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Minerpalooza 2019 Kicks Off New School Year, Weekend of Celebration for El Paso Community

Last Updated on August 22, 2019 at 12:00 AM

Originally published August 22, 2019

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

The University of Texas at El Paso is celebrating the new academic year with Minerpalooza, the annual event that brings together UTEP and the El Paso community.

The University of Texas at El Paso is celebrating the new academic year with Minerpalooza, the annual event that brings together UTEP and the El Paso community. It takes place 6-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Sun Bowl Drive and Glory Road on the UTEP campus.
The University of Texas at El Paso is celebrating the new academic year with Minerpalooza, the annual event that brings together UTEP and the El Paso community. It takes place 6-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Sun Bowl Drive and Glory Road on the UTEP campus.

(Check out an interactive Minerpalooza map here.)

“We invite the campus and community partners to show off their Miner pride at UTEP’s official back-to-school celebration,” said Nicole Aguilar, director of UTEP’s Student Engagement and Leadership Center. “Since its inaugural celebration in 1990, Minerpalooza has been a staple event for our campus and the El Paso community. We are excited to bring UTEP and the greater community together once again for this celebrated tradition!”

Minerpalooza takes place 6-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Sun Bowl Drive and Glory Road on the UTEP campus. It will feature live entertainment, interactive activities, food vendors, and Pete’s Playground, a dedicated children’s play area. A beer and wine garden will also be accessible to those ages 21 and older. Admission is free and open to the public.

The event kicks off UTEP’s three-day celebration of El Paso. At 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, the UTEP men’s football team opens its 2019 season versus Houston Baptist at Sun Bowl Stadium. At 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, Khalid will perform at the Don Haskins Center as part of a concert to benefit the victims of the Aug. 3 tragedy. 

Pep Rally

UTEP’s athletic teams and coaches will be part of the Minerpalooza celebration, along with performances by the UTEP Marching Miners, Paydirt Pete and the spirit teams starting at 7 p.m. 

Saturday’s game will be part of UTEP Athletics’ #ElPasoStrong campaign, which starts at the UTEP soccer team’s home opener Thursday, Aug. 22, and will continue through Oct. 12 with the UTEP men’s basketball team’s exhibition game against the 2019 NCAA men’s basketball championship runner-up Texas Tech at the Don Haskins Center.

"Minerpalooza always kicks off the school year in style, and we're excited about many of our athletic teams participating in this year's event,” said UTEP Director of Athletics Jim Senter. “The 2019 edition of Minerpalooza is particularly special as it's an opportunity for our community to come together in the wake of the tragic events in El Paso in early August. Our student-athletes will be wearing #ElPasoStrong T-shirts at this year's Minerpalooza and will continue to do so prior to their home events this fall."

Entertainment lineup

Indie pop act lovelytheband will headline a lineup of world-renowned musical acts at Minerpalooza. 

The American band, whose debut single “Broken” was a hit on the alternative music charts, was named one of the "10 Rock & Alternative Artists to Watch in 2018" by Billboard. They have taken the stages at Lollapalooza, the Billboard Hot 100 Festival and more. Their stop at Minerpalooza precedes a European tour this fall.

“This year’s high-profile group of musical acts builds on Minerpalooza’s ever-growing prominence,” said Jorge Vazquez, executive director of UTEP’s Office of Special Events. “We want to bring El Paso together for one of the biggest parties of the year, and we know that these high-energy performances will jump start the school year for our students.”

Rounding out the lineup are:

Lemaitre, an electronic duo from Oslo, Norway, describe their sound as “electro-house to catchy pop grooves that fall somewhere between Daft Punk and Phoenix.” Their past performances include appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits festivals.

DJ James Kennedy, known from the hit Bravo reality show “Vanderpump Rules,” has made appearances around the country and will bring his set to Minerpalooza.

El Paso’s own Jake C will open up the set. He has played some of the city’s largest events such as NDMF, Trapfest, Foam Wonderland and more.

For more information on food and beverage tickets, activities and lineup set times, visit minerpalooza.com or contact the Student Engagement and Leadership Center at 915-747-5670.