Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta Draws Big Crowd To Downtown Convention Center

It’s the fiesta before the face-off.

Friday evening, football fans filled the convention center in Downtown El Paso for some fun at the Fan Fiesta before the 78th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl.

“The Fan Fiesta is a big tailgate party where everyone in El Paso and all our out-of-town guests can come and have a good time before the game,” Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas said.

The free event went from 4-9 p.m. and featured live music, a variety of food vendors and games.

“It’s not free for us (to put on the Fan Fiesta), but it’s certainly worth it,” Olivas said. “Every penny that we spend putting this event on is worth it for all our visitors and El Pasoans as well.”

ABC-7 spoke with football fans who appreciated the event’s Southwest flare. Mariachis played traditional songs and Aztec dancers performed during the event.

“When you travel around the world, you want to learn about different cultures,” said one fan who traveled to El Paso from Utah with her family for the game.

The 78th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl is at noon Saturday, Dec. 31.