culture
El Paso Reveals 16 Free Summer Activities Including Franklin Mountains Hiking
New exhibitions at the El Paso Museum of Art give residents another reason to stop by during the warm months.
How we reported this
El Paso offers 16 unique summer activities including hiking in the Franklin Mountains, viewing downtown murals, and visiting free museums like the El Paso Museum of Art, History, and Archaeology. The El Paso Museum of Art fits directly into that list with multiple shows running through the season.
The timing lines up with peak summer demand for indoor options that still connect to the desert landscape. Families already head to water parks such as Camp Cohen and Chapotéo that opened June 1, or markets at Upper Valley on Sundays and Ardovino's on the first Wednesday of each month. Adding a museum stop keeps the day varied without extra travel.
Current shows at EPMA
Two exhibitions now on view explore the Southwestern desert in distinct ways. One pairs work that draws on the particular light and plant life of the region. The other presents a 50-year retrospective of outsider art by Ho Baron that mixes surreal and interstellar elements. Both remain open into the summer schedule.
A pair of additional shows opens July 21. Peaceful Moments features paintings and works on paper by Itzchak Tarkay that depict women in relaxed café scenes. Invoking Light displays two large canvases by Becky Hendrick that use acrylic and oil to explore light and form. The first of these runs through October 2.
How to visit
The museum lists an official media kit on its press page at epma.art/about/press for basic details. Further questions go to the Director’s Office at EPMA-info@elpasotexas.gov. Residents can check the City of El Paso events calendar at events.elpasotexas.gov for any related family programming added during the run of these shows.
Admission to the museum counts among the free options noted in local summer guides, making it an easy addition to a day that might also include the El Paso Zoo or Ascarate Park. The next step for most visitors is simply checking the current hours and planning around the July 21 openings.