Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

What you should know before heading to the Southern New Mexico State Fair

LAS CRUCES – Fair season is coming to a close in the next few weeks, but not before the Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo returns to the Las Cruces fairgrounds. Livestock showing, rodeo events, live music, carnival rides and deep-fried food is back this week. Here’s what to know ahead of time.

When and where is the fair?

The 2022 fair will be held Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds, 12125 Robert Larson Blvd., off Interstate 10. The fair will open to the public each day from:

  • 9am-10pm, Wednesday, Sept. 28
  • 9am-10pm, Thursday, Sept. 29
  • 9 am-midnight, Friday, Sept. 30
  • 9 am-midnight, Saturday, Oct. 1
  • 9am-6pm, Sunday, Oct. 2

The carnival starts weekdays at 6 pm and weekends at 1 pm

How much are tickets?

Tickets for adults ages 15 and up are $15 while tickets for children between 7 and 14 are $10. Children 6 and under will be admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or ahead of time online at snmstatefairgrounds.net.

General admission tickets include access to all exhibits, rodeo events, concerts and other entertainment.

What kind of general entertainment is planned?

Frazier Shows will provide the carnival fun this year with rides, games and favorite carnival foods. Fans of motocross stunts will have the chance to watch professional riders with Brigade FMX Freestyle Motocross perform backflips and other aerial tricks.

Puppy Pals Comedic Stunt Dog Show, popularized by an appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” will perform with rescue dogs — a show for the whole family.

Puppy Pals Comedic Stunt Dog Show will be at the 2022 Southern New Mexico State Fair.

Sam Malcolm, comedy juggling all-star, will both shock you and make you laugh with his juggling talents and wit.

Members of the entire family can enjoy playing inside giant inflatable soccer balls or in the Foam Zone’s bubbles provided by Powerplayz.

And no fair is complete without a petting zoo featuring goats, a kangaroo, camel and more. Plus, kids have the chance to ride a pony at Noah’s Way Petting Zoo and Pony Rides.

Other special events include:

  • Sept 30: Sip and Shop Wine Tasting hosted by Lescombes Family Vineyards
  • october 1: Model A Ford Display by Borderland A’s Model A Ford Club
  • october 1: Fourth Annual Stick Horse Race, open to kids of all ages

Food and craft vendors will also be set up throughout the fair, offering drinks, funnel cake, ribbon fries and deep-fried concoctions.

What is the music lineup?

Three stages inside the grounds will feature musical guests of all genres. The schedule:

Thursday

  • 6pm – Jimmy Trio, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 6 pm – Dylan Taylor, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 9pm – 575 Band, Coors Pavilion

friday

  • 4:30pm – Skivi Meredith and Isaac Arellano, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 7pm – Proud Pete Band, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 9pm – Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Coors Pavilion
  • 9 pm – Kenny Arroyos & Washtub Jerry, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 9:30pm – Theory 7, Bravo Mic Stage

Saturday

  • Noon—Jim Carlile, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 2 pm – Michelle’s Dance Academy, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 3pm – Dance Divas, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 4 pm – Creosote, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 4:30pm – Ballet Folklorico, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 6 pm – CW Ayon and the Longchairs, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 6:30 pm – Dallas David Ochoa, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 9pm – William Michael Morgan, Coors Pavilion
  • 9 pm – Kenny Arroyos & Washtub Jerry, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 9:30pm – Unlyshed, Bravo Mic Stage

Sunday

  • Noon – Bill Harris Steel Drums, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 1:30pm – Bill Harris Steel Drums, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage
  • 1:30pm – Ballet Folklorico, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 3pm – Guitar Slim, Bravo Mic Stage
  • 3 pm – Clinton Wilcox, Nusenda Credit Union Center Stage

What is the rodeo schedule?

  • 7 pm, Sept. 29 – Traditional Ranch Rodeo
  • 7 pm, Sept 20 – Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competitions
  • 7pm, Oct. 1 – PRCA competitions
  • Noon, Oct. 2 – open barrel racing

Rodeo events will take over the Pete Dominici Arena for four nights during the fair. Teams of four or five people will compete against each other the first night completing ranch work events similar to the daily work they take on at their home ranches.

Contestants will go head-to-head Friday and Saturday bucking and roping animals in the hopes of winning the $2,000 per PRCA event. Finally, cowgirls will compete Sunday afternoon showing off their agility skills in the open barrel racing event.

Admission to rodeo events is included with the purchase of general admission tickets.

Andrew Arroyos, 14, with this sheep, Levi, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021 at the 2021 Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo.

What exhibits will be shown?

Livestock showing and judging will take place throughout Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, culminating in the Junior Livestock Sale Friday evening, at 6 pm Sept. 30. Student scholarships will be awarded during this time. Fairgoers will have the chance to get up close to the animals all week and weekend.

Other competitions involving quilts, a baking contest, crazy hats contest, adult and youth ag and creative competitions, 4-H indoor exhibits, the queen and princess contest, schools and organizations competitions, agricultural public speaking, agricultural science fair and an antique tractor show .

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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

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