January
Ski Apache Disabled (Adaptive) Skier Silent Auction
@ Inn of the Mountain Gods
Free food, fun, and thousands of items to bid on to support a great cause.
February
mARTi Gras
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
Family oriented event celebrating the visual and performing arts. Music and Dancing, Gumbo Cook Off, Live and Silent Art Auctions, Mask Contest, Art in Action, Exhibits and Sales, Children’s Activities.
March
Mountain Living Home & Garden Show
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
Over 200 experts & retailers demonstrate new products & ideas!
April
Annual Kite Festival
The Ruidoso Parks and Recreation Department and We Cree8 join forces to present this fun event. Join us for a wild and brilliant display of kites; bring your own, or buy one here.
May
Military Appreciation Weekend
@ Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs
The event is being hosted by the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack on the infield. Every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces will be participating. Ft. Bliss is the lead support. There will be a Military City along with military equipment, artillery, bombs, simulators, demonstrations, drills, and exercises including Bradley Tanks, F-22 Raptor simulator helicopter landings, among many other demonstrations. A German F Tornado and an F-22 Raptor fly-over.
Annual Smokey Bear Days
@ Capitan, New Mexico
The event includes fire prevention and educational booths, free live music, a street dance, visits from Smokey Bear throughout the event and at the cutting of his birthday cake during the street dance. There is also a vendor’s marketplace, fun and education for the kids, chainsaw carving contest, auction of Smokey Bear memorabilia and much more.
Aspencash Motorcycle Run & Trade Show
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
Big show and bigger poker run prizes. Meet your friends in beautiful Ruidoso.
Ruidoso Downs Race Track Opens Memorial Day
June
Annual Mountain of Blues Festival
@ Event Plaza 501 Wingfield, South of Midtown
Great food, fun & the best live blues around!
July
Mescalero Apache Ceremonial & Rodeo Mescalero
Pow-wow, Dance of the Maidens, rodeo (1:30 p.m. daily), traditional Apache dances and parade.
Smokey Bear Stampede
@ Capitan, New Mexico
The parade is 10 am on the 4th. Applications are now being accepted for the parade. Nightly dances a the fairgrounds 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Youth Ranch Rodeo Friday July 3 at 1 p.m. Adult Ranch Rodeo July 4-5
Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza
@ Inn of the Mountain Gods
The festivities begin at 5 pm and guests can snack on hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and cold beverages on the patio while enjoying great live entertainment and other fun activities. The celebration continues into the night and concludes with southern New Mexico’s largest firework display over Lake Mescalero. The event is free to attend and open to all ages
Carrizozo Fireworks & Food
@ Carrizozo Golf Course
Ats and crafts, food, drinks and live music. Ruidoso’s own “Home Grown Boys” will perform in the late afternoon. There will also be an area to shoot off personal fireworks. Then the fireworks show will start about dusk. Bring your lawn chair or your blanket and enjoy!
Ruidoso Art Festival
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
Over 100 juried artists.
Zia Weekend
@ Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino
Live racing from 1-5 pm. New Mexico-bred horses plus free parking and admission. Arts & Crafts Show from 11 am – 5 pm featuring all New Mexico made products.
Ruidoso Chamber Music Festival
@ Spencer Theater
August
Old Lincoln Days
@ Ruidoso, New Mexico
Street vendors, food, parade & mountain man camp. Activities happen throughout the day. Join us Friday and Saturday at 8:30pm and Sunday at 3:30pm for the “Last Escape of Billy the Kid” folk pageant. This re-enactment was first presented in 1940 and centers around the life of the legendary outlaw, Billy the Kid.
Fort Stanton Live
@ Fort Stanton, New Mexico
9 am til 4:30. Wild West Show with Civil War reenactments, Buffalo Soldiers, and Mountain Men. Vendors, food, and entertainment — In conjunction with Lincoln Days! Admission is free. Donations accepted.
Annual Bruise N Cruise
@ Fort Stanton, New Mexico
Fundraiser/celebration for all things EcoServants. Great bands, cave tours, mountain biking, hiking, food vendors, a jolly jumper, a two story fun slide, a rock climbing wall, disc golf tournament mountain bike raffle, & lots of free prizes.
September
All-American Futurity
@ Ruidoso Downs
Ruidoso Downs Racetrack presents the world’s richest Quarter Horse race – a $2 million purse! Racing begins at noon.
Annual Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally
@ Ruidoso Downs Sports Theater Complex, 3/4 miles east of the racetrack entrance
Annual Tour de Ruidoso
@ White Mountain Sports Complex
Beginning at 8 a.m. The Start/Finish Line for all events is the Recreation Area parking lot by the soccer field east of the Links at Sierra Blanca (access off Hull Rd.) Three events to choose from; Century Ride (100 miles), 100K (62 miles), and the Flat-20 Miler. This fundraiser is to benefit the Ruidoso Home Care and Hospice Foundation, providing end of life care for Lincoln County.
October
Aspenfest Weekend
@ Ruidoso Area
Parade through midtown Sat. 10 a.m. from the corner of Sudderth & Mechem to 700 block of Sudderth. Arts & crafts at Schoolhouse Park on Sudderth Sat. 9-5:30, Sun. 9-5. 27th Annual New Mexico State Open Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, on Sunday the Ruidoso Chili Society Pod Chili Cook-Off,Championship BBQ coincides with the Chili Cook-Off this year, Rod Run Car Show, (Sat, 8-4, free admission). Both take place at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium
@ Ruidoso Downs Racetrack
Cowboy poets, musicians, chuckwagon cooks/craftsmen and Larry Gatlin and the Texas Playboys on Friday for the dance. Admission on Sunday is free!
Ruidoso Oktoberfest
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
5 pm – 11 pm on Friday and Noon til 11 pm on Saturday. Enjoy German music with live bands, food, beers, wine, arts/crafts, dancing, a special Kinderhall & lots of family fun.
November
Annual Christmas Jubilee
@ Ruidoso Convention Center
Shop ‘til you drop and bring the kids for a visit with Santa.
Walk Through Bethlehem
@ Angus Church of the Nazarene
Interactive walk through a recreated village of Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s Birth. Cast of over 60 live actors plus real animals. You are encouraged to talk with the actors about the times they portray. Beginning at 6pm. 45 minutes presentation
Ski Apache opens Thanksgiving
December
Christmas in the Park
@ Schoolhouse Park
6 p.m. Join the Village of Ruidoso in their annual lighting of the Yule Log. Free admission. Santa and cookies will be there, of course. *FOL Event.
Parade of Lights
@ Midtown Ruidoso
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
Ski Apache Torch Light Parade
@ Ski Apache Resort
A native drum will begin playing at 5 p.m., and the Parade is at 6. Veteran skiers and their lighted torches will ski down the mountain. Assorted snacks and refreshments will be available. Free admission! Spectators are encouraged to be there by 5:45
Christmas in Historic Lincoln
@ Lincoln, New Mexico
Traditional lighting of luminarias along Hwy 380 at dusk