Good morning, Las Cruces.

Visit Las Cruces hosts the free 4th Annual MIRA! event today from 6 to 9 p.m. at Downtown Plaza, 100 N.

Main Street, featuring local bands and food trucks. Also, Saturday brings an arts market at Old Mesilla Plaza, document shredding at Walmart, and Tuesday mountain bike rides in April.

The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico acts as a hub where volunteers match donors with local needs, supporting education, health care, and the arts.

Volunteers like Michelle Roybal and Christine Hyde show that small acts such as sorting materials and writing notes build a stronger community (and spark new hope).

Dress the Child of Las Cruces will host its first fundraising golf tournament on Friday, May 1 at the NMSU golf course (3000 Herb Wimberly Drive) where teams of four play 18 holes; registration begins at 7 a.m. with tee off at 8 a.m.

A family that moved from Utah in August brought close relatives and soon found comfort in Las Cruces’ strong community spirit—local events like farmers’ markets and youth sports show neighbors supporting one another during hard times.

Emma Jean Christensen, a senior at Organ Mountain High School, runs a whimsical craft business selling handmade macramé angels + wooden ornaments at the Farmers Market until summer and will soon leave for a church mission trip, crediting her family and church youth groups for her growth.

Las Cruces hosted a town hall for business owners along the El Paseo corridor to review programs offering Storefront Repair and Safety Improvement Grants as well as assistance for hazardous sites (such as cleaning up biohazards and addressing encampments).

Owners are encouraged to contact Economic Development for details.

Klein Park is a historic block-long green space in the Mesquite Street Original Townsite Historic District that was deeded as a park in 1939 to honor former mayor Samuel Klein and has hosted boxing matches, fiestas, and community events since the mid-1800s.

Las Cruces native Corina Portillo—a mother of three studying business at NMSU—received the 2026 Live Your Dream Career and Training Award and now works to help others overcome challenges.

Fourteen recruits completed a rigorous 23‑week program at Doña Ana Fire Rescue academy that offered EMT, hazardous materials, and other certifications.

During the training — despite personal challenges and losses — they pushed through and graduated with skills and commitment to serve.

Three Hillrise Elementary fifth graders in the gifted program won a New Mexico state championship in the Presidential AI Challenge for their app idea, Snack Alternatives - which suggests healthier food options by generating recipes and grocery lists and taught them how real AI works.

Financial experts advise residents to begin building an emergency fund by saving a modest $500 for unexpected costs.

They suggest automating transfers to a dedicated savings account — a prudent step for consistent progress.

La Viña Spring Wine Festival 2026

Noon-7 p.m. — La Viña Winery, Inc. — $30 admission — Sample over 20 exquisite wines at this annual celebration of spring.

Blessing of the Fields - 26th Anniversary

10-11 a.m. — New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum — Free entry — Celebrate tradition with a vibrant procession at the annual Blessing of the Fields.

2026 Memorial Day Weekend New Mexico Wine Festival

Noon-6 p.m. — Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo — Cost varies — Celebrate Memorial Day with local wines, food trucks, and live music.