There's yet ANOTHER great event happening next weekend, the First Thanksgiving Celebration in San Elizario along the El Paso Mission Trail.  From our events calendar:

"The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27.

Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.

The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.

The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.

For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.

Event Schedule--Events are free unless otherwise noted

Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza, (near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)

Friday, April 25th

7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias.  Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets here.)

Advance sales only

Saturday, April 26th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz

7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13

10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)

Midnight Programming ends

Sunday, April 27th

Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits

Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories

Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth

4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP

5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario

7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios

9:00 pm Programming ends

The El Paso Mission Trail Association will present the 25th Annual First Thanksgiving Celebration from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. Highlights include a Zarzuela concert featuring Opera UTEP, a performance by Rosa Guerrero, three historical reenactments of the First Thanksgiving featuring Opera UTEP, a Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark Seitz, an 1877 Salt War Reenactment performed by the Pistoleros de San Elizario, haunted tours led by the El Paso Paranormal Society, and musical performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle, Chapter 13, Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios. Food, art, historians, informational booths and entertainment for all ages will abound throughout the weekend.
The celebration will take place at the San Elizario’s historic placita (Veterans Memorial Plaza) in front of the San Elceario Mission-Chapel in the heart of San Elizario, Texas, near where historians believe the Mass, feast and celebration of Don Juan de Oñate’s expedition took place on April 30, 1598.
The El Paso Mission Trail Association was founded in 1989 by philanthropist and historian Sheldon Hall. His vision was to highlight the historic value of the Mission Valley, and he worked tirelessly to increase tourism in the area. His efforts lead to El Paso’s missions, Oñate’s expedition and the First Thanksgiving on the banks of the Rio Grande here being taught in history classrooms all across Texas, putting El Paso County on the map as a heritage tourism destination.
For 25 years, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has worked to educate, promote, preserve and celebrate the Mission Valley and the historic trail between the San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta missions –Texas’ portion of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. Through events, tours, activism, volunteerism and fundraising, the El Paso Mission Trail Association has raised millions of dollars and welcomed thousands of guests to the Mission Valley.
Event Schedule
Events are free unless otherwise noted
Events take place at Veterans Memorial Plaza
(near 1500 Main Street, San Elizario, Texas)
Friday, April 25th
7:00 pm Preview Night at the Adobe Horseshoe Theatre featuring Opera UTEP performing Zarzuela arias
Tickets are $25 per person (purchase tickets: bit.ly/EPFirstThanks)
Advance sales only
Saturday, April 26th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits featuring the El Paso Heritage Alliance, El Paso History Museum, Concordia Cemetery and Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
1:00 pm Performance by Rosa Guerrero, “History of Dance in the America’s”
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
6:00 pm Mass celebrated at the San Elceario Mission-Chapel by Bishop Mark Seitz
7:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
9:00 pm Performances by Tejas, Los Alegres del Valle and Chapter 13
10 pm Haunted Tour led by the El Paso County Paranormal Society ($10 per person)
Midnight Programming ends
Sunday, April 27th
Noon Event begins with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and education exhibits
Noon – 4pm Car show presented by Street Memories
Noon – 5pm “Ask the Historian” informational booth
4:00 pm Historical Reenactment of the 1598 First Thanksgiving presented by Opera UTEP
5:00 pm Reenactment of the 1877 Salt War presented by the Pistoleros de San Elizario
7:00 pm Performances by Moon Dogs and Los Bohemios
9:00 pm Programming ends
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/san-elizario-first-thanksgiving-celebration-presented-el-paso-mission-trail-association#sthash.olxZ295i.dpuf

#30DaysofBiking
Our month long feature of cycling assets in the region continues...how about a ride down this road, that looks just about the same it did in 1910? 

The El Capitan to El Capitan Heritage Bike route is 55 miles from the historic Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn to the base of El Capitan in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

Read more about this adventure, here!

Living History this week at Fort Davis National Historic Site

This Spring Break Week take advantage of the wonderful programming at Fort Davis National Historic Site!  

Special Living History programs Daily at 10:00am & 2:30pm!
Saturday, March 8: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30
Sunday, March 9: Flags that talk: US Flag Corps 10 am; : Life in the Field 2:30
Monday, March 10: Army Medicine 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Tuesday, March 11: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30
Wednesday, March 12: An Army Christmas Story 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Thursday, March 13: Historic Weapons Demo 10 am; Death and Dying in the Ranks 2:30
Friday, March 14: Life in the Field 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30
Saturday, March 15: Victorian Secrets-Ladies Fashions 10 am; Life in the Field 2:30 - See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/fort-davis-national-historic-site-living-history-special-programs#sthash.xUwTTsNm.dpuf

Special Living History programs Daily at 10:00am & 2:30pm!

Saturday, March 8: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30

Sunday, March 9: Flags that talk: US Flag Corps 10 am; : Life in the Field 2:30

Monday, March 10: Army Medicine 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Tuesday, March 11: Buffalo Soldiers 10 am, 1880s baseball 2:30

Wednesday, March 12: An Army Christmas Story 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Thursday, March 13: Historic Weapons Demo 10 am; Death and Dying in the Ranks 2:30

Friday, March 14: Life in the Field 10 am; Parasol Walk of the Officers Row 2:30

Saturday, March 15: Victorian Secrets-Ladies Fashions 10 am; Life in the Field 2:30

The full event listing on our Texas Mountain Trail calendar of regional events is HERE.

Spring Break at Fort Davis National Historic Site

 The folks at Fort Davis National Historic Site are gearing up for Spring Break.  Below is their schedule for Living History programs at the Fort, March 8-15! 

1880's baseball at the Fort!

Click on the flyer for a closer view!

Rescheduled!  Due to the federal government shutdown, the tours--originally scheduled for Saturday, October 12, have been resecheduled for Saturday, November 16! 

A not-to-miss event!  On Saturday, November 16, 2013 the public is invited to participate in guided tours at Fort Davis National Historic Site after hours and by lantern light.

 The twenty-person tours begin at 6:00 pm and start every half hour.  The last tour begins at 8:20 pm.   Each tour lasts an hour.  On a tour, encounter living history characters from the past in scenes based on historical events at the fort.  Visitors step back in time to when Fort Davis was an active 1880’s military post.

Reservations are highly recommended and are currently being accepted.  Call 432-426-3224, ext. 226.  Tours are free, but donations will be accepted for the park’s living history programs.  Wear comfortable shoes to walk about a mile.  Visitors needing assistance maneuvering around the Fort are encouraged to join us for the first 3 tour times while there is still some daylight.  More information is available at the website: www.nps.gov/foda

Travel Spotlight - Rocking Chairs of the Limpia Hotel

All this week, we're going to feature a truly relaxing place to sit and unwind...on the rocking chairs on the porches of the historic Limpia Hotel in Fort Davis.  If you're heading to Fort Davis for the lantern light tours at Fort Davis National Historic Site, consider a stay at the Limpia...and enjoy those rocking chairs!

Spring Break at Fort Davis National Historic Site

Every day during Spring Break, March 9-16, there will be living history soldiers and ladies present to add to your visit and illuminate the history of Fort Davis National Historic Site.  The site will be open from 8-5 and there will be programs twice a day at 10:30 and 2 on various topics, including Baseball in the 1880s, a Parasol Walk of Officers Row,  Army Medicine and more! 

Visit the Fort and have a great time!

Visit the Fort by Lantern Light, Evening Tours at Fort Davis, October 6

Our friends at Fort Davis National Historic Site host an annual evening event which projects visitors back in time.  They sent us the following about their October 6 evening tours:

"Over 40 living history reenactors will perform vignettes based on historical events that took place at Fort Davis when it was an active military post (1854-1891). Visit the Fort after hours and by lantern light at this once-a-year event! Fun-filled guided tours begin at 6:00 p.m. and are staggered every half hour; the last tour begins at 8:30 p.m. Wear comfortable walking shoes to walk about a mile on this tour that lasts just over one hour.
This year, the Presidential Election of 1884 will be featured. Find out who won the election and meet some of the characters who lived at historic Fort Davis. Meet the spunky officer's servant, Mrs. Murphy, as she banters humorously while serving warm cider and cookies to guests. Watch a delirious sergeant on sick call at the post hospital in 1887 chiding the capable post surgeon. Encounter officers' wives of the 10th Cavalry in 1885 discussing the regiment's upcoming move to Arizona.

It's a night to remember! It's not to be missed! Also see some of the new medical exhibits that the National Park Service installed recently in the 1876 post hospital.
For those with walking issues, we suggest you sign up for an early tour while it is still daylight. For those wanting to see the Fort after dark by lantern light, we suggest one of the later tours."

Sounds like fun!  For more details, including a phone call for questions about this free program (although they'd gladly accept donations!), click here.