Episode 3: Ghosts915, WinterFest, and Downtown Holiday Events

Episode 3 of Mi Centro: The Downtown El Paso Podcast celebrates the season in Downtown El Paso, from spooky stories to holiday traditions. Hosted by Ivan Bernal with guest host Gaby, this episode takes viewers from the historic Wigwam Saloon to the lights, activities and traditions of WinterFest.

The episode begins with a visit to the Wigwam Saloon, where Ivan meets with Peter Stone of the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society, also known as Ghosts915. From there, the conversation moves into DTEP’s seasonal promotions, including Sally’s Halloween Adventure and Winterland Bingo, before diving into WinterFest with Rick Isaias and Diana Cepeda from the City of El Paso.

The episode also highlights two upcoming DTEP events: the first-ever Cafecito Crawl in Downtown El Paso and the return of Downtown Barstool Open, one of DTEP’s most popular annual events.

A Historic Downtown Stop with Ghosts915

The episode opens at the Wigwam Saloon, one of Downtown El Paso’s historic spaces. Ivan joins Peter Stone of the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society for a walk-through of the building, its history and the stories connected to the space.

Peter shared that the Wigwam Saloon was first established in 1883 as the Fashion Saloon before becoming the Wigwam Saloon in 1909. Throughout the segment, he walks Ivan through different areas of the space while explaining the history of the building, the artifacts inside and the way Ghosts915 approaches investigations in historic locations.

The segment is different from a traditional interview. Instead of sitting down in the studio, Ivan and Peter walk through the space together, with Peter explaining equipment, sharing stories and guiding the experience in real time. Whether viewers believe in ghosts or simply enjoy local history, the segment offers a different way to experience one of Downtown’s historic buildings.

Peter also shared more about the Paso Del Norte Paranormal Society and its work as a nonprofit organization. The group helps investigate and validate concerns related to unexplained activity while also helping connect people to the history of the spaces they visit.

Sally’s Halloween Adventure Returns Downtown

After the Wigwam segment, the episode shifts back to the studio to talk about one of DTEP’s Halloween promotions: Sally’s Halloween Adventure.

This year’s adventure gives visitors a fun way to explore participating Downtown businesses throughout October. Guests can look for participating posters, scan the QR code and follow the digital trail. The activity includes two paths: a shorter path with five stops and a full path with 10 stops.

Unlike last year’s selfie scavenger hunt, this year’s version includes more of a fill-in-the-blank mystery experience. Participants collect words as they visit stops and complete the adventure for a prize.

Sally’s Halloween Adventure is designed for families, friends, Downtown employees, visitors and anyone looking for a fun seasonal activity. It gives people a reason to walk through Downtown, stop by local businesses and experience the district during spooky season.

Winterland Bingo and Holiday Exploration

The episode also introduces Winterland Bingo, DTEP’s holiday promotion that encourages people to explore Downtown businesses during the WinterFest season.

Gaby shared that Winterland Bingo was introduced last year and saw strong participation from Downtown businesses. The activity invites people to pick up or download a bingo card, visit participating locations and collect stamps. Participants can complete a row for a prize entry or complete the full card for a prize.

The promotion is designed to encourage people to explore different parts of the district, including areas near Stanton Street, El Paso Street, the Plaza area, Texas Avenue and more. It gives visitors a simple way to discover shops, restaurants, bars, attractions and local businesses while spending time Downtown during the holidays.

The episode also teased a holiday photo opportunity with Santa at Eureka Thrift, with more details to come.

WinterFest Lights Up Downtown El Paso

The main focus of the episode is WinterFest, one of El Paso’s biggest holiday traditions.

Ivan speaks with Rick Isaias from the City of El Paso about the full WinterFest experience and what visitors can expect this year. Rick described WinterFest as a holiday celebration for El Paso and the surrounding region, bringing families and visitors Downtown to enjoy lights, photos, entertainment and seasonal activities.

The celebration begins before Thanksgiving and continues into early January. Rick shared that WinterFest has become a tradition over the last decade, with San Jacinto Plaza, Cleveland Square Park and surrounding areas filled with lights, displays and photo opportunities.

One of the biggest highlights is the scale of the lights. Rick shared that San Jacinto Plaza features more than a million lights, along with large holiday displays and the city’s holiday tree. The experience gives visitors a chance to take photos, enjoy the atmosphere and spend time Downtown with family and friends.

WinterFest also includes The Rink at the Convention Center, Pictures with Santa, Holiday Fiestas, food options and more. While some activities may have a cost, many parts of WinterFest are free, including enjoying the lights and taking in the Downtown atmosphere.

More Than Lights

WinterFest is more than a display of holiday lights. The episode highlights several ways visitors can make a full experience out of their trip Downtown.

Rick discussed The Rink, where visitors can ice skate outdoors during the season. He also highlighted Pictures with Santa, a free opportunity for families to take photos with Santa and receive them directly to their phones.

Holiday Fiestas are another major part of the season, bringing music and entertainment to San Jacinto Plaza on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. These events feature DJs, bands and performances that help make the plaza feel active throughout the holiday season.

The episode also highlights Cleveland Square Park as a quieter part of the WinterFest footprint. Located near the El Paso Museum of History and the Mexican American Cultural Center, Cleveland Square Park offers lights, installations and a calmer atmosphere just a short walk from San Jacinto Plaza.

Ivan also reminds viewers that Downtown Ambassadors are out during WinterFest and can help take photos for visitors. Guests are encouraged to tag EP WinterFest on social media for a chance to be featured.

Opening Night, the Parade and Planning Ahead

Joe Gudenrath, Executive Director of the El Paso Downtown Management District, joins Diana Cepeda from the City of El Paso to talk about opening night, planning and the work that goes into WinterFest.

Diana shared that WinterFest is a major citywide effort, with more than a dozen City departments involved. Planning begins months in advance, soon after the previous season wraps up.

Opening night is one of the biggest moments of the season. This year, the Scherr Legate Lights Parade and tree lighting will take place on Saturday, November 21. Diana shared that the day includes several activities, with The Rink opening at noon, the Holiday Market beginning at 2 p.m., the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. and the parade following after.

The parade brings thousands of people Downtown and attracts visitors from across the region, including El Paso, New Mexico, Mexico and beyond. Diana also shared tips for visitors planning to attend opening night, including arriving early, planning parking and preparing for changing El Paso weather.

The El Paso Streetcar will also play an important role during the season. Diana encouraged visitors to use the Streetcar, especially on opening day, as a convenient way to get around Downtown and avoid some of the traffic tied to major events.

Cafecito Crawl Comes to Downtown for the First Time

The episode also gives viewers a preview of Cafecito Crawl, a new DTEP event coming to Downtown El Paso for the first time.

Cafecito Crawl will take guests through different Downtown coffee shops and local stops. Participants will receive a card to collect stamps, along with a custom cup. The event will feature coffee samples, pastries and special drinks from participating locations.

Ivan and Gaby shared that the self-guided crawl will include about 10 stops, giving guests a chance to explore familiar coffee shops as well as newer spots Downtown, including Brand My Cookie inside the Cortez Building.

The episode also recognizes Parkhill as the sponsor helping make the first-ever Cafecito Crawl possible.

Downtown Barstool Open Returns

Episode 3 also highlights the return of Downtown Barstool Open, one of DTEP’s most popular events.

Downtown Barstool Open will take place on February 6, with tickets going on sale November 19. The event features three different courses through participating Downtown bars, restaurants and hotels. Teams make their way from stop to stop, playing mini golf and enjoying a full Downtown experience with friends, coworkers and other participants.

The event is known for its fun, competitive energy, with many participants dressing up and spending the day Downtown. Ivan and Gaby encouraged viewers to mark their calendars because tickets move quickly.

Like Cafecito Crawl, Downtown Barstool Open is another example of how DTEP events encourage people to explore local businesses, spend time Downtown and experience the district in a new way.

A Season to Experience Downtown

From ghost stories and historic buildings to holiday lights, family traditions, coffee stops and mini-golf, Episode 3 shows how many different experiences come together in Downtown El Paso.

The episode highlights the district as a place for history, seasonal traditions, local businesses, family memories and community events. Whether visitors are heading Downtown for WinterFest, participating in Sally’s Halloween Adventure, completing Winterland Bingo, joining Cafecito Crawl or getting ready for Downtown Barstool Open, the season offers plenty of reasons to explore.

For more information on Downtown events and DTEP promotions, visit DowntownElPaso.com and follow @DowntownElPaso on social media.

For WinterFest details, visit EPWinterFest.com.

Made In Partnership With: