Just two hours from Ruidoso in the Mesilla Valley is New Mexico’s only ukulele festival. Ukulele players will gather at New Mexico State University from May 16 – 18, 2025, to learn from four talented instructors at Las Cruces UkeFest.
This popular festival is for novice to advanced ukulele players who want to enjoy a weekend learning new skills with fellow lovers of the four-stringed instrument.
The festival is hosted by the Las Cruces Ukes, a nonprofit community group of ukulele enthusiasts who have practiced and performed together for more than 10 years.
To get the best rate, register before April 1, 2025.
Festival Basics
Start your weekend of ukulele fun with a concert on Friday, May 16, at the NMSU Atkinson Recital Hall. The concert is included in full-festival registration.
Tickets are only $10 for those who simply want to enjoy a fantastic evening of ukulele music performed by ukulele professionals Casey MacGill, Rachel Manke, Abby Lyons, and Devin Scott.
Children 10 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult, and concert tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
The festival continues Saturday and Sunday at the NMSU Corbett Center Student Union, with workshops for all levels of players. Las Cruces UkeFest also includes a jam session, open mic, catered lunch on Saturday, and a ukulele marketplace with vendors where attendees can buy or sell ukes and other related items.
One popular part of the festival is the prize drawing, featuring a custom-built and painted ukulele and many other in-demand items.
UkeFest Concert
If you think the ukulele is only for playing Hawaiian music, think again! With four talented musicians performing some of their favorite tunes, visitors will experience the wide range of musical genres that can be performed on the uke.
The concert will begin with a couple of tunes by the host club, the Las Cruces Ukes, then continue with sets by each of the talented instructor/performers.
Workshops at Las Cruces UkeFest
Each instructor will teach four workshops over the weekend. MacGill’s offerings will include a workshop featuring three popular strumming patterns, one with fun Tin Pan Alley songs, and another with some favorite tunes by the Beatles.
Manke will teach workshops on the I IV V song structure, songs of Laura Dukes, and on developing a stage plan. Lyons is teaching the beginner track with everything from “Ukulele 101” to songwriting. Scott, who will also lead the jam session, has workshops on picking, soloing, and “stage presents.” Gorton Smith of the Las Cruces Ukes will also present a Sunday morning Gospel According to Uke sing-along.
See all the course descriptions at the Las Cruces UkeFest website.
Register Now for Best Rates
Early bird rates are available through March 31. The full festival, including catered lunch, the concert, and all the workshops you can fit into your weekend, is $195. On April 1, the rate goes up to $225. A special rate is available for full-time students. Advance registration is required for the full festival, so don’t delay.
Learn more about the festival and register at lascrucesukefest.com.
Las Cruces UkeFest is sponsored by Hutton Broadcasting.
Posted by Ruidoso.com
