Ruidoso hosts many exciting festivals and annual events. Everything from the Wind Rider Music Festival to the Art Loop, AspenFest to Cowboy Symposium and the Festival of Lights! We invite you to browse our diverse selection of year-round opportunities to experience art, music, and culture that makes Ruidoso such a great place to live and to visit. Find an archive of Ruidoso festivals and events HERE.
Beautifully lit and fantastically festive, the Festival of Lights–Parade of Lights starts at 5:30 pm from the corner of Sudderth/Mechem, through Midtown, down to the Chamber of Commerce.
The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Toys for Tots and encourage everyone to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Parade of Lights. During the parade Toys for Tots will have a float and will be collecting toys. Marines will be walking along the float picking up the toys that are brought to the parade.
Calling all foodies and wine lovers: This is a great opportunity to sample New Mexico wines while enjoying local art, crafts, food, boutique vendors and local brews for those who aren't wine drinkers. Fun for everyone!
Ride spectacular, purpose-built mountain bike trails while staging from a great sheltered camping area. The event is right in town with easy access to Ruidoso restaurants, hotels, and services. Seriously, you could roll to the start from several hotels in Ruidoso. Come see why everyone raves about the Grindstone Lake trail system!
Watch Live Racing! It's opening weekend for a summer filled with quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. Our spectacular summer races take place every weekend with a 1:00 pm post time. Admission is free and children are always welcome.
Beat the heat and find yourself riding the shaded pines of the Sacramento mountains for 4 days of riding, food and music. With new owners and new events, expect the 2019 AspenCash Rally to be better than ever! Learn more at MotorcycleRally.com
For a true "western" experience join the Flying J Wranglers, complete with gunfights, pony rides, stage show, gold panning, gift shops and a chuckwagon style BBQ dinner. The Flying J Ranch is Monday through Saturday from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on Saturdays September through mid-October.
It's Father's Day Weekend and Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino is celebrating with "Family Day" on Sunday. $1 hot dogs, $1 popcorn, $1 sodas and $1 ice cream. There will be stick horse racing for the kids on the race track.
Mark your calendars for June 22 and 23, 2019 as we get set to hit the roads of Ruidoso New Mexico! And as an added bonus, Ruidoso will be having its Annual Brewdoso after the races!
Visitors will be offered a rare opportunity to witness the coming of age ceremony of Mescalero Apache maidens during this annual event. Ceremonial dances, rodeo, arts and crafts, and ceremonial parade are all part of the annual Mescalero Ceremonial and Rodeo held at the Mescalero Apache reservation over the July 4th holiday.
Come out and enjoy ALL the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort has to offer as we celebrate Independence Day! The Star Spangled Celebration is FREE and begins at 3 p.m. with concessions, jumping balloons, live music, and the LARGEST fireworks show in New Mexico. Cost: Free.
Art Loop began as a creative venture amongst artists 24 years ago and continues to be one of the most successful studio tours in New Mexico. Throughout Lincoln County artists will open their studios, demonstrate their craft and discuss their creative process creating much more than simply a vibrant art market
Fine art lovers from around the southwest make an annual trip to Ruidoso for this juried fine arts show that features over 100 of the nation’s most talented artists showcasing a broad spectrum of mediums, showcasing collectible art and jewelry.
This free, self-guided tour offers you the chance to explore behind the scenes of the Alto art community. The public is invited to visit private studios and homes throughout Alto to interact with local professional artists.
The All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs has a purse of $3 million and is the richest race for a two-year-old of any breed in North America. Arrive early as the race track fills to capacity to watch all the exciting stakes race action on closing weekend.
For 50 years, the village of Ruidoso in the southern mountains of New Mexico has hosted riders and enthusiasts for the Golden Aspen (Est. 1969) and AspenCash (Est. 1997) motorcycle rallies. In 2018, the Golden Aspen Rally returns to the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack September 18 - 22, 2019. To learn more, visit MotorcycleRally.com
Get ready to shred. Ski Apache is scheduled to open on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2018, at 9 AM. (Subject to weather conditions)