Local arts org gets grant to boost Renaissance Faire

The Doña Ana Arts Council received $10,000 state grant to market the upcoming Renaissance Faire happening in Young Park, 850 Walnut Ave., November 8 and 9.

Karrie Porter, executive director of Doña Ana Arts Council, said the grant will enable DAAC to reach more tourists and beguile them to visit Las Cruces during one of the best times of year, season-wise, to be here.

“We can market [using the grant] in other parts of the state,” Porter said.

DAAC will work with the New Mexico Tourism Department to put together and implement a marketing plan for Fall 2025 to better reach an audience.

“Events, fairs and festivals are essential drivers of tourism for communities of all sizes throughout New Mexico,” said Acting Secretary Lancing Adams. “We’re excited to get to work in helping a cohort of new and returning partners who wish to activate tourism through special events.”

DAAC is working on improving the online ticketing experience as well as at the gate and reviewing infrastructure and security.

She said the tourism campaign will bring people who will be buying meals from restaurants, visiting other attractions and stay in hotels.

“It will inspire [out-of-state] people to see more of the area,” Porter said. “Come to Las Cruces and try to plan for fall, see how the leaves change in the valley when the pecan trees go golden.”

Porter said the Renaissance Faire has been taking place for decades in Las Cruces and will contain everything from renaissance-dressed actors to jousters to artists showing their wares. The Faire event even contains a mermaid who will lay out her tail in the desert.

“She is a legitimate marine biologist who tells great stories about sea life and marine stuff,” Porter said.

Porter said the Faire used to attract as many as 10,000 visitors a day. She said the number of attendees reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she said she expects a great crowd to come out this year.

Porter said the Faire will include many things, such as a team of equestrians from Colorado to joist, two different royal courts, both ensemble and individual music, a magician and a Folklorico dance company, among many other treats.

She said even attendees get dressed up for the event and show up in Renaissance costume.

Porter said that, traditionally, the Renaissance Faire takes place the first weekend of November, but this year that would have coincided with Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos celebrations.

“It was important us to honor local traditions and shift the weekend to a little later,” she said.

So for this year only, the Faire will take place on the second weekend of November. Porter said next year, Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos will not occur on the first weekend of November.

Porter said applications are open for artist vendors and nonprofits to participate. She said DAAC hopes to have as many as 30 food vendors and 100 booths for artists.

“Our deadline for full participation is the middle of August,” Porter said.

Porter said that, in addition to the Renaissance Faire, DAAC hosts exhibits, holds classes and holds a monthly open poetry mic night. For more info: www.daarts.org