Thousands bundle up for Celebration of Lights’ return to San Jacinto Plaza

The potential for a winter storm could not keep thousands of El Pasoans from heading Downtown for the annual Celebration of Lights parade and Christmas-tree lighting ceremony Saturday. Now that it’s renovated, San Jacinto Plaza once again became home to the festivities after three years.

With temperatures staying in the 40s, it was a welcome relief for most that the rain stopped before the ceremony.

Bundled up in scarves, mittens, and some even in parkas, thousands began gathering around Los Lagartos before the ceremony to get a good view of the tree.

Others gathered around the food trucks to buy several food items, including favorites like churros, hot dogs, corn in a cup and steaming hot cocoa. Dozens others waited in a long line to buy a coffee at the Coffee Box.

People in attendance also had several new events to enjoy this year, including an art and farmers market and Winterfest, which includes an ice skating rink.

Hundreds had hit the ice rink before the Celebration of Lights ceremony. “This is great it is a great opportunity for everyone to get out and experience things we don’t have here,” said one skater to ABC-7. Others told us it was fun and neat.

Some skated gracefully, but it wasn’t rare to see a child fall here or there.

Back at San Jacinto Plaza, it was all smiles. “Waiting for the tree to light is really exciting,” said one man. One woman with her grandchild sitting on top of her shoulders told us her grandkids were also excited.

ABC-7 anchor Estela Casas led the ceremonies, which began with live music by the First Armored Division Band and the St. Anthony’s Seminary Franciscanos Choir, a tradition for the Celebration of Lights.

But before the switch was pulled, the City made a big announcement about new attractions that are coming to the borderland. In a nearly 2-minute video that was projected onto the Chase Building for all to see, it showed clips of attractions added to the city this year, and future attractions still to come.

Beginning with the quote, “El Paso has plenty to be merry about”, it showed clips of public art installations, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Topgolf, the splash parks, new downtown developments, the streetcar project, indoor skydiving, a surf park, and plenty of other clips.

“A couple years ago we made those phone calls, and they were not interested in coming to El Paso” said Mayor Oscar Leeser about some of the companies shown in the video. He added, “and now, they’re contacting us.”

Others we spoke with said it’s about time El Paso got some of the attractions shown in the video. Others said they’re excited for the future, adding it’s great to see El Paso continue to grow.

Finally, the time came to flip the switch. The glow from dozens of phone screens light up the plaza beforehand, people making sure they captured the moment.

With the help of Ryan Morales with Candlelighters, the Mayor flipped the switch to light the Plaza. Cheers and gasps followed, while others pointed up at the fireworks.

It took almost 3 minutes for all the lights to turn on.

“It was beautiful. Bright and nice lighting,” said one person. Another said, “I didn’t expect it to be that cool.”

One woman told us she has lived in El Paso for 62 years, and has never seen anything like it.

Maybe the city’s video was right. El Paso does have plenty to be merry about this year.