Kermes attendees playing a game of LoteriaPhoto byDiocese of El Paso Facebook

Summer time in El Paso is kermés time in El Paso.

From June through September and into early fall, many of the local Catholic church's host a bazaar. The annual fundraisers are how parishes supplement their budget and pay for other needs that might come up throughout the year.

For parishioners and attendees, it means an evening of loteria, live music, games and activities like jumping balloons and cakewalks, and an assortment of mouth-watering food, including gorditas, enchiladas, elote, and tacos.

The Mexican food staples just hit differently when eaten on-the-go at a kermés.

Gorditas at an El Paso church bazaarPhoto byDiocese of El Paso

Here's when and where you can attend an El Paso-area church bazaar in the coming weeks. The dates were compiled by Guadalupe Robledo, who personally phoned church's in the diocese to gather the information, and the Diocese of El Paso.

July 2024 Kermes

• July 6: St. John Paul II, 518 Gallagher

• July 27-28: St. Paul the Apostle, 7424 Mimosa

August 2018 Kermes

• Aug 2-4: Little Flower, 171 Polo Inn Rd

• Aug 9-11: San Lorenzo Fiesta, 611 Avenida De San Lorenzo, Clint

• Aug 30-Sept 1: St. Mark’s, 11700 Pebble Hills

• Aug 24-26 Cristo Rey Feria del Valle

• Aug 30-Sept 1: Immaculate Heart of Mary, 8300 De Alva Road,Canutillo

September 2024 Kermes

• Sept 6-8: Holy Spirit, 14600 Horizon Blvd., Horizon City

• Sept 6-8: San Juan Diego, 14520 East Montana

• Sept 13-14: San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado, 3000 Tim Foster St

• Sept 14-15: St. Patrick, 7065 2nd Ave, Canutillo

• Sept 20-22: Corpus Christi, 9205 N. Loop

• Sept 21-22: San Judas de Tadeo, 4006 Hidden Way

• Sept 21-22: Christ the Savior, 5301 Wadsworth

• Sept 28-29: Our Lady of Sorrows Gran Kermes, 7712 S. Rosedale

October 2024 Kermes

• Oct 4-5: Our Lady of the Valley, 8600 Winchester

• Oct 4-6: St. Pius, 1050 N. Clark

• Oct 19: San Antonio de Padua, 503 Hunter

St. Anthony’s Bazaar

Hungry attendees wait in line at a food booth at El Paso's annual Labor Day weekend St. Anthony's BazaarPhoto byLost El Paso Paranormal

The St. Anthony’s Bazaar is one of El Paso’s most anticipated annual events. Unlike the churches listed above, Saint Anthony is not part of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso.

The Order of Friars host the celebration on the grounds of the St. Anthony’s School of Theology located in Central El Paso.

Started in 1963 as a way to raise money to pay the utilities for the seminary and to support the theological studies of Franciscan friars, the annual kermés has become both a family and Labor Day tradition for many El Pasoans.

From Saturday, August 31, through Monday, September 2, the seminary grounds at 4601 Hastings will welcome all for carnival-style games, loteria, live entertainment, and food booths selling the locally famous gorditas El Pasoans hold in such high esteem.

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