Here’s where you can find events that are so popular, they return every year! Find out more about annual events in Ruidoso like the Ruidoso Art Festival, All-American Cowboy Fest, and the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally. Check it out!
March
Bataan Memorial Death March
Sat, Mar 21, 2026 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
Offering clear blue skies, ample sunshine, and high rocky terrain, southwestern New Mexico is home to one of the most grueling marathons ever conceived by man. Held annually since 1989, the Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging 26-mile journey through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range. A shorter honorary option is also available.
@White Sands Missile Range
Read MoreMay
Aspen Cash Motorcycle Rally
Fri, May 15, 2026 12:00 am - Mon, May 18, 2026 12:00 am
The first of two large family-friendly motorcycle rallies held in the cool mountain pines of Ruidoso, this one since 1997, featuring trade shows, poker runs, prize drawings, breakfast and dinner gatherings, games, competitions and more.
@Aspen Cash Motorcycle Rally
June
July
Ruidoso Art & Wine Festival
Fri, Jul 24, 2026 12:00 am - Sun, Jul 26, 2026 5:00 pm
More than 100 artists will display their work — sculpture, photography, glass, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, and more. Enjoy wine tasting, featuring New Mexico wineries.
@Ruidoso Convention Center
August
Billy the Kid Pageant and Old Lincoln Days
Sat, Aug 08, 2026 9:00 am - Sun, Aug 09, 2026 2:00 pm
The annual folk pageant with re-enactors portraying Billy the Kid’s last escape and the notorious Lincoln County War is a regional favorite with food vendors, live music, arts and crafts, and a parade.
@Historic Lincoln
Read MoreSeptember
White Sands Balloon Festival
Sat, Sep 19, 2026 4:00 pm - Sun, Sep 20, 2026 11:00 pm
The White Sands Hot Air Balloon & Music Festival takes place every year at both Ed Brabson Balloon Park in Alamogordo, where local performers entertain, and the beautiful White Sands National Park, where you can sit atop the dunes to watch as the colorful balloons lift off into the brilliant blue skies of southwestern New Mexico.
@Ed Brabson Park & White Sands National Park
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October
Apple Festival
Sat, Oct 03, 2026 9:00 am - Sun, Oct 04, 2026 5:00 pm
An annual tradition, the Apple Festival celebrates the more than 100-year history of apples grown in the Sacramento Mountains. Nichols Ranch and Orchards invites you to enjoy breathtaking views of the Tularosa Basin and enjoy art, food, and of course apples!
@Nichols Ranch and Orchards
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AspenFest
Sat, Oct 03, 2026 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Celebrate autumn with the annual parade through Midtown Ruidoso beginning at 10 a.m. The parade ends at Wingfield Park where local vendors will offer gourmet chocolates, handmade crafts, and other specialty items.
@Midtown Ruidoso and Wingfield Park
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Trinity Site Open House
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
At 5:29 a.m. MST, on July 16, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was tested at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in the Tularosa Basin. Now registered as a site of historical significance, the Trinity Site is only open to visitors in October.
@White Sands Missile Range
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Midtown Halloween Trick or Treat and Pumpkin Roll
Wed, Oct 28, 2026 3:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Grab the kids and enjoy an evening of candy, costumes and pumpkin rolling. Test your luck at $500 by participating in the coffin race or pumpkin roll. There is also a costume contest for the kiddos. It’s a spooktacular time!
@Midtown Ruidoso
Read MoreNovember
Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee
Fri, Nov 13, 2026 12:00 am - Sun, Nov 15, 2026 3:00 pm
Embrace the season and join the Ruidoso Valley Greeters for a timeless and treasured tradition, the annual shopping extravaganza featuring 80 local merchants and a food court, with proceeds benefiting charitable organizations in Lincoln County.
@Ruidoso Convention Center
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5K Ruidoso Turkey Trot
Sat, Nov 28, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Grab your running shoes for the annual Ruidoso 5K Turkey Trot to support the Lincoln County Food Bank. Entry fee is one or more canned goods. Come out and celebrate the season by running for a cause.
@White Mountain Recreation Complex
Read MoreDecember
Ruidoso Festival of Lights Parade & After Party
Sat, Dec 05, 2026 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friends and family come together for an evening of twinkling lights and togetherness in the winter wonderland of Ruidoso, with an after-party in Wingfield Park, featuring food, drinks, winter activities for the kids, fire pits for roasting marshmallows, an outdoor movie on the big screen, and photos with Santa.
@Sudderth Drive and Wingfield Park
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