The smell of gorditas and enchiladas and the sounds of cumbias and norteñas fill the air as El Paso is in the middle of kermés season. 

Run by droves of volunteers, the annual bazaars are fundraisers for church buildings and operations and other needs the parishes might have – from new pews or altars to air conditioning or public address systems.

“From the bottom to top, they are community organized events in most parishes. It’s the people within the parish and from within the ministries that run the stands and put the whole event together,” said Fernando Ceniceros, director of communications at the Catholic Diocese of El Paso.

“It may sound cheesy, but it’s really a labor of love,” said Ceniceros, who grew up helping his parents run an elote stand at his church kermés. 

The bazaars used to be held in conjunction with each parish patron saint day, but are now generally held during the summer and fall.

“This is our first year back in full swing since the pandemic,” Ceniceros said. “Since the pandemic, a lot of parishes have learned that moving their kermés to the fall makes it a lot easier for people to attend the kermés because the weather is more cooperative.”

Attendees can eat a wide assortment of food, including elote, tacos, churros and raspas, or snow cones. Activities include fun games for kids, raffles, rides and jumping balloons.  Live music plays throughout the night and people dance the night away. One of the biggest highlights of a kermés is the loteria game and the dunking booth.

Here’s when area Catholic parishes are holding their bazaars, starting with the popular Fiesta de San Lorenzo this weekend. Hours vary by parish and day.

Aug. 10- 13: San Lorenzo, 611 Avenida de San Lorenzo, Clint;  915- 851-2255 or  915- 851-2216

Aug. 18-20: St. Pius X, 1050 N. Clark Drive,  915-772- 3226

Aug. 26-27: Christ the Savior, 5301 Wadsworth Ave., 915-821-3766

Aug. 26-27: St. Paul the Apostle, 7424 Mimosa Ave., 915-778-5304

Sept. 1-3: Saint Mark, 11700 Pebble Hills Blvd., 915-300-2800

Sept. 1-3: Immaculate Heart of Mary, 8300 De Alva Drive, Canutillo, 915-877-3997

Sept. 2- 4: St. Anthony’s Seminary, 4601 Hastings Drive, 915-566-2261

Sept. 8-10: Holy Spirit, 14600 Horizon Blvd., Horizon City, 915-852-3582

Sept. 8-10: San Juan Diego, 14520 Montana Ave., 915-855-2217

Sept. 15-16: San Pedro de Jesus Maldonado, 3000 Tim Foster Street, 915-271-8060

Sept. 15-17: El Buen Pastor Mission, 311 Peyton Road, 915-852- 4010

Sept. 15-17: Santa Rosa de Lima, 620 E. 4th Street, Pecos, 432-445- 2309

Sept. 22- 24: Corpus Christi, 9205 N. Loop Drive, 915-858-0488

Sept. 29-30: Our Lady of Fatima, 308 Almond Street, Van Horn, 432-283- 1058

Sept. 29- Oct. 1: Little Flower, 171 Polo Inn Road, 915-772- 1285

Sept. 30- Oct. 1: St. Francis of Assisi, 5750 Doniphan Drive, 915-584- 7130

Sept. 29- Oct. 1: Blessed Sacrament, 9025 Diana Drive, 915-755-7658

Sept. 29- Oct. 1: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, 12200 Vista Del Sol Drive, 915-857- 1263

Oct. 7: San Antonio de Padua, 503 Hunter Drive, 915-598- 1457 Information: Catholic Diocese of El Paso or 915-872-8400

This article first appeared on ElPasoMatters.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.