The revitalization project in downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico continues to take shape, but that hasn’t stopped the activity. There are still great events taking place downtown. The following are excerpt from a recent report from Elmo Baca, Interim of the Director Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, published in the Las Cruces Bulletin September 24th issue.Everything’s coming up salsa
Las Cruces lived up to its caliente reputation on Sunday, Aug. 29, as thousands of local residents turned out on a Sunday afternoon to watch more than 20 “home style” salsa chefs concoct spicy condiments right on Main Street…With two stages and various food booths, sponsor’s booths, soft drink wagons, remote radio broadcasts, tents, umbrella tables, kid’s playground and other activities, Main Street was buzzing.
There’s clearly a hunger for good community entertainment and events in Las Cruces, and the SalsaFest seemed to appeal on some level to people of all ages. The event could at tract more people in the future and event organizers at the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership are already considering some changes and improvements for next year.
Downtown as a venue
It was interesting how popular the Zumba aerobic demonstrations were at SalsaFest, and also how the salsa music throbbing through the streets caused people to spontaneously shake their stuff…These are deep human instincts, and it’s vitally important for a city and downtown to provide and create this opportunity for civic engagement and fun… Some towns are blessed with historic and gracious plazas that can easily accommodate crowds. Others like Las Cruces must take advantage of street corridors, parking lots, alleyways and linked spaces to accommodate major events.
…Cultivating the “street ambiance” that welcomes people to the Las Cruces Downtown Farmers & Crafts Markets or a special event is a highly engineered and designed process that anticipates human comfort needs and also imagines new experiences that captivate and stimulate.
Historically, this street ambiance was created by a true marketplace where people came to town to shop for necessities, but soon canny entrepreneurs figured out that people also came to town for entertainment and company. The classic Wild West boomtowns offered saloons next door to livery stables and grocery stores. Today the marketplace has changed but human needs remain basically the same. An important function of a healthy downtown is to deliver entertainment.
Technology to the rescue
Recent innovations in technology have changed the way we celebrate and enjoy downtowns…Another popular event for Downtowns has been the screening of outdoor movies in parks and plazas or maybe on the side of a building. Modest digital projectors have made out door film festivals an inexpensive way to have fun downtown on balmy summer nights…This is a perfect time for Downtown Las Cruces to experiment with special event development and appeal to various audiences and constituencies in the community. The ongoing construction projects downtown lend an air of excitement and also perhaps the freedom to explore out-of-the box promotions that expand the events repertoire and calendar for the community.
Downtown special events on the horizon
The Downtown Las Cruces Partnership’s Marketing and Promotions Committee remains in high gear for the busy autumn and holiday seasons. The group is eager to test the potential of the nearly competed “La Placita” pedestrian park and is hoping to present the annual Downtown Gala on Oct. 29 in the new outdoor venue….The annual WinterFest celebration in early December that marks the lighting of the community Christmas tree and many other Downtown festivities.
Contact Picacho Mountain today at 575-523-2500 for more information about more about the downtown redevelopment and all that Las Cruces, New Mexico has to offer. Picacho Mountain features Southern New Mexico’s premier Custom Homes, Patio Homes, Town Homes, Neighborhood Retail, and more!
