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Visit Las Cruces’ annual ¡Mira! Las Cruces fest kicks-off its second year with an expanded presence in the heart of downtown and an all-new live performance lineup. The event is designed to highlight the city’s art and culture, cuisine, outdoor recreation, sights and sounds.
The festival is from 2-9 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Plaza de Las Cruces and downtown Main Street with live performances on the Robert V. Estrada stage. It is free for all ages.
Headlining is Grupo Control, a norteño, cumbia group based in Houston, Texas. They are set to take the stage from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Members have ties to the borderland region, and their music reflects the culture and community in Las Cruces and the surrounding area. They refer to themselves as Los Reyes de la Cumbia (The Kings of Cumbia) and were founded in the late 90s. The group has 812,000 followers on Facebook with millions of videos views on the same platform.
New Mexico State University’s cover band, Proud Pete, returns as the opener for this year’s headliner. Back by popular demand, dance lessons by Sol Ballroom will follow, getting the crowd ready to dance before Grupo Control takes the stage.
“The turnout for last year’s event was amazing and surpassed all expectations,” Visit Las Cruces Executive Director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez stated in a new release. “This year, with the expanded activities and the very popular headlining act Grupo Control, we expect an even better visitor experience and community response.”
The festival kicks off at 2 p.m. with performances from local high school cheer groups, Silence Disruptors and Danza Azteca Cuitlahuac. Live entertainment will continue throughout the day with several ballet folklorico performances and Mariachi Jaliciense.
Debuting at ¡Mira! Las Cruces is a radio-controlled hot air balloon exhibit. The 20 ft.-tall balloons will take flight at 5 p.m. with a balloon glow once the sun goes down prior to Grupo Control taking the stage.
Other activities include a chalk art competition, Kids Can vendors, an expanded Farmers and Crafts Market experience, community mural, Puppy Petting Zoo with adoptable pets, luchadores, car show and off-road vehicle display and more. The Rio Grande Theatre will have a special screening of “The Book of Life” at 5 p.m. with a shadow cast by A Children’s Theatre of the Mesilla Valley (ACT). For those who are unaware, a shadow cast is a live performance by amateur actors or theatre companies in tandem with the on-screen actors during the movie showing.
The food truck fiesta area returns with more food and drink options and a live DJ. A beer and wine garden will be located near the main stage and open during the entirety of the event.
The city will be shutting down Main Street at 5 p.m. April 26 from the north roundabout to Bowman Avenue, as well as Las Cruces and Griggs avenues.
The Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market will move to Sunday, April 28; however, many vendors will attend ¡Mira! Las Cruces on April 27 for the expanded “Farmers Market Experience” lining Main Street.
There is limited seating for the festival, so visitors are allowed to bring chairs. Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must be leashed.
The full ¡Mira! Las Cruces festival schedule is available at VisitLasCruces.com/Mira. The schedule and entertainment lineup are subject to change.
