Many people attending an outside event with vender tents on each side.

Friday night kickoff debuts; vendor applications now open

Downtown Las Cruces will come alive this spring as ¡mira! Las Cruces returns with an expanded, two-day celebration of the culture, creativity, and community that define the city. Now featuring a brand-new Friday night kickoff and a full day of free festivities on Saturday, the beloved festival invites locals and visitors alike to experience local art, music, food, and unforgettable entertainment in the heart of downtown.

2026 ¡mira! Las Cruces kicks off Friday, April 24, with live performances from local bands from 6–9 p.m., giving spectators a preview of what’s to come with free entertainment and on-site food trucks. The family-friendly spring festival returns bigger and better on Saturday, April 25, filling downtown Las Cruces with festivities from 2–9:30 p.m.

Back by popular demand, action-packed Lucha Libre matches return with Magno and other crowd favorites, followed by a dazzling drone show lighting up the night sky.

“¡mira! Las Cruces returns with an expanded festival experience, bringing new highlights alongside the fan-favorite elements our community loves,” said Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, executive director of Visit Las Cruces. “Entering our fourth year, we focused on listening to feedback from past events to create an even more enjoyable experience for everyone.”

Attendees can explore downtown Las Cruces with local arts and crafts vendors, a car show, on-stage live performances, an artist alley featuring a variety of mediums and plenty of food and drink to pick from. The Rio Grande Theatre will once again host a number of live performances — this time with a Juneteenth theme.

Be advised, the City of Las Cruces will be shutting down the Plaza de Las Cruces and Main Street from Griggs Avenue to Las Cruces Avenue starting 5 a.m. on Friday, April 24. Main Street from the north roundabout to Bowman Avenue, as well as Las Cruces and Griggs avenues will shut down at 5 p.m. The Las Cruces Farmer’s and Crafts Market will move to Sunday, April 26; however, many vendors will attend ¡mira! Las Cruces as part of the arts and crafts vendors.

Free parking will be available in the downtown area for the event. Attendees should expect the closure of a few parking lots to allow for the drone show setup and launch.

Folding and camping chairs are permitted during the event as seating is limited. Well-behaved pets are welcome to attend so long as they remain leashed.

Vendor applications are currently being accepted. For more event details, updates or to apply, check out VisitLasCruces.com/Mira.

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