Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Visit El Paso and the Ysleta Mission Festival + Video
You can take the girl out of El Paso, but you can’t take El Paso out of the girl! Guys…I road tripped to the Sun City — my hometown of El Paso, Texas in July for the annual Ysleta Mission Festival. It is the neighborhood church festival I used to go to every year when I lived in El Paso.
The Ysleta Mission is the oldest continuously active parish in the state of Texas.
Visiting El Paso always brings back so many special memories. I remember walking to this mission as a little girl holding my grandmas’ hand. I remember her making gorditas for the church festival for hours. I remember all the delicious food, matachines (dancers), live music, and culture at the church festival.
My grandma used to be a Guadalupana (female group devoted to the Virgen de Guadalupe) and a church volunteer and now my mom is a Guadalupana.
I had not gone to the festival in over 20 years. The festival has certainly grown throughout the years and now my mother proudly volunteers and makes gorditas just like my grandma did. Gorditas are corn masa pockets that are traditionally filled with picadillo.
Never did I predict the emotional reaction I would have when I took a bite of a gordita. I was overwhelmed with nostalgic feelings. I was flooded of the memories of seeing my grandma making these delicious gorditas for us at home and for the church.
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That first bite was so comforting as if grandma made them just for me. They tasted like home.
This video is a passion project sharing everything I love about El Paso – the food, the culture, the community.
In the wake of the recent tragedy in El Paso, I hope this sheds some positive light on the beautiful city and people of El Paso.I love my culture and the community of El Paso. I wanted to share the place where I come from because as my grandma always used to say, never forget where you come from.
I hope you enjoy watching and learning a little bit about my hometown of El Paso.
This video is dedicated to my grandma and my mom, and everyone who keep traditions alive on the border.
I am so happy my videographer, Chris (Pure Cinematography) made the drive to El Paso to capture the Ysleta Mission Festival. And to Cristina Navarro for all these beautiful photos.
Watch this video: Ysleta Mission history and Festival.
8 Comments on “Visit El Paso and the Ysleta Mission Festival + Video”
Loved your video of the Ysleta Mission Kermes. Hoping they bring it back someday. In the meantime the sister parish, Our Lady of the Valley is having their Kermes on October 4-5th. We would love to have you attend. There will be gorditas!!
Thank you so very much for sharing the Ysleta Mission Festival! I enjoyed watching it so much and the food looked fantastic. My mouth was watering just to try one of those gorditas!!! Is this event still going and if so when is it held? How can we get information regarding the Festival?
Hi Deane, you are so welcome! Yes, El Paso church bazaars still go on, but unfortunately not at Ysleta. Google “El Paso 2024 Kermés schedule” for more info.
Beautiful!!!! Brought tears to my eyes ❤ Having grown up in Socorro & Ysleta its home!!!! Being a Guadalupana has been & is one of my most treasured memories. Thank You for capturing the beauty that is my City …my Community…#ElPaSOSTRONG❤
Thank you for doing this video and sharing your trip, the food, the culture, and the community. I hope you can do more videos just like this one. It felt like you took us with you on your trip. I wish I could travel and learn more about our culture and our food.
I grew up in El Paso, also. We began in Ysleta, and I went to the elementary school there, we lived on a block next to the canal with sugar cane fields across the street. We were the only gringos/gringas within miles but we didn’t know it. :). I have always loved Mexican cooking and the taste of the sauces, the texture, the smells, etc… Enchiladas are my comfort food. I graduated from Irvin High school and went to UTEP one year before transferring. I look like a gringa but with Mexican taste buds.. :), because of my upbringing in El Paso. My husband and I winter in Ajijic, Mexico and I feel at home there in rich culture of Mexico with loving locals who greet me by name each year. Thank you for your recipes and blog. I am heart warmed knowing you grew up in Ysleta, too!
I so loved that you came mija, means so very much to me. I’m sure this video will help our community tremendously. Our festival has grown so much, it’s incredible. I love my church and community very very much. Thank you mija for all your hard work, thank you Chris for coming and doing this for us, you two did a fabulous job.
Thank you for making some of the beauty of El Paso available for the world to see. I’ve only been here for 11 years, but it is by far the best place I’ve ever lived. Viva El Paso!