Sal Y Limon Festival, Tequila & Margarita and Cherry Fest lead summer festivals 2024

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
·5 min read

Summer weather is here, and with it, a slew of music and alcohol-inspired festivals are in the works.

The Kumbia Kings will be in town at the beginning of June for the Sal Y Limon Festival. The festival is sure to be a laid back and fun time with plenty of tasty tacos, cold margaritas and beers.

Cool Canyon Nights and Alfresco Fridays, now called El Fresco Music Series, return in May with free, local music in wonderful El Paso settings.

El Pasoans can also look forward to festivals in Ruidoso and La Luz, N.M. The Cherry Festival will be held during Father's Day weekend and offer families a fun way to celebrate dad.

Here is a closer look at summer festivals.

Sal Y Limon Festival

The Kumbia Kings, led by A.B. Quintanilla, will help celebrate the 3rd Annual Sal & Limon Festival June 1 at the San Jacinto Plaza.
The Kumbia Kings, led by A.B. Quintanilla, will help celebrate the 3rd Annual Sal & Limon Festival June 1 at the San Jacinto Plaza.

The Kumbia Kings will help celebrate the 3rd Annual Sal & Limon Festival Saturday, June 1, at the San Jacinto Plaza.

The festival will feature different types of tacos, beer, margaritas, live lucha and live entertainment.

The Kumbia Kings, Strange Love, DJ G Cues Sundown Party, La Magnifica, Time Machine Band and DJ Big Mike will perform on the Taco Loco Stage. Johnny Kage, Karebear, Bubba and Exo will perform on the TequiLoco Stage.

General admission tickets are $25, plus fees, available at salylimonfestival.com. VIP tickets are $80, plus fees. Kids 12 and under are free (accompanied by an adult).

Cool Canyon Nights

Cool Canyon Nights, the free Thursday night concerts at McKelligon Canyon, returns this summer with 24 diverse acts. Here are the performers and dates.

  • May 16 Dusty Low | Josh Marin

  • May 23 Prime Rocks | The Locomotion Style Band

  • May 30 Tom's Elton Tribute | The Retro'z

  • June 6 Azucar | Abraham Marinelarena

  • June 13 Edo (Electric Dave Orchestra) | Daniel Villasenor

  • June 20 Sonora Skandalo | Aura

  • June 27 Jim Ward | Ray Arreola

  • July 11 Jessika Y Los Amores Prohibidos | Gabrielle Torres

  • July 18 The Roulettes | Joshua Lucero & Midnight Vibe

  • July 25 Celebration | Stellar

  • August 1 Fungi Mungle | Sam Barlow

El Paso Water Lantern Festival

The El Paso Water Lantern Festival returns to Ascarate Park from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25.
The El Paso Water Lantern Festival returns to Ascarate Park from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 25.

The El Paso Water Lantern Festival returns to Ascarate Park from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25.

Tickets are $35 and up, depending on when purchased, and on sale at https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/elpaso.php. The ticket allows people to get a lantern to design and put in the water with an LED candle. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. The launch will be 7:30 p.m.

2024 New Mexico Wine Festival in Las Cruces

The 2024 New Mexico Wine Festival will occur during Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27, at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Las Cruces. Hours will be noon to 6 p.m. daily.

The wine festival features over 200 wine vendors, numerous food booths, over 50 artisan vendors, and entertainment, including Latin and country rockers. Any day tickets $30 through May 24, $35 effective May 25.

Tequila & Margarita Festival in Ruidoso

The Tequila & Margarita Festival featuring Stoney LaRue will be from 5 to 10 p.m. May 25 at event center at Ruidoso Downs.
The Tequila & Margarita Festival featuring Stoney LaRue will be from 5 to 10 p.m. May 25 at event center at Ruidoso Downs.

The Tequila & Margarita Festival featuring Stoney LaRue will be at the event center at Ruidoso Downs from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 25. The festival will start at 5 p.m. in the pavilion. LaRue will take the stage at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Tequila & Margarita Festival are $20, which includes ten samples of tequila and margaritas that will be featured that evening during the performance. Tickets available at holdmyticket.com

Concert seating options are as follows: general admission is $30, premium seating is $50, and VIP concert seating is $157 plus tax and fees, per person. A meet-and-greet admission is also available to hard-core LaRue fans.

El Fresco Music Series in Downtown El Paso

The El Fresco Music Series, formerly Alfresco Fridays, is a free, monthly summer music event held at the convention center plaza in Downtown El Paso. Performances are from 7 to 10 p.m.

The series will introduce new activations and pop-ups for attendees, including food truck vendors, shopping vendors and special giveaways. Dates and music genres:

  • June 14: Funk Night

  • July 19: Country Music Night

  • August 9: Rock Night

Cherry Festival will be three days in June

Celebrate dad by taking him to the Cherry Festival, June 14-16, in the Nichols Ranch, 236 Cottonwood Canyon, in La Luz, N.M.
Celebrate dad by taking him to the Cherry Festival, June 14-16, in the Nichols Ranch, 236 Cottonwood Canyon, in La Luz, N.M.

The Nichols Ranch and Orchards will hold its annual Cherry Festival on Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 16, at the orchard, 236 Cottonwood Canyon in La Luz, N.M. More than 100 arts and crafters will be present, and kids' activities will include the Runyan Ranch Petting Zoo, carnival games, train rides, and a mechanical bull.

Inside the main sales barn, people can buy cherry cider, cider slushies, homemade jams and jellies, local honey and pre-picked cherries. Picacho Peak Brewing Co. serves wine and beer.

General admission is $10 for adults, and free for kids under 12 at www.nicholsranchandorchards.com

More: Where to go apple picking in New Mexico orchards

12th Annual Margarita Shake-Off

The 12th Annual Margarita Shake-Off will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at San Jacinto Plaza, 114 West Mills Ave. Local bars and restaurants will battle it out to find out who makes the best margarita in El Paso. Entertainment will include mariachi and DJ Javi from radio station 104.3. The event is a fundraiser for Hospice of El Paso. Tickets are $15, plus fees, for early bird admission through June 14 and $20, plus fees via Eventbrite.com.

Las Cruces Beer Festival

The Las Cruces Beer Festival will feature more than 200 local and regional breweries, food trucks, vendors, and live music. It will be held from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St. in Las Cruces.

This is an all-age event; minors 12 and under are free. Tickets are $15.75, plus fees, available at Eventbrite.com, and they include samples. Tickets will be available at the gates if capacity allows, but advance holders will be honored before walk-ins if fire code occupancies are reached.

Way Out West Festival

Country sensation Billy Currington will headline the Way Out West Festival in September in El Paso.
Country sensation Billy Currington will headline the Way Out West Festival in September in El Paso.

El Paso's largest Downtown music festival, Way Out West Festival, will be Saturday, Sept. 28, at the El Paso convention center. Country sensation Billy Currington will headline the event with a revamped festival footprint.

Tickets for Wow Fest are $36 and $45, plus fees, available on Ticketmaster.com or at the Plaza Theater Box office. Military discounts are available through GovX.com.

More: Latin superstar Luis Miguel thrills El Paso, Juárez fans

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com, @EPTMaria on Twitter; eptmariacg on TikTok

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Sal Y Limon Festival, Tequila & Margarita and Cherry Fest lead summer festivals