Coming up, this Sat. Oct 16, 2010, a 20K ( 12.2 miles ) road race, up the Ski Run Road.  The race starts at the Eagle Creek Sports Complex, near Hwy 48, at 7319 ft. elevation, and climbs over 2500 feet to finish at the Ski Apache parking lot – 9970 ft. elevation.

The profits from this event will benefit the Ski Apache Disabled Skiers Program, which is a great cause.

The fall colors are starting to show, especially at these elevations. For more information on this event, visit the Ski Run Road Challenge web site.

UPDATE:  View photos of the 2010, and prior year runs, on Facebook at the 2010 Ski Run Road Challenge Facebook page.

It’s been great having the Univ. of New Mexico Lobo Football team in Ruidoso, for two-a-day workouts, and scrimmages. The team is shown here with an evening workout at the White Mountain Sports Complex.  In the background is the Lodge at Sierra Blanca, where the team has been staying, while a distant thunderstorm near Sierra Blanca Peak keeps the temps cool in Ruidoso.  Go Lobos !

Coming to the Inn of the Mountain Gods

• Josh Turner – Aug. 10
• Rodney Carrington – Aug. 27
• The Black Crowes – Sept. 6
• Gary Allan – Sept. 19
• Vince Gill – Oct. 13

See more shows at the  Inn of the Mountain Gods

Coming to the Spencer Theater

• Roy Clark – Aug 14
• Ray Price – Aug. 31

Additional shows at Spencer Theater, shown here.

Also, the Flying J Ranch, is a great evening of fun for the entire family ! Check out the Flying J site for more information on a Chuck Wagon Dinner and Western Stage Show that is sure to please.

Check back for more updates to the fall calendar of events in Ruidoso.

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UPDATE:  AUG 2010,  click here for latest concert and events calendar.

There are a number of concerts scheduled at the Inn of the Mountain Gods over the coming months.

Ticket prices and more information on these shows can be found on the Inn of the Mountain Gods website.

It’s a great time to visit Ruidoso! The snow at Ski Apache is the best we have had in many years.

Upcoming Concerts:

Howie Mandel – Feb. 19, 2010, 8 pm
Aaron Lewis of Staind – Mar. 11, 2010. 8 pm
The Doobie Brothers – Mar. 25, 2010, 8 pm
Gabriel Iglesias – May 6, 2010, 8 pm
Heart – May 9th, 2010, 8 pm

Visit the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce web site for more events and upcoming shows.

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Here are just  a few of the Upcoming Events for the Ruidoso Area. From a very worthwhile fundraiser for Hospice  at the Flying J Ranch, to concerts at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, there are some great events planned for Ruidoso this spring & summer.

• 3rd Annual Kite Festival – Ruidoso – April 24, 25, 26
• Kenny Rogers – Inn of the Mountain  Gods – May 1
• Annual Hospice Fundraiser – Flying J Ranch – May 2
• Rodney Carrington- Inn of the Mountain Gods – May 14
• Military Appreciation Weekend – Ruidoso, May 14-17
• Aspencash Motorcycle Run & Trade Show – Ruidoso Convention Center – May 14-17
• Ruidoso Downs Racetrack Opening Day -May 22
• Joe Nichols in Concert – Ruidoso Downs Racetrack – May 23
• Ruidoso Noon Lions Gun & Collectible Show – Ruidoso Convention Center – May 23 & 24
• Ruidoso Sprint Triathlon – Ruidoso Athletic Club – May 30
• Mountain of Blues Festival – Ruidoso – June 6
• Zia Charity Classic – Inn of the Mountain Gods – June 14
• Spring Fling Rod Run & Car Show – Mountain Annies – June 20

These are just a few of many events scheduled.  For a more detailed calendar of all events, please visit  Ruidosonow.com

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Mark your calendars for April 24, 25 and 26^th to attend the 3^rd Annual Ruidoso Kite Festival at White Mountain Sports Complex in Ruidoso New Mexico!  Festivities begin Friday at 1pm till 5pm.  Saturday begins at 9 am and close at 5 pm.  Sunday will be 11am until 4 pm with an early worship service to kick things off starting at 10:30.

You might be wondering….WHAT IS A KITE FESTIVAL???

View Photos from 2008 Kite Festival in Ruidoso click here

Bruce DeFoor, one of the Kite Festival organizers and Chairman of the Art Department at ENMU Ruidoso, sees it as “A chance for people to discover HUGE hand made kites of unique designs flown by professional kite fliers from surrounding states.  It’s also a event that you can actually be a participant in.  You can sit back and just take it all in, or you can grab a kite and fly with 100′s of others and actually learn to love the wind for a change!”  Believe it or not, kite flying is an international hobby in which thousands of people participate.  Visit the American Kite Fliers Association website at http://www.aka.kite.org/ for more information about the huge variety of modern kites.

DeFoor was instrumental in launching the 1^st Annual Ruidoso Kite Festival in 2007, where no less than 300 kites were made during the weekend (with assistance from volunteers) and flown by local children.  Jeri and Joan, the sisters at WeCree8, teamed with Bruce that 1st year and somehow pulled off a successful event in a little less than a month. The event takes far more planning now though, and new board members Rifle Salas and Dawnn Moore are helping to make it more successful than ever.

During the 2008 festival, over 800 kites were made and this year, the volunteer organization is expected to assist over 1,200 children in building and flying their own handmade kites!  It is believed that over 4,500 hundred spectators/participants are expected this year over the 3 day span.  Local businesses and lodgers have reported increased sales directly related to the Kite Festival and are happily waiting to greet kiters this year as well.  April is considered a slower activity month for the Village, so the Kitefest makes a great fit.  Ironically, April is National Kite Flying Month as well.

There is no entry fee to the festival, and all are invited to come and spend a day….or the entire weekend, watching great kites like our giant mascot of the event, 88 ft tall “Ollie the Octopus” and colorful “Spike the Blow Fish”, and many more float over the White Mountain Sports Complex. The only cost associated with the festival is $2 donation per kite, for children who want to make and fly their own kite.  Attendees are welcome to bring their own kites too.  This is a participatory, not just a spectator event!  There will be prizes given for different catagories, such as for the highest kite flown and farthest distance traveled to the show. There will also be high quality, commercially made rip stop nylon kites available for sale for those that don’t bring one.

This year will feature an aerial “dogfight” between Snoopy and the Red Baron in their huge kite-airplanes!  Come and cheer for Snoopy!  Another new event this year will be CANDY DROPS throughout the weekend, where bags of candy will be hauled up in the air by a huge kite, and dropped to the children waiting below.  A Kite Hospital will be waiting for kids with kites in distress again this year.  Due to popular request, this year there will be professional kite fliers who will be teaching people how to fly a variety of different kites.  Live bands and an announcer will keep things moving along nicely.  There will also be Kite Festival hats, pins, and t-shirts available for sale, with proceeds going to the Kite Festival fund for next year’s event.

This event is all about FAMILY.  It is not unusual to see 3 or 4 generations of a family out flying kites and enjoying a beautiful spring day together.  There will also be more food vendors than last year, so you won’t have to worry about leaving for lunch.

People are coming from out of town for this event too, like the bus that is bringing up families from Holloman Air Force Base.  Word of this event continues to spread throughout the west, as far away as California.  Last year at least 2 families reported made the long trip from California by car, just to take in the sights and be a part of all the colorful kites.  The event has now been sanctioned by the Ruidoso Village Council, Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.

Donations and volunteers are still very much needed for the event, and it will be the most fun you will ever have as a volunteer.  Please contact Dawnn Moore, ENMU Event Planner at 257-2120 if you would like to volunteer or donate.  Even if you are not able to attend, volunteer or donate, you can help us spread the news of this incredible event by forwarding this website to your friends and family  http://www.ruidosokitefestival.com/ ..

See you there, and happy kite flying!

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Don’t miss the mARTi Gras celebration in Ruidoso, this Saturday night (February 28th, 2009) from 6:00 – 10:00 pm at the Ruidoso Convention Center, and help raise funds for the Ruidoso Regional Council for the Arts (RRCA) .

The Ruidoso Regional Council for the Arts is an organization comprised of artists, patrons of the arts, and corporate sponsors. The mission of RRCA is to develop and promote Ruidoso, Lincoln County, and Mescalero as an arts community. Through generous funding by the Village of Ruidoso, grant monies from New Mexico Arts, the Hubbard Foundation, and support from Ruidoso Lodgers Tax and Lincoln County Lodgers Tax, our 501c(3) organization strives to support and encourage all of the arts, acting as the liaison among cultural organizations, all levels of government, and the private sector.

This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, contact Ed Spurr, 575-257-7272 or rrcarts@valornet.com
There will be food, music, art and fun, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to have a great time and support the arts in your community!  Come in costume, or come as you are. Prize awarded for best costume.   Free mask and beads at the door.

For details, visit the official Marti Gras site.

The Southwest region of the United States is known for its lush native culture and the art it births. From Native American pottery and jewelry to beautiful sunset paintings, the region is home to many talented artists. Every year, the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce hosts the Ruidoso Art Fest at the convention center. Local artists, as well as those from surrounding states, bring their wares to display and sell to private collectors or soon-to-be collectors.

The Ruidoso Art Fest is a juried show, not all applicants are selected to participate. Here you will see stunning works of glass, wood, acrylic, sculpture, and much more. A silent auction will be held near the front entrance to benefit a local charity.

The art festival will run from July 25 through July 27. Friday the doors will open at noon and close at 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. A one day entry fee costs $5.00 for adults and $1 for kids ages 6-16. Children under age 3 are free. A 2 day pass will cost $8; a 3 day pass will cost only $12.

For more information or for a list of artists, please visit the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce website.The Convention Center is located at 111 Sierra Blanca Drive, just off Mechem Drive near the post office.

What could be more fun than hanging out with friends and family in the cool mountain air of Ruidoso and being able to attend one of the awesome concerts taking place here? There are so many events scheduled for the summer. I wish I had the time and space to write an article on each, but for brevity’s sake I can only hit a few of the highlights each month. Keep checking back. We’ll do our best to keep you abreast of our biggest community events and concerts as we know about them.

June 14, 2008 – Esteban, a master guitarist and arranger, will be performing at the Spencer Theater on the evening of June 14. Esteban has topped the Billboard charts numerous times with his albums and dvd’s. Now is your chance to hear the legendary guitarist in person. Visit the Spencer Theater’s website for ticket information and show times.

June 14 – Spring Fling Car Show: Mountain Annie’s. Come join the fun. The car show runs from 10-4 on Saturday. Admission is free.

June 14 & 15 – Ruidoso Wine Festival: Inn of the Mountain Gods. The New Mexico Wine Growers Association will be hosting the event. The cost is $20 at the door and includes a souvenir wine glass. A picture ID will be required and a designated driver is strongly suggested. Wine will be available for tasting or for buying. Visit the Inn of the Mountain God’s site or www.nmwine.com for more information.

June 21 & 22 – Ron White, comic sensation. Have a ball with “Tater Salad” Ron White at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. A second night has been added to the schedule due to his popularity, so if you can’t make the first show, get tickets for the second. Visit ticketmaster for prices and availability.

June 28 – The Buckinghams: Spencer Theater. This group is one of the tightest bands I’ve ever heard. Several years ago, I went to one of their performances at the old Bingo Hall near the casino. I was blown away by the Buckingham’s beautifully honed sound. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Head over to the Spencer Theater’s website for details.

That’s all for now. I’ll soon post an update for July’s events. With the fire restrictions still in Stage III, I hope you see something above that gets you off your rocker and up on the mountain. It’s summer! Have fun!

2009 UPDATE: Calendar of Events in Ruidoso click here

If you have been working on a summer escape to Ruidoso that includes camping, you have probably discovered that the Lincoln National Forest has been closed until we receive some precipitation to relieve the dry conditions in our area. Currently, within the village limits of Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, no outdoor open flame of any kind is allowed, including cigarette smoking and gas grills. For a more comprehensive look of what the fire restrictions are in town and within the rest of the county, please take a look at the list of the Lincoln County fire restrictions. Don’t let the fire danger prevent a trip to our beautiful area. There are still so many wonderful things to do here, and I’ve included a list below to help guide you in the right direction.

Not only will the racing season begin at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack, but Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to jump-start your summer activities. I’m including just a few of our community calendar events in this article, but with a little ingenuity on your part, you and your family can still find plenty to do in this neck of the woods.

Horse-racing Season: Ruidoso Downs Racetrack and Casino opens May 23 and runs through Labor Day. The racetrack is home to the world’s richest Quarter Horse race, the All American Futurity. To start things off, Country Music artist Marty Stuart will be performing live at the racetrack on May 24. For times and information, visit the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack website.

Dinner Shows: The Flying J Ranch will open its doors for the season at 6:00 PM the evening of May 23 and will be open nightly (except Sundays) until September 3. From September 3 to October 14 the Flying J Ranch will be open on Saturdays only.

Mountain Annie’s is open year round. Performances can vary from 50′s rock and roll to classic and contemporary to western cowboy music. On most nights the doors open at 6:00 PM, dinner is served at 7:00 PM, and the show begins at 8:00. Shows and times are subject to change, so please visit their website or call 575-257-7982.

Arts & Crafts Shows: The 3rd annual Mescalero Arts & Crafts Show will be held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, NM. Beautiful handmade items will be on display throughout Memorial Day Weekend. Fri 12-6 PM, Sat& Sun 10AM-6PM, and Mon 8 AM-2PM.

Art In the Pines Art Gallery is reopening its doors to showcase local artists’ works under one roof. No longer will you have to wander through town to each studio to find your favorite artist’s work. The Old Mill will be a new summer home for artwork this year. Call 575-378-5206 for details.

Ruidoso Noon Lions Crafts, Guns & Collectible Show will be held at the Ruidoso Convention Center May 24-25 9AM-6PM Saturday and 9AM-3PM Sunday. There is an admission fee of $5 for adults and kids under the age of 12 get in free.

Outdoor Sports: On May 22, the 12th Annual Cree Meadows Golf Tournament kicks off with a shot-gun start at 12:30 PM. Fees include green fees, golf cart, dinner, and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ruidoso.

If you’re physically fit and like to run, the Mescalero Hotshot Challenge Run takes place on May 24, 2008 in Mescalero. There is a 15k, 10K Team Challenge, and 5K race to choose from. Call 575-464-4291 for the scoop.

There is almost an endless list of things to do in and around Ruidoso. These are just a few of the highlights of our early summer events. Here are additional summer events from the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce. Stay tuned for more. If you are aching, like so many of us, to spend some time camping and hiking in the forest then I suggest you check back with our site in the near future. As soon as the current fire restrictions lift, we will try to be one of the first to let you know. Until then, we hope you find at least one event that piques your interest and brings you to the mountain.

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2009 UPDATE: Calendar of Events in Ruidoso click here