Frank Ray headlines April 29 event highlighting area’s culture, music, food, more

Visit Las Cruces presents ¡mira! Las Cruces, a free, family-friendly festival highlighting the art and culture, cuisine, music and outdoor recreation that make the city and its surrounding communities one of a kind.

The festival is from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Plaza de Las Cruces and free for all ages. Local talent and rising country star Frank Ray returns to headline the spring festival.


Homegrown talent, and rising country star Frank Ray will headline ¡mira! Las Cruces with supporting acts with Rodeo Norteño and NMSU’s Proud Pete cover band.


Ray will take the Plaza’s main stage with opening acts Rodeo Norteño and Proud Pete, New Mexico State University’s official cover band. There will be additional live performances highlighting local talents starting at 2 p.m. and throughout the day.

Ray is a country artist and songwriter, born and raised in southern New Mexico. He quickly garnered regional and commercial success as a result of his weekend gigs and eventually able to leave his day job as a Las Cruces police officer to pursue music. His rising profile took him to Texas, where he is currently signed with BBR Music Group. In 2021, Ray’s single "Country'd Look Good on You" entered the top 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts and he performed live at the Grand Ole Opry. Ray has been named one of Pandora’s Artists to Watch as well as a CMT Next Up Now artist. He’s toured nationally with artists like Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore, LANCO, Old Dominion and Hunter Hayes.


¡mira! Las Cruces, a free, family-friendly festival, is set for 2-10 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at Plaza de Las Cruces, Rio Grande Theatre and downtown Main Street. The Chile Drop chile is even slated to make a special appearance.


Prior to the main acts taking the stage, attendees will get a chance to experience live art and mural painting, interactive booths, dance lessons on the Plaza, performances at the Rio Grande Theatre, a car show, chalk art and more. There also will be food and drink vendors and a beer and wine garden. The complete schedule will be announced closer to the event.

¡mira! Las Cruces invites everyone to "look" and experience all the great things the city has to offer. The festival is meant to encourage tourism from outside the region and provide a vibrant community celebration locals can be proud of. Event planners, travel writers, and social media influencers from across the country also will be in attendance.

“We’re embracing the opportunity to give visitors a taste of what Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley has to offer all wrapped up in a single event,” Visit Las Cruces Director Rochelle Miller-Hernandez said. “We have the best New Mexican cuisine, the most scenic landscapes with countless recreation opportunities, a variety of talented performers, and a rich history of arts and culture within the region. ¡mira! Las Cruces will showcase it all.”

For updates and more information on ¡mira! Las Cruces, click here.