El Paso is home to many great things, the annual Sun City Music Festival included. When you make your trip to the border this Labor Day weekend, September 2-3rd, there are plenty of places you can check out to enhance your getaway without breaking the bank — or infringing on your festival time. Buy SCMF tickets!
Many of our dancers are arriving in town early and may not leave until Monday or later. While that may seem like too short a time to truly explore the city, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy that capture the essence of El Paso. There’s no need to burn through your wallet or spend less hours on the dance floor. Whether you’re an early riser or late night owl, here are nine free and cheap things to do while you’re in the Sun City.
Kick Off the Weekend Alfresco
Every summer season, El Paso brings back a concert series called Alfresco! Fridays; and 2017 marks its 15th year. Starting at 6:00 PM at the Downtown Convention Center Plaza, Alfresco! Fridays showcases an assorted mix of music from regional talent. If you arrive in the Sun City on Friday, September 1st, you can check out the last edition of the free event before it goes away until 2018.
More of Mesa
Some of the local’s favorite bars are located on N Mesa St. and there’s no shortage of eclectic venues to chose from either. In a 10 minute walk, you can find retro-themed hot spots like Rubiks Arcade Bar, nice outdoor patios like Hope and Anchor, hookah lounges like Puff, or gastropubs like The Hoppy Monk! Hit up N Mesa St. for a scenic night out on the town.
Explore the Artist and Farmer’s Market
SCMF begins mid-afternoon on Saturday, so you have plenty of time to pay a visit to the city’s downtown artist and farmer’s market. Located at the Union Plaza District on San Antonio and Anthony streets, El Paso’s Artist and Farmer’s Market is held weekly from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and plays host to original arts and crafts on display, as well as fresh regionally grown agricultural produce. It even has live entertainment from local artists and free activities like face painting — so you can grab some local eats, see some art, and get painted up before you head to the fest’.
Desert Views From Up High
If you’re looking for some Instagram-worthy pics, head to the Wyler Aerial Tramway. For $8 bucks, you can get a ticket for a gondola ride that travels on a 2,600 ft steel cable to the top of Ranger Peak. The top of the Peak is 5,632 ft above sea level which gives you a magnificent view of 7,000 sq miles covering different cacti, abundant wildlife, and many birds in three states and two countries!
Embrace the Arts
Free to the public, the El Paso Museum of Art is home to more than 5,000 pieces of American, European, and Mexican art dating back to the 12th through 18th centuries. From the Modernist to Impressionist era, embrace our creative history with a visit to view a collection of prints, drawings, watercolors, posters, and photographs. The museum opens at 9:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays so you can swing by during the day, then dance all night.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Labor Day weekend in El Paso coincides with peak bloom season at the Municipal Rose Garden! During the months of March and October, the garden’s 1,460 rose bushes, boasting 320 types, show off their beautiful and fragrant petals. Free to enter, why not grab a cheap bite to eat and have lunch at one of the many benches throughout the garden.
Authentic Mexican Food
Since you’re so close to our neighboring country while you’re in Sun City, why not go for some authentic Mexican food. Consistently voted El Paso’s best Mexican restaurant, the L&J Cafe has been serving up traditional eats since 1927. Keeping all the recipes in the family for four generations, it’s no wonder this restaurant is a well-loved local favorite.
Have Fun at Bob O’s
Feed your inner child with a trip to Bob O’s Fun Center. On Fridays, you can get three hours of unlimited go-karts, bumper boats, and miniature golf; plus a game of laser tag. For an extra $5, you can even throw in two slices of pizza and a soda!
Clean Car Full Stomach
The thought of a car wash with food might seem off-putting to some, but don’t let that oddity steer you away from visiting H & H Car Wash and Coffee Shop, El Paso’s beloved restaurant and car service. Offering a vintage diner feel, this famous venue is best known for its fabulous breakfasts and Tex-Mex lunches. Part car wash, part taqueria, part coffee shop — only in Texas could you get your wheels detailed while you scarf down plates of carne picada.