EL PASO, Texas – Celebrating 25 years, Minerpalooza 2015 will take place 6 p.m. to midnight Aug. 28, 2015, in the P-9 parking lot on The University of Texas at El Paso campus.
Minerpalooza is an exciting evening full of food, games, live music and a celebration of the start of the fall semester. It often attracts 30,000 people. There is no charge to enter or to see the entertainment. Visitors are welcome to bring their own chairs.
The entertainment lineup for the 25th anniversary is spectacular. The headliner will be Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas. Scott Melker aka The Melker Project will open for Taboo. The co-headliner is rising country star Annie Bosko. Local talent performing during Minerpalooza are Ribo Flavin’, Mariachi Los Mineros and the Allegro Dance Team.
To honor the silver anniversary of Minerpalooza, there will be 5,000 hot dogs sold for 25 cents each. Food trucks with snack items will be posted throughout Minerpalooza.
Menu items available include chicharrones with cheese sauce, churros, cotton candy, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, mangoneadas, nachos, pepino with chile, and turkey legs. Prices range between $2 and $7. Menu items can be purchased with cash or credit card.
Located inside Kidd Field, Pete’s Playground will operate from 6 to 10 p.m. The family-friendly games and entertainment in this area will require tickets, which may be purchased with cash or credit card. Tickets cannot be used to purchase menu items. No refunds will be issued for unused tickets.
T-shirts from past Minerpaloozas will be available for five tickets each. There will be inflatables and obstacle courses, a princess makeover station, face painting and activity booths with carnival-style games. These activities require one to three tickets to play. These games are one of the largest annual fundraisers for UTEP’s student organizations.
The UTEP football team will host a meet-and-greet session 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Larry K. Durham Center, following the pep rally. Coach Sean Kugler and the team will be available for an autograph session. There will be UTEP football posters and giveaways. Autographs are limited to one item per person.
Fun activities for the adults include a beer and wine garden and a silent auction.
Free parking will be available around campus starting at 5 p.m. and there will be an ADA shuttle running between parking lot S-3 and P-9 starting at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 12:30 a.m. Please note, the Glory Road Parking Garage will charge $10 for parking, but the two other parking garages on campus will be free to use.
Media parking is in lot P-8.
Anyone who needs ADA-related or other special accommodations should contact the Center for Accommodations and Support Services at 915-747-5148 or cass@utep.edu by Aug. 25.
For more information, visit Minerpalooza.com or contact the Office of Student Life at 915-747-5648.
Order of performances – starting at 6 p.m. (subject to change):
Ribo Flavin’
Mariachi Los Mineros
Allegro Dance Company
Annie Bosko
Scott Melker aka The Melker Project
Taboo