Kermés season is officially in full swing in El Paso, which means church parking lots across the city are filling up with music, games and the smell of some seriously good food. But if you’ve never been to one- or it’s been a while since your last kermés- there are a few things you should probably know before you go.
I got a refresher over the weekend when I stopped by the St. Pius X Church kermés, and somewhere between the food, the vendors, the music and the VERY long lines, I came away with a few tips.
Consider this your unofficial El Paso kermés survival guide.
What to Expect at an El Paso Kermés
First things first, come hungry!
I got to St. Pius just after 8 p.m., and before I even had a chance to figure out where everything was, I was greeted by the smell of food.
Really, really good food!
That’s obviously a huge part of the kermés experience, but there’s much more happening than just dinner. There were local vendors set up throughout the event, giving people another opportunity to shop small and support El Paso businesses while they were there.
And then there are the crowds.
If there’s a food booth everyone wants to try, be prepared to wait. The lines can get LONG, especially when the kermés is packed.
Thankfully, I learned a few things that can make navigating all of this a little easier.
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My Biggest El Paso Kermés Tip Is to Go Later
Of everything I learned during my visit, this might be the most important: do not underestimate the El Paso heat!
I arrived shortly after 8 p.m., when the sun was already setting, and I’m very glad I did.
Many weekend kermés celebrations continue late into the evening- the St. Pius kermés went until midnight- so unless there’s something happening earlier that you really want to see, I would absolutely consider going later. You still get plenty of time to eat, walk around, shop and enjoy the entertainment without spending the entire time baking under the afternoon sun.
And when you’re inevitably standing in one of those food lines, you’ll be especially grateful you waited.
READ MORE: Every El Paso Kermés Happening Through October
El Paso Kermés Season Is Really About Community
The food may get you through the gates, but what struck me most at St. Pius was just how much of a community gathering a kermés really is.
Families and friends were sitting together eating. People were walking around checking out the vendors. Kids were having fun. And everywhere you looked, people seemed genuinely happy to spend an evening together.
Then there was the music.
Los Silver, a longtime favorite on both sides of the border, performed that evening and filled the kermés with songs from yesteryear that plenty of people in El Paso and Juárez grew up hearing.
It was one of those moments that made the whole thing feel like much more than a church fundraiser. That’s really the charm of kermés season.
Yes, you’re going for the food. You might go specifically because you’ve been thinking about gorditas all week. You might want to shop from some local vendors or hear a band you love.
But once you’re there, you’re also participating in a tradition that brings neighborhoods, families and generations together. And with plenty more kermés celebrations still to come around El Paso, you’ve got time to experience one for yourself.
Just remember my biggest piece of advice: wait for the sun to go down! Then come hungry!
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