Jeepers, creepers, its October and some of you are suffering from those summer festival blues, well don’t despair there are several events in store for the October 24-26 weekend that you don’t want to miss. People can watch the walking dead at the popular Zombie Walk; or learn about Ghosts of the Past at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum; or celebrate America’s favorite gourd at the Pumpkin Festival at the Mesilla Valley Corn Maze.
The walking dead will be taking over Main Street on Saturday, October 25th in downtown Las Cruces. Visitors are invited to attend the 5th Annual Zombie Walk which is one of the funniest and most popular events in the area. It’s a smash with zombies as well as the living, more than 1000 zombies participated last year and hundreds of onlookers were on-site to cheer for their favorite zombie. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. at 211 N. Main Street in front of the Rio Grande Theater. The walk begins at 7 p.m. Its $3 per participant and there is no cost for children under the age of 12. Discounts are available for groups. DJ’s Lynz and Jack Lutz from the Bravo Mic Radio station will be entertaining the crowd along with local Rock group, Conspiracy. The event will have “Zombie themed” outdoor movies; a beer garden; a kid’s craft booth, and various food vendors. An interactive art exhibit called, “Urban Farming Gone Wrong” by local artist Sebastin De La Cruz will be on sight. A zombie contest will ensue after the walk, categories are “Most Disgusting,” “Best Couple,” “Best Group,” “Most Original,” and “Sexiest.” A Zombie Queen and King will also be crowned for the event. Event proceeds benefit Community of Hope, High Heels for High Hope and New Mexico State University’s Student Pantry. For more information contact Russ Smith at (575) 640-8283 or visit their website http://projectmainstreetlc.org or find them on facebook, zombiewalklc.
If you prefer dealing with ghosts rather than zombies, then make plans to attend the Ghost of the Past event at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Visitors will be transported back in time to a variety of eras in New Mexico’s history to meet some of the state’s most historical ghosts. Various characters will interact with visitors on the indoor and outdoor tours. The weekend event is scheduled for October 24-25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children, tickets purchased on that weekend are $6 and $2. Tours are limited and fill up fast, so advance tickets are recommended for this popular event. Some combo tickets (indoor and outdoor) are available. Each tour last about one hour and 15 minutes. The start times for the indoor “ghost hunting” tours are: 6:00, 6:20, 6:40, 7:00, 7:20 and 7:40 p.m. The start times for the outdoor “time travel” tours are: 6:10, 6:30, 6:50, 7:10, 7:30, 7:50 and 8:00. For more information visit nmfarmandranchmuseum.org or call (575) 522-4100. The museum is located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road.
If you want something on the light side, parents and their children can enjoy the New Mexico Pumpkin Festival at The Mesilla Valley Corn Maze as they celebrate America's favorite gourd, the pumpkin. There is fun for the whole family, festivities begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 7 p.m. The event is scheduled for October 25-26 and there are several activities for families to enjoy throughout the day. Visitors can explore the giant corn maze; get their face painted; paint a few pumpkins; ride the giant slides; take a hayride to the pumpkin patch; participate in all playground the playground sets, and eat some scrumptious food from the onsite country store. There is also a pie eating contest; seed-spitting contest; coloring contest; pumpkin carving contest; guess the weight contest; rides on a horse-drawn carriage; pumpkin shuffleboard; live music; storytelling; the Pumpkin Glow and much more. Tickets are $10.95 for adults and $8.95 for children. Those under the age of two get in free. For more information visit www.newmexicopumpkinfestival.com or call (575) 522-1232.
The Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces offers visitors attending these events 20% off their best available rate, call them at (575) 522-4300 or 1-866-383-0433 to book reservations. Visit them online www.hotelencanto.com
For the third year in a row Zia Comics book store in Las Cruces is hosting Halloween ComicFest on Saturday October 25th from 12-4 p.m. It’s a day full of free comics, “The Greatest Halloween Costume Contest Ever,” games, and fun activities for comic and Halloween fanatics. During Halloween ComicFest, 19 new full-sized and mini comics will be available at the store for anyone who wants to participate. Costumed customers can also enter the in-store shopping spree contest sponsored by Diamond Comics. For more information visit www.halloweencomicfest.com or call (575) 405-04061. Zia Comics is located at 1300 El Paseo Suite E1 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The Mesilla Community Center located at 2251 Calle de Santiago is hosting the Mesilla Halloween Carnival from 6 to 9 p.m., on October 31st. The carnival includes a haunted house, games, drinks, a costume contest and pumpkin painting. For more information contact Irene Parra, Mesilla’s special events coordinator at (575) 524-3262 ext. 116 or visit their website at www.mesillanm.gov