❤️ What's Happening this week in Las Cruces August 07, 2026

Local Events on Tuesday & Friday @ 6 am
Live Music on Thursday @ 1 pm

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Monster trucks are taking over the Doña Ana County Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 15 — and this one’s pure family fun with plenty of room for everyone else to join the chaos.

Kids get a special pre-show Meet & Greet Pit Party with their own Fun Zone (bounce house included) so they can get right up next to the massive trucks before the action starts. Ages 3–9 also race their own Power Wheels, and little ones can even climb aboard a real monster truck for a ride. Two full shows (noon and 6 p.m.) bring Shark Attack, T-Rex, Outlaw, and Locomotive slamming through nonstop action, plus Quad Wars for good measure.

Advance child tickets are only $15 if you grab them now. Bring the whole crew — this is the kind of loud, ground-shaking day that makes summer memories.

Date: August 15th
Location: Doña Ana County Fairgrounds
Show Times: 12 pm Matinee and 6 pm Evening Show
Tickets

Quick ask: Help me find more kids & youth stuff

I’ve been getting requests for a kids/youth section (one reader just wrote: “Have you ever thought of putting together a separate list for children/youth events?”).

Truth is, good kids activities are harder for me to track down than adult ones.

If you know of storytimes, play groups, youth sports, classes, camps, or family-friendly events around Las Cruces, hit reply and send the details — or even better, add them straight to the events calendar. The more you share, the better the list gets for everyone.

Las Cruces’ elk crew is throwing their biggest night of the year, and if you care even a little about elk country (or just love a good banquet), this is your night.

We’re talking a full-on Big Game Banquet with incredible prizes and one-of-a-kind auctions you’re not snagging off Amazon, plus a proper dinner and a room full of folks who actually get why this place matters.

It all goes down Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Hotel Encanto, with doors at 5 pm — and yes, seats sell out every year. Tickets

⛽ Gas Prices in Las Cruces

Check our Online Events Calendar for even more events

Music lovers here is the latest Live Music issue.

Join us for the next Dinner Club on August 19th at 5:30 pm.

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Get ready for an exciting and flavorful experience whether it be our popular new Pizza Specials or U-Pick Grape gatherings!

Kick off your Wednesday with a pizza extravaganza! Choose from our classic, specialty, or unleash your inner chef with our Build-Your-Own $10 Specials after U-Pick your own grapes for just $1 a pound. Serious fun for the whole family!

Continue your week with a high-energy Friday night featuring the Dusty Low Band playing a mix of Alternative Country, Folk, Americana, and Jazz for your listening pleasure with friends.

On Saturday, August 8th, we’ll be closed for a private party, but don’t worry, we’ll be back on Sunday with Sax Attitude offering an exhilarating afternoon lineup that’s sure to set the perfect upbeat vibe for your end-of-weekend gatherings.

Also, you won’t want to miss out on Line Dancing with Perry on Thursday, the 13th! Don’t be timid, Perry’s got your back. Grab your favorite boots and hit the road headed to RGW!

Here’s the music lineup:

Rio Grande Winery
Website: RioGrandeWinery.com
Phone: 575-201-3744
Follow us: Facebook and Instagram

Note: Always check to confirm event details with venue before attending events for changes or weather cancellations.

👉 Got an event coming up? Add it to our Events Calendar

FIT4MOM Playgroup | Dinosaur Ice Rescue | Sagecrest Park | 10 am

Heart & Colors Art Exhibition | Doña Ana County Government Center | 4 - 6 pm | An inspiring exhibition showcasing artwork created by youth participating in the Transformative Art Program at the Doña Ana Juvenile Detention Center.

Reception for "Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks" | Las Cruces Museum of Art | 5 - 7 pm

Walk-in Painting: Pottery, Canvas, Glass, Wood, Tote Bags, Hats | Wet Paint Art Studio | 5 pm

First Friday Fine Arts Flea Market | Downtown Las Cruces | 5 - 10 pm

Mary Daniels Taylor's Photographs of Mesilla | Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site | 2 - 3 pm

Back to School BBQ Bash | Plaza de Las Cruces | 4 - 11 pm | with the 575 Band and Dzaki Sukarno.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation - Las Cruces Chapter Big Game Banquet | Hotel Encanto | 5 pm | Tickets | The biggest night of the year for elk country supporters.

Green and Gold Wild West Gala | Mayfield Trojan Football | New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum | 6 - 11 pm | Live Entertainment, Auction, Games, Door Prizes

A Celestial Evening; Kayaking & Native storytelling/interpretation of the Night Sky | Caballo Lake State Park | 6:30 - 9:30 pm

TIERRA (Legacy Continues) & SUNNY OZUNA & SaxAttitude | Las Cruces Convention Center | 8 pm | Oldies show and Dance Party

iGran BAILAZO! | NMSU Pan American Center | 8 pm | A night of norteño and regional Mexican music with the dance floor open all night. All ages welcome — kids 12 & under free. Tickets

Weekend Wine Shuttle | Mesilla Valley Wine & Brew Tours | 11:15 am - 5 pm | Now this is how you enjoy tasting new wines without worrying about the driving!

Wood Burning Workshop | Assembly Craft Studio | 1 - 3 pm

👉 There’s so much more….Be sure to check our Events Calendar and Live Music events and weekly recurring events like the farmers & crafts markets.

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Cruces Car Show Fiesta | Sisbarro GMC/575 Cars | August 22nd | 9 am - 1 pm

The Hatch Chile Festival is on September 5th & 6th 🌶

Public Lands Palooza | BLM | September 12th, 9 am - 12 pm | BLM celebrating their 80th anniversary and America’s 250th.

Mudd Volleyball Tournament | Blue Moon Bar & Grill | September 19th | Register now | Benefit for Big Brother/Big Sister of New Mexico.

Doña Ana Mountain Bike Race 2026 | FYZICAL | October 30th | Registration Opens August 01st.

Clown Bar | Black Box Theatre/No Strings Theatre Company | Runs through August 9th

Come From Away | LCCT | August 7th-23rd

Mr Burns | Blank Conversations Theatre Company | Rio Grande Theatre | August 21st-30th

Tiny Beautiful Things | Black Box Theatre/No Strings Theatre Company | Sep 18-Oct 04, 2026

✅ Las Cruces Community Theatre (LCCT) currently has a 20% discount on season tickets. More Info

See our events calendar for Artist & Gallery Shows

*Artists and Galleries add your shows to our calendar! We love sharing the Arts!

City of Las Cruces Senior Recreation Program Calendar.

Also check our online events calendar for more.

"New to Las Cruces or craving real connections?

Our Dinner Club is the perfect mix: personality-matched tables, amazing food, and genuine conversations that turn strangers into fast friends.

Newcomers feel at home immediately. Locals leave loving this community even more.

Wednesday, August 19th • 5:30 pm

Forget fancy chefs — the real stars of Men Who Cook are your neighbors, doctors, and local business owners, all trading their day jobs for aprons for one night in the name of a seriously good cause.

Mesilla Valley Hospice's biggest fundraiser of the year takes over the Las Cruces Convention Center (680 E University Ave) on Saturday, August 15, 6–10 pm, and it's shaping up to be one of the most fun nights out in town: generous tastings from local "kitchen heroes," live entertainment, a packed silent auction, and a superhero theme running through the whole evening.

Here's what makes it more than just a good time — every dollar raised helps Mesilla Valley Hospice care for families at the end of life, whether they can afford it or not. That's the kind of "feel-good" that actually means something.

They're still rounding out this year's lineup of cooks and sponsors, so if you've got a signature dish or a business that likes showing up for the community:

Want to cook? Call Staci Mays at 575-642-8338 or email [email protected]
Want to sponsor? Call Tamara Blaeser at 575-649-0898 or email [email protected]

However you show up — apron on or checkbook out — you're helping our neighbors get cared for when it matters most. Now that's a Saturday night worth clearing your calendar for.

More Info

* We put the spotlight on local businesses because we are committed to celebrating the innovation, dedication, and community impact of the entrepreneurs who strengthen our local economy. Submit your suggestions.

New on Main Street: Kandle Karma Candle Bar is open

Kerry Carmona started pouring candles at the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market years ago. Now she’s got a full walk-in candle bar in a bigger downtown spot.

Stop by 221 N. Main St, Suite K and make your own candle, browse local-made goods, or just hang out in the new space. Clean ingredients, good vibes, and zero boring gift-shop energy.

They’re open and pouring. Go light something up.

Contact & Hours
Phone: (575) 649-9344
Website: https://www.kandlekarmaetc.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/KandleKarma
Instagram: @kandlekarma

* We put the spotlight on local businesses because we are committed to celebrating the innovation, dedication, and community impact of the entrepreneurs who strengthen our local economy. Submit your suggestions.

Real talk: 10,000+ locals open this newsletter for exactly one reason — to figure out where to spend their money in Las Cruces. Restaurants, dentists, Home Services, you name it. More than half of them open every single issue (most email lists would kill for a third of that).

I keep ad space deliberately scarce — just a few slots per issue, one business per category — so the folks who get in actually get noticed. A couple of those slots just opened up.

If you've been lighting money on fire with Facebook ads, consider this your sign.

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Stay cool, the summer is almost over and temps should be lower soon! Just ignore the 108 degrees today 🤣