Otero County Memorial Day: BBQ, Art, and Adventure!

Mountains to White White Sands OterobCounty Welcomes Visitors Memorial Day Weekend with culture, art and food!Photo by2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org

If one reads the headlines of high wind conditions and fire dangers, the village government of Cloudcroft losing significant staff and more some may be concerned if they should come to Otero County and celebrate this weekend? The answer is yes absolutely, the small businesses of Otero County are open for business.

The Village of Cloudcroft main businesses are geared up and eagerly awaiting your arrival to include a special 9th Anniversary celebration Given the popularity of Mad Jacks BBQ in Cloudcroft for the first time this year, they’ll have their bbq trailer (aka ‘the shack’) under the pavilion open for this weekend in addition to the restaurant and they will have live music! If you don’t like the main buildings long lines, stop by and give it a try. It’ll be open from 11am-7pm Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday. Come on up to the mountaintop, relax and enjoy some good tunes, a cold drink, great bbq and maybe even make some new friends!

Mad Jacks BBQ one of many fine stops in CloudcroftPhoto byMad Jacks 2nd Life Media

Do you enjoy art and culture? The 51st Annual May Fair Juried Art Fair will be May 25 – 26 at Zenith Park in Cloudcroft. The art festival features work from over 20 artists. There will be a variety of art pieces that guests can browse and purchase and of course all of the downtown shops and more are open as well as beautiful hiking in the surrounding mountain trails.

Ruidoso’s many galleries and restaurants are all open and inviting and of course lots of activities at the Mescalero Apache properties and the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Visitors can relax and take in gorgeous views or get out and enjoy a myriad of activities like horseback riding, hiking, fishing, paddle boating and kayaking. There’s also a sporting clay range, an arcade, one of the country’s top-rated golf courses and exhilarating zip line rides at both the Inn of the Mountain Gods and its sister resort, Ski Apache. When the sun goes down, world-class entertainment awaits to include performances this weekend by Mark Chestnutt on May 25th. Two-step the night away with country legend Mark Chesnutt at Inn of the Mountain Gods! Don’t miss your chance to sing along to honky-tonk classics like “Too Cold at Home” and “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” live on stage.

Gabriel Iglesias – May 26 (ADDED SHOW) and May 27 (SOLD OUT)
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias takes the stage at Inn of the Mountain Gods May 26 and 27. Performing since 1997, Iglesias has produced five stand-up television specials, has headlined comedy festivals across the world including the second-ever Amman Stand-up Comedy Festival in Jordan and has landed hilarious cameos in some of Hollywood’s biggest films like “Magic Mike XXL.” Often applauded for his family-friendly brand of “nice guy” comedy, covering everything from obesity to the comfort of Hawaiian shirts, Iglesias will have audiences laughing when he gets behind the mic at Inn of the Mountain Gods on May 26 and May 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at InnoftheMountainGods.com.

Memorial Day Bash at Ski Apache – May 28
After wrapping up the ski season in April, Ski Apache will kick off summer operations with a Memorial Day Bash on Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy local food and craft vendors, live music and plenty of family fun. Bring the family for an afternoon complete with inflatable attractions like hose hockey, oversized inflatable darts, and the agility challenge Jacob’s ladder. Conquer the 28 foot climbing wall, or go to battle in the Nerf® arena complete with Nerf® weapons and ammunition. Unlimited access to the Memorial Day Bash games/obstacles can be purchased for $15, or $5 per game/obstacle. Gondola rides can be purchased for the regular price of $18 for adults, $12 for children, $6 for seniors (70+) and are free for children 5 and under. Memorial Day Bash also marks the opening of Ski Apache’s summer operations including disc golf and over seven miles of mountain bike trails. Visit SkiApache.com for more details.

And of course in Alamogordo, you can’t miss White Sands National Park, the unique downtown shops of Roadrunner Galleria, Victoria Alamogordo and pottery making at ClayTime Pottery on New York Avenue.

Murals of New York Avenue Alley Way Project Alamogordo Cultural Arts DistrictPhoto by2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org

New York Avenue Mural WalksPhoto by2nd Life Media

Then get your art groove on and walk the New York Avenue alley way to see cool local murals and community gardens, then walk or ride down to 12th and New York at 1209 New York and take a 2 minute glance at outdoor root art sculptures, to include the chimney of Studio Q and then pop down 12th Street crossing at 1118 Indiana and check out the Gallery and free exhibition of Otero Arts in the historic Alamogordo Women’s Club. It is free and open 1 to 4

Free public gallery 1 to 4 pm Thursday thru SundayPhoto by2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org

Come check out the beauty of the region around Alamogordo and Otero County with its mountains and White Sands this Memorial Day weekend 2o24!