Step back in time at Fort Stanton LIVE on July 11, 2026, from 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Enjoy Civil War and Indian Wars re-enactors, live demonstrations, Mescalero Apache dancers, local vendors, food, and family-friendly activities celebrating history and culture.
Explore Fort Stanton after dark on a guided flashlight tour through rarely accessible historic spaces. Held July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 30, 2026, from 7:30–9:30 p.m. MT. Limited to 25 guests, ages 16+. Tickets are $25 and go on sale two weeks in advance at https://my.nmculture.org/events
Explore Fort Stanton after dark on a guided flashlight tour through rarely accessible historic spaces. Held July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 30, 2026, from 7:30–9:30 p.m. MT. Limited to 25 guests, ages 16+. Tickets are $25 and go on sale two weeks in advance at https://my.nmculture.org/events
Explore Fort Stanton after dark on a guided flashlight tour through rarely accessible historic spaces. Held July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 30, 2026, from 7:30–9:30 p.m. MT. Limited to 25 guests, ages 16+. Tickets are $25 and go on sale two weeks in advance at https://my.nmculture.org/events
Explore Fort Stanton after dark on a guided flashlight tour through rarely accessible historic spaces. Held July 31, August 28, September 25, and October 30, 2026, from 7:30–9:30 p.m. MT. Limited to 25 guests, ages 16+. Tickets are $25 and go on sale two weeks in advance at https://my.nmculture.org/events
Step into a world of knights, music, and merriment at the Lincoln Forest Renaissance Faire, May 15–17, 2026, at Wingfield Park in Ruidoso. Enjoy live entertainment, a lively medieval marketplace, period-inspired food, and family-friendly activities. Costumes welcome—come for a few hours or stay the day and savor the magic of the Renaissance. Information and tickets at https://www.lincolnforestrenfair.com
Celebrate history, culture, and community at Fort Fun Day on May 3 at Fort Stanton Historic Site. Enjoy a flag ceremony, guided tour, and a special presentation by Mescalero/Chiricahua Apache artist Talrick Enjady. Free admission for NM residents on First Sunday.
Celebrate Smokey Bear’s birthday and the 50th anniversary of Smokey Bear Historical Park at Smokey Bear Days in Capitan, NM. This free, two-day festival features fire prevention and conservation exhibits, a hometown parade, firefighter challenge, food vendors, games, and family-friendly fun. May 1–2, 10 AM–4 PM.
Step back in time at Retro Game Day in Ruidoso. Enjoy classic games like giant checkers, marbles, jacks, and ring toss at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum. This free, family-friendly event offers a fun, screen-free way to connect, play, and experience a bit of nostalgia.
Celebrate spring at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum on March 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon. Lula’s Garden Family Day honors pioneer Lula Robinson Wingfield with free, hands-on activities including wildflower seed bombs, pressed flower bookmarks, and vintage paper pinwheels. All ages welcome.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a creative morning at the Wingfield House Heritage Museum. Enjoy hands-on crafts for all ages, including friendship tea blends, scented sachets, Valentine’s cards, pressed flower bookmarks, and photos with loved ones. A cozy, family-friendly event hosted by Friends of the Wingfield House Heritage Museum.
Update: Due to weather concerns, this event has been rescheduled and combined with the museum’s Valentine’s celebration.
Celebrate the Olympic spirit at Wingfield Heritage House Museum! Kids and families can enjoy crafts, games, tabletop curling, a snowball toss, and a Taste of Italy. Every participant receives a medal and complimentary hot chocolate. Saturday, January 24, 2026, 10am–12pm in Ruidoso.
Get into the spirit of the season at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum’s Homemade Holidays event on December 6, 2025, from 3–5:30 PM! Create handmade garlands and vintage holiday cards, learn the history of stockings by the fireplace, and sip hot cocoa before the parade—a festive afternoon of old-fashioned holiday cheer for the whole family.
Celebrate Fall Family Day at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum on November 8 from 10 AM–12 PM! Enjoy a Wildland Fire Obstacle Course, meet Smokey Bear, explore fun indoor activities, and earn a Junior Ranger badge. Plus, enjoy tea, see an antique fire truck, and make family memories together.
Don't miss this lively annual community Day of the Dead celebration in Lincoln, NM. Join the fun with live music, dance, family activities, face painting, altar offerings, arts and crafts, and food and drink. This community event is free to the public.
Join the fun at Family Game Day on October 25, 2025, from 2–5 PM at the Wingfield Heritage House Museum! Step back in time with vintage games, classic toys, and friendly competition. Discover how past generations played while making new memories the old-fashioned way—no screens required!
Celebrate the Wingfield House Heritage Museum's one-year anniversary on Thu, Oct 16! Stop by the 2–4 PM Open House with giveaways, activities, and curator-led tours. Then enjoy Business After Hours, 5–7 PM, with light hors d’oeuvres from the Jockey Club, drinks from Downshift Brewing, and live music by the Doso Dirtbags.
Step into the shadows of Historic Lincoln at Lincoln After Dark on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. From 5–9 PM, the ghosts of the Old West return with immersive performances, chilling tales, and spirits of the Lincoln County War. Experience history after dark in one of New Mexico’s most legendary towns. Buy Tickets »
Join Ranger Amy Hoffman at the Lincoln Historic Site on Oct. 4 for the October Lincoln Lecture, “How Did We Get Here? Endangered and Threatened Wildlife around Lincoln County.” This event is included with site admission ($7/adults). Free for children 16 and under, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, Friends of Lincoln members, and MNMF members.
The town of White Oaks celebrates its Wild West past with a parade at 10 AM, a play at the schoolhouse, gold panning, a chuckwagon demonstration, food, and vendors. Music from noon to 4:00 pm at the No Scum Allowed Saloon, then again from 6:00- 11:00 pm.
On August 2, join Prince G. McKenzie at the Lincoln Historic Site for a fascinating lecture on the evolution of the Colt Frontier Six Shooter and the Winchester 73—two iconic firearms that shaped life in the American West. Held during Old Lincoln Days, this talk is included with $7 admission; free for kids 16 and under. Don’t miss this look at the guns that “won the West.” Buy Tickets »
Join historian Brandon Dickson on August 2 for The Most Dangerous Street in America, a thrilling Lincoln Lecture during Old Lincoln Days. Held in the historic San Juan Bautista Church, this talk dives into Lincoln’s violent past—Billy the Kid, the Five-Day Battle, and more. Included with $7 site admission; free for kids 16 and under. Don’t miss this gripping Wild West story! Buy Tickets »
Join archaeologist Lisa L. Sparks on August 1 for a fascinating Lincoln Lecture exploring 7,000 years of human history in Lincoln County. Discover how ancient cultures shaped the region’s lifeways through sites like Feather Cave and Lower Stanton Ruin. Lecture included with $7 admission; kids 16 and under free.
Join the Lincoln Lecture Series on August 1 during Old Lincoln Days for a fascinating talk by archaeologist Charles M. Haecker. Held in the historic San Juan Bautista Church, this free-with-admission lecture explores Mescalero Apache encampments near Fort Stanton and their peaceful relationship with the fort. 11 AM–12 PM at Lincoln Historic Site. $7 admission; kids 16 and under free.
The 2025 Billy the Kid Pageant brings history to life in Lincoln, NM, with performances on August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. This folk play, first staged in 1940, reenacts key moments of the Lincoln County War, including Billy the Kid’s daring escape. Featuring local volunteer actors, many of whom are descendants of past participants, the event offers an authentic Old West experience. Tickets are available only at the gate.
Join Fort Stanton Historic Site for Living History Day on Saturday, July 12, from 10 AM – 2 PM. Enjoy a flag raising, guided cemetery tour with Ranger Javier, and a fire ecology talk by Smokey Bear Historical Park Manager Mary Lavin. Learn about local history and changing forest landscapes. Admission is $7 for adults; free for kids 16 and under and eligible groups.
Explore Fort Stanton Historic Site and Snowy River Cave NCA on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10:00 AM – Noon. Enjoy a scenic 2.5 to 3-mile hike with stunning mountain views and rich historical insights. Easy level, limited to 8 people (no dogs). Free, with a $7 museum fee. Register by June 25 at www.riograndesierraclub.org/calendar.
Celebrate the night sky at “Guardians of the Night” on June 14, 2025, from 8–10 PM at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Enjoy telescope views, real-time astrophotography, and a special talk on dark sky preservation. Free and family-friendly. Held at the Observatory Complex; indoor backup at the Tombaugh Dome if needed.
Step into New Mexico’s rich past at Fort Stanton Historic Site’s Living History Day on June 14. Enjoy a guided cemetery walk with Ranger Javier, uncover stories of early residents and Lincoln County War veterans, and learn about the Fort Stanton–Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area with Conservation Manager Warren Kasper. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | $7 adults | Free for eligible guests.
Join the Lincoln Lecture Series on Saturday, June 7, for a powerful talk by Starlyn Bigrope, sharing the Mescalero Apache perspective in “Ndé History: Our Story, Our Experiences.” Held inside the historic San Juan Bautista Church, this engaging event offers a deeper look into New Mexico’s past through Indigenous voices. Included with site admission; free for eligible visitors.
Celebrate Native American heritage at the free Ruidoso Mescalero Apache Honor Day Festival, Saturday, May 31, 10 AM–7 PM at Country Club Park in Midtown. Enjoy live music, cultural presentations, artisan booths, storytelling, and delicious Native cuisine. Highlights include Levi Platero, Lee Pike War Dance Group, and artists from across the Southwest!
Join the Lincoln Lecture Series on May 3, 2025, with resident Johnny Boswell as he explores life on “The Most Dangerous Street in America.” Held monthly at San Juan Bautista Church. Included with $7/adult admission; free for kids 16 & under, Native/Tribal affiliates, NM disabled vets, NM foster families & MNMF members.
Fort Stanton Historic Site hosts Park Day on May 3, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., inviting volunteers to help clean and maintain trails across this historic site. In celebration of its 170th anniversary, the event honors Fort Stanton’s multifaceted past as a military post, hospital, and WWII internment center. Volunteers should bring water and wear sun-safe clothing and sturdy shoes. Learn More »
Experience history in action at Fort Stanton! Enjoy a 10 a.m. flag-raising, 11 a.m. internment camp tour, and a 1 p.m. chapel talk by ranger Christopher Ardent on Celestial Navigation and the Age of Discovery. Learn how early explorers charted the seas with live demos. Admission: $7 adults; free for kids and eligible groups. Buy Tickets >>
Step back in time and bring the whole family to the Wingfield Heritage House Museum for Hands-on History Family Day on Saturday, March 1, from 10 AM to 2 PM. This free event invites visitors of all ages to explore Ruidoso’s rich past through interactive activities and immersive experiences. Don’t miss this fun-filled, educational day!
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