Editing Las Cruces, New Mexico (section)

===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
|-
|}