Find a monthly calendar of annual festivals and events HERE.
Find an annual list of festivals and events HERE.
Would you like to tell us about your event? Submit your event details here.
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 2019, the Golden Aspen Rally returns to the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack September 18 - 22, 2019. To learn more, visit MotorcycleRally.com
Embrace the season and join the Ruidoso Greeters for a timeless and treasured tradition, the Christmas Jubilee at the Ruidoso Convention Center. Admission is only $2.00 and active military are free.
Please come out and kick off the Christmas Season while viewing the beautiful Christmas lights put up by the Parks and Recreation Department. Enjoy Christmas carolers, music, sleigh rides, and don’t miss your visit with Santa Claus.
Put down that fork and put on your running shoes for the After Turkey–Turkey Trot in Ruidoso, a 5K Run-Walk around The Links at Sierra Blanca. Registration begins at 8:30 AM with entry fee of one or more cans of food to support the Lincoln County Food Bank. T-Shirts will be handed out to the first 30 who register as sizes and supplies last.
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. 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.
After enjoying the Festival of Lights Parade in Midtown, head over to Wingfield Park for a free Festival of Lights After Party. Beginning at 7:00 PM, there will be food, drinks, an outdoor showing of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, winter activities for the kids, fire pits for roasting marshmallows, and Santa will be on hand for photos. Be sure to join the fun!
Don’t miss the second annual Chile the Kid Beer and Wine Festival Presented by City Bank on August 2-4. Chile Roasting and Wine/Beer Tastings all weekend. Tickets $15. The Long Run (Eagles Tribute Band) performs Fri/Sat at 6 p.m.
A folk pageant with re-enactors portraying Billy the Kid's last escape and the notorious Lincoln County War - plus food vendors, live music, food and a parade.
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.
For the Zia Festival on July 29th, Ruidoso Downs welcomes Jake Hooker and the Outsiders to play on the track. Hooker plays a standup bass in front of the stage while belting out southwestern swing covers. General admission tickets are $10 each. The show is sponsored by Dr. Pepper, and patrons can bring a can to the box office and receive a $5 discount off a ticket to the show. TICKETS or call 575-378-4431.
Fort Stanton will be hosting its fifth annual March on Rome World War II reenactment and Living History display on Saturday, July 27, 2019, on the grounds of the fort. Authentic camps for both Allied and Axis forces will be open to the public between 4 and 6 p.m. with a public show battle beginning at 5:30 p.m. Attendance is free to the public, although donations to Fort Stanton are welcome.
A great family event starting & finishing at Wingfield Park using 2 different running trails at Grindstone Lake in midtown Ruidoso. It is sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the American Trail Running Association. Great Ruidoso carved bears as awards. It is a benefit for the Ski Apache Adaptive Sports & Ecoservants.
This is an opportunity for runners to train in the high altitude and cooler temperatures of the Sacramento Mountains. There are three runs: a 4-mile course, an 8.5-mile course & a half marathon. Each run will begin and end in Wingfield Park in mid-town Ruidoso.
The locals say, “If you only come to the races one weekend all summer, let it be the Zia Festival!” That’s because the race track is decked out in the state’s vibrant colors ready to welcome the best New Mexico-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses. There will be approximately 60 statewide vendors displaying art, crafts, jewelry, and other creations make in the Land of Enchantment. There will be a special play area for the kids, so make plans now to come enjoy the annual Zia Festival celebration.
Don’t miss the second leg of the quarter horse triple crown! The $1 Million Rainbow Derby Finals runs on Saturday, July 20 and the $1.5 Million Rainbow Futurity runs on Sunday, July 21, 2019. $100k Corona Cartel on Saturday and the $100k Rainbow Juvenile on Sunday.
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of New Mexico native Mine That Bird winning the Kentucky Derby at Ruidoso Downs Race Track. Take a picture with Mine That Bird, on Saturday, July 13 from 1 – 2:30 p.m., with the purchase of a commemorative poster or hat for $10. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Mine That Bird will parade on the track between the 5th and 6th race.
This annual event brings costumed re-enactors from the Civil War and Indian Wars era to the Fort for demonstrations, presentations, live music and a military ball which will have visitors dancing into the night! Additionally, the event brings authors, historians, photographers, artists and a variety of historical vendors to site to share their crafts and other handiwork. Local food vendors are on hand to provide sustenance for your day at the Fort.
The All-American Boys Chorus is America’s quintessential professional boys chorus, a California-based company of 100+ comprehensively trained vocalists that has delighted audiences worldwide for over 40 years. A select choir of 39 boys, ages 8-14, come to the Spencer, singing a concert designed as a patriotic salute to America’s men and women of the armed forces.
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
Come out and enjoy ALL the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort Casino 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.
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.
Celebrate July 4th at Ruidoso Downs! Racing on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Special July 4th racing with flag ceremony on the track and Billy's July 4th Jeep Giveaway in the Casino! Rainbow Futurity Trials on Friday and Saturday and Ruidoso Derby Trials on Sunday. Yarbrough Band at Billy the Kid Casino on Friday and Saturday! FREE parking and FREE general admission.
The 1st Armored Division Band, under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Moore, presents an evening of military march favorites and patriotic concert music. The band’s historically rich, musically adept ensemble of 30+ soldier musicians & vocalists perform in honor of and dedicated to our nation’s military members serving throughout the world. Free to the public - Limit 4 Tickets
Although the gates are open every day for visitors, few people get to experience the fort after dark. Conducted after dark, rangers. historians, and the Paranormal Society greet and guide visitors. The self-guided tours will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. Cost is $5 per person, children under 10 are free. Please call 575-354-0341 for more information.
Come support local New Mexico beer, wine, food, and fun at Wingfield Park! Sponsored by Ruidoso Midtown Association. Tickets at Eventbrite.
Break out the small rods and reels for young anglers to tests their skills. Grindstone Lake in Ruidoso will be teeming with activity the morning of June 15, 2019, as children line the shore to try out their casting arms.
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.
The Bellamy Brothers bring to the Spencer Theater stage their latest compilation that celebrates their 40 year career.
Which two-year-old becomes an overnight sensation by winning the first leg of quarter horse racing’s triple crown? We will all find out together by watching the finals of the $1-million (est.) Ruidoso Futurity. The simulcast of thoroughbred racing’s Belmont Stakes will also be featured on Saturday with a $500 handicapping contest, plus the $100k Mr. Jess Perry and $100k Ruidoso Juvenile races.
Catch the Parade through Midtown beginning at 9:00 am Saturday morning. Then watch as the teams race their beds back to Zipline Park for a Chile Cookoff. Following the race there will be activities at the park! All proceeds benefit the High Mountain Youth Project.
High stakes racing continues at Ruidoso Downs Race Track during this exciting tournament weekend with the $25k Dash for Speed Stakes, the $25k John Deer Juvenile, and $30k First Lady Handicap. Plus, a slot machine and golf tournament to round out the excitement.
Join the growing gathering of gospel music lovers at Sacred Grounds Coffee & Teahouse for this unique Memorial Day Weekend celebration in song. You can now purchase advance reservations online for Chef Zach’s tasty buffet brunch. Ticket price: $15.
Kick-off summer at Ski Apache at their Memorial Day Bash on Saturday, May 25 and enjoy FREE, family-friendly entertainment which includes music, hot dogs and on-site Mescalero Art Vendors.
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.
Memorial Day weekend at Ruidoso Downs Race Track features the top two-and-three-year-old quarter horses in the world competing in the Ruidoso Futurity/Derby Trials and $100k Maiden Stakes Final, an ATV Giveaway and the Yarbrough Band.
Don’t miss the Preakness Stakes Simulcast at Ruidoso Downs Race Track full of excitement for all ages.
Join the staff of Fort Stanton and the members Fort Stanton, Inc. for their second annual first Mother’s Day Tea fundraiser featuring a Victorian-era tea party, costumed living historians, and a program about Victorian social etiquette. $20 per person, $15 for seniors and students, and free for children under six . Reservations required. 575-354-0341
