidays with the City of El Paso

The Holidays are a special time within the community, offering a time to be thankful for and celebrate family, friends and togetherness across the city. Several City departments offer activities or events that work to enhance the holiday experience for families throughout the community. Come and celebrate the holidays with the City.

Annual Holiday Lights Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Celebrate the Holidays with the City of El PasoThe City of El Paso's Parks and Recreation Department will host the Holiday Lights Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting on December 2nd in downtown El Paso. The events leading up to the Christmas Tree Lighting in San Jacinto Plaza will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the lighting of the 50-foot tree at 5:50 p.m. The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be handled by Mayor John Cook, along with 10-year-old Genna Gonzalez of Collins Elementary School. The Tree Lighting ceremony has been enhanced with thousands of dollars in decorations made possible through a donation by the El Paso Community Foundation.

Following the Tree Lighting, the Holiday Lights Parade will start at 5:55 p.m. with an expected audience of 55,000 people. The Holiday Lights Parade will be staged on Mills St., east of Campbell, also using Florence, Ochoa and Virginia. The parade route will flow as follows: west on Mills, turn right (north) on Campbell, left (west) on Main St., left (south) on Oregon, left (east) on San Antonio, left (north) on Campbell and right (east) on Texas. It will disperse as it was staged using Florence, Ochoa and Virginia. For more information on this annual event, please call 533-3311.

Twelve Days of Christmas in San Jacinto Plaza
The upcoming Twelve Days of Christmas will take place in San Jacinto Plaza beginning Monday, December 4th from 5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. each weekday. The Central Business Association will also have a Holiday Posada on December 14th that is well-attended each year.

The schedule for the entertainment is as follows:
Monday, Dec. 4th
Tuesday, Dec. 5th
Wednesday, Dec. 6th
Thursday, Dec. 7th
Friday, Dec. 8th
Monday, Dec. 11th
Tuesday, Dec. 12th
Wednesday, Dec. 13th
Thursday, Dec. 14th
Friday, Dec. 15th
Monday, Dec. 18th
Tuesday, Dec. 19th		 Clover
Henderson Middle School
Lydia Patterson High School
Amanda Huante
Stephanie Dewitt
TBA
Cali Roots
Gel
Central Business Association Posada Night
Zachariah
Bowie Dance Ensemble
Shelby Acosta

For more information, call Eliseo Duran at 533-3311.

Holiday Lights at the Zoo
Holiday Lights at the ZooNew for 2006 - Shop our Old World Market!
The El Paso Zoological Society's "Holiday Lights at the Zoo" will take place this year on December 1&2, 8&9, 15-23 and 26-30 at 5:00pm to 7:30pm each evening. Bring the kids! Come see over 150,000 colorful lights intertwined in trees, along walkways and around buildings, creating a magical wonderland at the Zoo.

Since 1997, Holiday Lights at the Zoo, has become a tradition for many El Paso families. Nightly live musical performances are scheduled (check our website: elpasozoo.org), plus children can take pictures with Santa, enjoy special holiday treats & hot cocoa, and ride on the Carousel. Outdoor animals will not be on display during the evening hours; however guests can tour the Sea Lion Exhibit, South American Pavilion, Paraje Exhibit and the Asian Forest Complex. New at the Zoo: this year we have created an exciting "Old World Market" where you can shop for holiday gifts among crafts, toys and treasures selected just for this event.

Spend an evening at the Zoo this December! Make our Holiday Lights at the Zoo part of your family tradition! The cost for entrance to see the Holiday Lights at the Zoo is $4 for adults, $2 for children. Active duty military personnel receive a $1.00 discount. For more information, call 521-1850 or visit the Zoo's website at elpasozoo.org.

This 9th annual fundraiser helps support El Paso Zoological Society programs at the El Paso Zoo. Educating our public is one of our Society's important missions. In partnership with the El Paso Zoo, the Society provides quality educational programs and events, conservation programs, children's camps and workshops, tours and outreach programs to schools, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Through these programs over 400,000 people were reached during 2005. -Kathleen Mason, El Paso Zoo Society Executive Director.

The El Paso Zoo Society thanks our generous 2006 Holiday Light Sponsors:
Robert Bonaventure - Presenting Sponsor
Computer Labs, Inc.
Hunt Family Foundation
Rogers & Belding Insurance
Perrault & Associates, Inc.

Santa Claus Schedule 2006
What Christmas would be complete without a visit from the good ole St. Nick? Santa Claus will be appearing at all El Paso Public Library locations this December. Kids of all ages are invited to come meet Santa and give him their special wishes for the holiday season. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture those special moments. For more information call a library branch nearest you or visit www.elpasolibrary.org.

Dec 2, 2006 Sat 1:00 pm EPCC Northwest Campus
Dec 9, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Clardy Fox Library
Dec 9, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Lower Valley Library
Dec 14, 2006 Thu 10:00 am Ysleta Library
Dec 16, 2006 Sat 11:00 am Richard Burges Library
Dec 16, 2006 Sat 12:00 pm Memorial Park Library
Dec 16, 2006 Sat 2:00 pm Armijo Library
Dec 16, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Westside Library
Dec 16, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Irving Schwartz Library
Dec 20, 2006 Wed 6:30 pm Dorris Van Doren Library
Dec 23, 2006 Sat 11:00 am Main Library
Dec 23, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Cielo Vista Library
Dec 23, 2006 Sat 3:00 pm Esperanza Moreno Library



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