By Miguel Juárez
After taking a year off due to the pandemic, Lincoln Park Day, the annual Chicano Art and Lowrider Car Show, is back on Sunday, September 19th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lincoln Park, by Lincoln School at 4001 Durazno Street. This year, members of the Chicano Park Steering Committee from San Diego, Calif., will be in attendance at Lincoln Park Day. In past years, over 5,000 people, have attended the event. The Lowrider Car Show is hosted by the Latin Pride Car Club in El Paso, Texas.
It is recommended you arrive before or to as close as 11 a.m. to find parking for the free event which features lowriders, booths, food trucks, live music, danzantes, lowrider car awards, ceremonies and dedication of the “Tree of Life. This year’s Lincoln Park Day will be smaller, due to construction wrapping up at Lincoln Park. The San Diego Chicano Park Steering Committee Members will be displaying the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center on their “Turning Wheel Classroom Mobile Museum” all day at Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park was created in August 8, 1973 after Mayor Pro-Tem Ruben Shaeffer, with the City of El Paso requested from the State the use of the Right of Way beneath Interstate 10 overpass structures so the community could use it as a green space. City Planner Nestor Valencia, drew up plans for the park.
In 2005, the Latin Pride Car Club sponsored their first Lincoln Park Day under the Spaghetti Bowl. That same year, the car club established the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee (LPCC). In 2005, LPCC organized the “1st Annual Lincoln Park Day” at Lincoln Park. The event was modeled after events held at Chicano Park in San Diego, CA.
Chicano Park (which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in December 23, 2016) in San Diego, California was created on April 22, 1970. Chicano Park is located under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge in Barrio Logan
Lincoln School which became Lincoln Cultural Arts Center in the 1970s has been closed since 2006 when the El Paso officials claimed the building had been flooded due to the historic rains. LPCC has since debunked those statements. Since 2010, the Lincoln Park community has been the epicenter for citizen activism and resistance to highway building, which didn’t happen when I-10 was being built because Chicanos were not at the table or their participation and contributions to the process were marginalized and overlooked.
Events on Sunday, September 19th include:
11 a.m. – San Diego Chicano Park Steering Committee Members showcase the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center on their Turning Wheel Classroom Mobile Museum (All Day).
Food trucks will be parked at the Banderas (Flags) Basketball Court (All Day)
11:30 a.m. There will be a Procession De Matachine – the following groups will participate: Danza Tepeyac de Dios, Danza Apache Guadalupana, and Danza Mt. Camelo. Directora de Matachine – Elvira Castañeda.
12:30 p.m. Ballet Folklorico – Churuhui – Paso del Norte at the “Corazon de El Paso Mural.”
1:30 p.m. – “Tree of Life – Arbol de Vida” Presentation – Danza Azteca Omecoatl – Kalpulli Tlalteca – Lincoln Park Conservation Committee – Chicano Park Steering Committee – New Tree Site.
2:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Live Music – El Paso’s Own “Exito Band” – at the Corazón Street Stage.
5 p.m. – Low-rider Car Show Awards at the Lincoln Park Bandstand.
DJ Music Provided By:
DJ Loco Code 3 Productions Disco at the Lincoln Park Bandstand
Leo Rivera Reflections Mobile Disco at the Lowrider Car Show Area
