The eighth annual festival will open Saturday, Sept. 19, with two events looking at space from very different perspectives.
Source: Visit Las Cruces (via Facebook)
Photos: Courtesy
The Las Cruces Space Festival returns Sept. 19-26 with eight days of art, astronomy, science and exploration spread across Las Cruces and southern New Mexico.
The eighth annual festival will open Saturday, Sept. 19, with two events looking at space from very different perspectives.
The Space Art Show Opening and Awards Ceremony begins at 5 p.m., featuring 74 works submitted by 36 artists along with nearly 100 student posters from Conlee, Doña Ana, Tombaugh, Columbia and University Hills elementary schools and Organ Mountain High School.
At 6 p.m., the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces will participate in NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. Members will provide telescopes for public viewing of the Moon and visible planets, and visitors may bring their own telescopes for help using them.
The festival’s “Space Unites Us” art exhibition continues through Oct. 4 at The Hood, with regular hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Space Takes Over the Week
Space Trivia Night is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, with space-themed competition and prizes.
NMSU takes a larger role Friday, Sept. 25. NMSU Astronomy Night begins at 4:30 p.m. with family activities, including making a meteor, visiting the planetarium and learning about astronomy.
At 6 p.m., the Challenger Learning Center of Las Cruces will open one of its simulated space missions to the general public. Participants can take on the roles of astronauts, scientists and engineers while completing a mission through the solar system.
The Challenger mission is open to all ages and free, but registration is required and space is limited.
A Big Saturday Finale
The festival concludes Saturday, Sept. 26, with events stretching across southern New Mexico.
Spaceport America opens its doors to the public beginning at 9 a.m. for its 2026 Open House. The family-oriented event will feature rockets and aircraft, speakers, hands-on STEM activities, exhibits and food vendors. Admission is free, with tickets available in advance.
Back in Las Cruces, the Museum of Nature and Science begins its Space Fest activities at 10 a.m. with hands-on programs and giveaways exploring the history and future of space exploration in the region. Activities are open to all ages.
The week then finishes beneath a considerably larger ceiling.
White Sands National Park will hold a Full Moon Night beginning at 6:30 p.m., with live music, ranger programs and guest presenters and artists. The park will remain open two hours beyond its normal closing time, allowing visitors additional time to experience the dunes beneath the full moon.
Together, the events turn the Las Cruces Space Festival into something larger than a single gathering, connecting art, education, astronomy and southern New Mexico’s role in space exploration across an eight-day regional celebration.
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