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The Las Cruces Space Festival is an annual celebration of space-related activity and interest in southern New Mexico and beyond. The mission is “Making Space for Everyone,” The festival is free to participate in, and open to all, with the cost of activities, presentations, displays, and exhibits all covered by sponsors.
The festival works with many partner organizations across the community – ranging from the public schools, local universities and colleges, space industry, arts, and cultural groups, and many others – to provide an event for people of all ages and interests. The aim is to raise awareness and celebrate space-related activity and achievements in the region – past, present, and future – and for people to have fun, learn about new possibilities, and get inspired and excited by the various elements of the festival and associated activities in the region.
The 2022 Las Cruces Space Festival runs April 7-10 in locations across the city and at Spaceport America.
The festival features a pop-up art exhibit called “Across Space” at the Mesilla Valley Mall, which features original artwork by local artists. Also displayed are the finalists from the 2022 K-12 Poster Contest that was won by Alice D., a second grader from Sonoma Elementary School. Alice’s drawing is featured on the official 2022 Las Cruces Space Festival poster.
On Friday, April 8, the Broken Spoke Taphouse is hosting the Big Space Quiz trivia night starting 5.30 p.m. The top trivia team will have the chance to win a Celestron telescope. A raffle will also run throughout the festival with the grand prize being a StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ telescope, valued at $479.95.
On Saturday, April 9, STEAM activities will be held from 9 a.m.to noon on Plaza de Las Cruces which are aimed at engaging all ages and interests in space science. The Challenger Learning Center of Las Cruces will be running two missions to Mars at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. In the evening of Saturday, April 9, astronomy will be celebrated with a moongazing event led by the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces and sponsored by Celestron from 7-9 p.m. on the Plaza de Las Cruces.
Free sci-fi movies will be running at the Rio Grande Theater every night at 7 p.m. sponsored by Moon Cheese. Movie goers will all receive a free sample of Moon Cheese. The lineup includes “Gravity” on April 7, “Interstellar” on April 8, “Space Camp” as the matinee movie at noon on April 9, and “2001: A Space Odyssey” as the evening movie at 7 p.m. on April 9.
The Mesilla Valley Swing Band, under the direction of Dr. Jim Helder, will give a show at the Downtown Las Cruces stage at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9. The performance is specifically dedicated to NASA.
Southern New Mexico shares a rich history with space exploration, from the early developments by Robert Goddard in the 1930s, to the rocket launches from 1946 onwards at White Sands Missile Range. This history is explored in the Ranches to Rockets exhibit at the Farm and Ranch Museum running throughout the festival.
The Las Cruces Space Festival is about celebrating history, showcasing the work that is going on in this region, the talent we have in the state of New Mexico, and inspiring the next generation with the possibilities of the future.
For more information visit lcspacefestival.com.
