Annual Holiday Lights Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

The 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.

Holiday Lights at the Zoo

New 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.