Editing Las Cruces, New Mexico (section)

==Arts and culture==
Most of Las Cruces's cultural events are held late in the calendar year.<ref>{{cite web| title=Area Events| url=http://lascrucesmagazine.com/html/resources/rec_events.php| publisher=Real View Publishing| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Las Cruces Style: TGI (thank goodness it's) FTFS—let's party on! |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 4, 2008 }}</ref>

===Gallery===
<gallery class="center" widths="180px">
 File:Las Cruces Branigan Cultural Center.jpg | Branigan Cultural Center
 File:New Mexico State University Art Gallery.jpg | University Art Gallery
 File:New Mexico State University Center for the Arts.jpg | New Mexico State University Center for the Arts
 File:New Mexico State University Conroy Honors Center.jpg | William Conroy Honors Center
</gallery>

===Festivals and events===
====Current Festivals====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- 
! Festival name
! Location
! Description
! Time 
|- 
| Cowboy Days || [[New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum|Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum]] || Children's activities, cowboy food and music, mounted shooting, horseback and stagecoach rides, living history, gunfight re-enactments, and more<ref name="Events and Festivals in Las Cruces - 2014">{{cite web| title=Events and Festivals in Las Cruces - 2014| url=http://www.meetlascruces.com/Las-Cruces-Events-and-Festivals.html| publisher=MeetLasCruces.com| access-date=3 March 2014}}</ref> || Early March
|-
| Las Cruces Game Convention / CrucesCon || Las Cruces Convention Center || An annual event, gamers compete in high-level tournaments and play free games. The LCGC is a nonprofit event with 100% of the proceeds going towards the community, equipment, and future events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_22971611/gamers-dress-favorite-characters-game-convention|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428053202/http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_22971611/gamers-dress-favorite-characters-game-convention|url-status=dead|title=Las Cruces Game Convention 2013 - Las Cruces Sun-News Report|archivedate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> || March
|-
| [[Cinco de Mayo]] Celebration || [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]] || Celebration of Mexican heritage and pride with arts, crafts, food vendors, and Mexican music<ref name="Cinco de Mayo Mesilla">{{cite web| title=Cinco de Mayo Mesilla| url=http://www.mesilla.com/cinco-de-mayo| access-date=4 May 2014}}</ref> || May 3–4
|-
| Southern New Mexico Wine Festival || Fairgrounds || Exclusively features New Mexico wines, local foods, live music, and the University of Wine for food and wine pairings<ref name="Southern NM Wine Festival">{{cite web| title=Southern New Mexico Wine Festival| url=http://www.snmwinefestival.com/| publisher=Southern New Mexico Wine Festival| access-date=26 May 2014}}</ref> || Memorial Day weekend
|-
| [[4th of July]] Electric Light Parade, Celebration and Fireworks || Field of Dreams Football Stadium || Parade and fireworks display celebrating Independence Day<ref name="4th of July Celebrations">{{cite web| title=4th of July Celebrations| url=http://www.lascrucescvb.org/annual-events/| publisher=Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau| access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> || July 3 and 4
|-
| Harvest Wine Festival || Fairgrounds || Features wines from New Mexico wineries, a grape-stomping contest, several concerts throughout the weekend, food from several local vendors, and related shopping<ref>{{cite web| title=Harvest Wine Festival| url=https://nmwine.com/lascruces-harvest-wine-fest/| publisher=Helping Hands Event Planning| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref> ||  [[Labor Day]] weekend
|-
| Southern New Mexico State Fair || Fairgrounds ||  Promoting traditional [[agriculture]], the fair boasts one of the largest junior livestock shows in the state; the fair also invites youth from six counties in New Mexico and [[West Texas]] to participate.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo| url = http://www.snmstatefairgrounds.net| website = www.snmstatefairgrounds.net| access-date = 2015-10-28}}</ref> || First week of October
|-
| [[Pumpkin]] Harvest Festival || Lyles Farms || Features live music and the Tour de Maze (an adults only [[tricycle]] race), as well as Pumpkin Pie and a Goblin Egg Gourd Hunt <ref name="Pumpkin Harvest Festival">{{cite web| title=Pumpkin Harvest Festival| url=http://www.mesillavalleycornmaze.com/| publisher=Mesilla Valley Corn Maze| access-date=1 October 2014}}</ref> || Month of October
|- 
| Day of the Walking Dead || [[Mesilla Valley Mall]] || [[Zombie]]s walk around the mall.<ref>{{cite news| last=Moore| first=S. Derrickson| title=Beyond trick-or-treat: Lurch on out for Halloween fun| url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/mylascruces/ci_19177954| access-date=February 28, 2014| newspaper=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]| date=November 1, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304150230/http://www.lcsun-news.com/mylascruces/ci_19177954| archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> || [[Halloween]]
|-
| Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) || Plaza in Mesilla, and Branigan Cultural Center || Originating in [[Mexico]], this celebration of the lives of those now dead hasa focus on Mexican heritage. It is put on by the Calavera Coalition, a nonprofit organization.<ref name="Day of the Dead">{{cite web| title=Day of the Dead| url=http://www.mesillanm.gov/tourism/events/day-of-the-dead.html| publisher=Town of Mesilla| access-date=1 November 2014}}</ref> || November 1–2
|-
| Renaissance ArtsFaire || [[Young Park (Las Cruces, New Mexico)|Young Park]] || Founded in 1971, it includes a juried art show and is put on by the Doña Ana Arts Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance-artsfaire-at-young-park-nov-3-4/ |title=Renaissance ArtsFaire at Young Park, Nov. 1 & 2, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226044702/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance-artsfaire-at-young-park-nov-3-4/ |archive-date=February 26, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance_artsfaire.html |title=Renaissance ArtsFaire November 1st and 2nd, 2008 |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104072140/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/renaissance_artsfaire.html |archive-date=November 4, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/events/renaissance-artsfaire-artists/ |title=Renaissance Artsfaire Artists |access-date=February 18, 2014 |publisher=Doña Ana Arts Council |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226041038/http://www.las-cruces-arts.org/events/renaissance-artsfaire-artists/ |archive-date=February 26, 2014 }}</ref> || November 
|-
| Lighting of the Mesilla Plaza || Historic plaza of Mesilla || Every Christmas Eve, the historic plaza of Mesilla is lined with thousands of [[luminaria]]s, which are brown bags containing candles and weighted with sand. The evening consistently attracts locals and tourists.<ref>{{cite news| last=Ramirez| first=Steve| title=With luminarias lighting the way, Christmas spirit is full on the Mesilla Plaza| url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24790271/luminarias-lighting-way-christmas-spirit-is-full-mesilla| access-date=February 28, 2014| newspaper=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]]| date=December 24, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304164454/http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_24790271/luminarias-lighting-way-christmas-spirit-is-full-mesilla| archive-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> || Christmas Eve
|-
|Las Cruces Chile Drop
|Plaza de Las Cruces
|Since 2014, a vibrant 19-foot [[New Mexico chile]], adorned with 400 feet of [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] lighting, has marked the arrival of the new year, as it descends from a crane in the plaza in downtown Las Cruces. This unique celebration has become an annual tradition, accompanied by live music, a'' piñata'', and carnival games. In 2021, the event introduced an interactive element, allowing attendees to vote on the chile's color through a [[QR code]] scan.<ref name=":0" /> The event achieved national recognition in 2023, ranking third on ''[[USA Today]]'s'' list of Best New Year's Eve Drops.<ref name=":1" /> Additionally, in the same year, it garnered significant attention with a live broadcast on CNN, attracted over 5,000 participants, and received a visit from Congressman [[Gabe Vasquez]] and Mayor [[Eric Enriquez]].<ref name=":4" />
|[[New Year's Eve]]
|-
|
|}

====Past festivals====

{| class="wikitable sortable" 
|- 
! Festival name
! Location
! Description
! Time 
|-
| Border Book Festival || [[Mesilla, New Mexico|Mesilla]] || Once it featured a trade show, readings, film festival, workshops led by local artists and writers, and discussion panels, but ended its 20-year run in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/554847/border-book-festival-in-new-mexico-to-end-after-2-decades.html|title='Border Book Festival' in New Mexico to end after 2 decades|agency=Associated Press|website=www.abqjournal.com|date=13 March 2015}}</ref> The festival was founded in 1994 by authors [[Denise Chávez]] and Susan Tweit; Chávez was the executive director of the festival.<ref>{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Border Book Festival: Celebration sharpens focus, goals in 14th year |work=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]] |issn=1081-2172 |date=April 11, 2008 }}</ref> || April
|- 
| The Whole Enchilada Fiesta || 1501 E. Hadley Ave. || It attracted roughly 50,000 attendees each year. The centerpiece was the making of a large, flat [[enchilada]]. The fiesta started in 1980 with a {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} enchilada, and it grew over the years. In 2000, the fiesta's {{convert|10+1/2|ft|m|adj=mid|-diameter}} enchilada was certified by [[Guinness World Records]] as the world's largest. After the enchilada was assembled, it was cut into many pieces and distributed free of charge to the fiesta attendees. The enchilada was the brainchild of local restaurant owner Roberto V. Estrada, who directed its preparation each year. The celebration also featured a parade, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta Queen competition, a [[Horseshoes (game)|huachas]]<ref>{{cite news| last=Chavez| first=Polly E.| title=Mock horseshoes -- or 'huachas' -- is rooted in Hispanic culture| url=http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-lincoln_county_news/ci_24008475/mock-horseshoes-or-huachas-is-rooted-hispanic-culture?source=rss| access-date=9 February 2014| newspaper=[[Ruidoso News]]| date=3 September 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222215749/http://www.ruidosonews.com/ruidoso-lincoln_county_news/ci_24008475/mock-horseshoes-or-huachas-is-rooted-hispanic-culture?source=rss| archive-date=22 February 2014}}</ref> tournament, activities for kids, live music, an enchilada eating contest, a 5 kilometer road race, a one-mile race, and a car and motorcycle show.<ref>{{cite web| title=Whole Enchilada Fiesta| url=http://www.enchiladafiesta.com/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626012131/http://www.enchiladafiesta.com/| url-status=dead| archive-date=26 June 2007| publisher=TWEF Inc.| access-date=7 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Celebration powered by dedicated volunteer force |work=[[Las Cruces Sun-News]] |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 21, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=New Mexico Blue Book |url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-bluebook.html |access-date=September 21, 2008 |edition=2007–2008 |publisher=New Mexico Secretary of State |page=344 |chapter=New Mexico Features: World's Largest Enchilada |chapter-url=http://www.sos.state.nm.us/BlueBook2008/NewMexicoFeatures.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129051906/http://www.sos.state.nm.us//sos-bluebook.html |archive-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After 34 years, The Whole Enchilada Fiesta's final event occurred in 2014 after Estrada had retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kvia.com/news/new-mexico/the-whole-enchilada-fiesta-is-no-more/56428002|title=The Whole Enchilada Fiesta is no more|date=8 May 2015|website=KVIA|access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref> || Last week in September
|-
|}

===Museums===
[[File:New Mexico State University Museum.jpg|thumb|left|upright|New Mexico State University Museum]]
The [[New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum]] is state-operated and shows the history of [[farming]] and [[ranching]] in New Mexico. It is located just east of New Mexico State University.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/about.php |title= About the Museum |access-date= August 5, 2008 |publisher= New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum}}</ref>

The New Mexico State University Arthropod Museum and Collection contains roughly 500,000 [[arthropod]] specimens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://arthropods.nmsu.edu|title=Arthropod Museum - New Mexico State University|website=Arthropods.nmsu.edu}}</ref>
The University Museum (Kent Hall) at New Mexico State University focuses on [[archeological]] and [[ethnographic]] collections and also has some history and natural-science collections.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://univmuseum.nmsu.edu |title= University Museum |access-date= April 27, 2014 |publisher= New Mexico State University}}</ref>

The Zuhl Museum (located in the Alumni and Visitors' Center) at New Mexico State University focuses on [[geologic]] collections, including the finest collection of [[petrified wood]] on display and a large [[fossil]] and [[mineral]] collection.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nmsu.edu/zuhl/index.html |title= The Zuhl Collection |access-date= August 5, 2008 |publisher= New Mexico State University |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090914231532/http://www.nmsu.edu/zuhl/index.html |archive-date= September 14, 2009 }}</ref>

The four city-owned museums include the Branigan Cultural Center, which examines local history through photographs, sculpture, paintings, and poetry. The building is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The Las Cruces Museum of Art offers art exhibits and classes. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History makes science and natural history more accessible to the general public and has an emphasis on local animals and plants. The Las Cruces Railroad Museum is in the historic Santa Fe Railroad station. It exhibits the impact of the railroads on the local area.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.las-cruces.org/public-services/museums |title= Experience the City of Las Cruces Museums |access-date= August 6, 2008 |publisher= City of Las Cruces |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080719165109/http://las-cruces.org/public-services/museums/ |archive-date= July 19, 2008 }}</ref>

===Las Cruces Symphony===
[[File:Dona Ana County New Mexico Courthouse (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Doña Ana County]] courthouse]]
The Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra is an 80-member [[orchestra]], conducted by Dr. Ming Luke.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lascrucessymphony.com/meet-your-conductor-candidates/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908033107/http://www.lascrucessymphony.com/lcso.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 8, 2007 |title=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra at New Mexico State University |access-date=October 10, 2008 |publisher=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra }}</ref> The orchestra consists of 47% students, 17% NMSU faculty, 20% other local musicians, and 16% professionals from outside Las Cruces.<ref name="LCSN LCSO 2008">{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra plans spectacular season  |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=May 2, 2008 }}</ref> The venue of the orchestra is the NMSU Music Center Recital Hall.<ref name="LCSN LCSO 2008" /> The orchestra received attention with the world premiere of [[Bill McGlaughlin]]'s ''Remembering Icarus'', a tribute to local radio pioneer Ralph Willis Goddard, performed by the LCSO on October 1, 2005.<ref>
{{cite news |first=S. Derrickson |last=Moore |title=Symphony to honor radio pioneer |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |issn=1081-2172 |date=September 30, 2005  }}
</ref>
The performance was taped and broadcast nationally on [[NPR]]'s ''[[Performance Today]]'' on December 9, 2005<ref>
{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5046198 |title=McGlaughlin's 'Remembering Icarus' |newspaper=NPR.org |access-date=October 10, 2008 |publisher=National Public Radio |date=December 9, 2005 }}
</ref>
and on July 4, 2007, on ''Performance Today'' and on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]].<ref>
{{cite news |title=In 2007, the Las Cruces arts and entertainment scene was... HOT, HOT, HOT |work=Las Cruces Sun-News |url=http://www.lcsun-news.com/yearinreview/ci_7830764 |access-date=October 10, 2008 |issn=1081-2172 |date=December 28, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202215838/http://www.lcsun-news.com/yearinreview/ci_7830764 |archive-date=December 2, 2008 }}
</ref>

===Points of interest===
Several [[water tank]]s in Las Cruces have been painted with [[mural]]s by Tony Pennock, including one at the intersection of Triviz Drive and Griggs Avenue.<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.las-cruces.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=427 |title=Water Tanks Being Restored To Original Luster |access-date=November 24, 2008 |publisher=City of Las Cruces |date=April 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028024051/http://www.las-cruces.org/news/news_item.asp?NewsID=427 |archive-date=October 28, 2007 }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1EAD |title=500th Anni of Columbus' Discovery of America Waymark |access-date=November 24, 2008 |publisher=Waymarking.com |date=April 18, 2007 }}
</ref>
Multimedia artist group Keep Adding has a large mural titled ''Wave Nest'' on Picacho Avenue at the Lion's Park.

The [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]] is the mother church of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces]].