“Ruidoso Mescalero Apache Honor Day Festival”

Mountain Entertainment Group for the Arts

“Ruidoso Mescalero Apache Honor Day Festival”

Saturday, May 31st from 10 AM — 7 PM

FREE ADMISSION!

The festival will be set up at the beautiful, tree covered Country Club Park in Midtown @ the corner of 2180 Sudderth Dr. & Country Club, just as you enter the midtown shopping district from the east.

The festival will start at 10 AM with a Unity & Honor Gathering on the stage and the artisan and food vendors will be open. The on-stage gathering will begin with a prayer and Apache Hymn, followed by welcoming tribal, local, county and state leadership. Hosts will honor the Mescalero Apache Tribe, followed by a brief multicultural and historical presentations.

Live music will be performed on stage all day along with Native American artisans from many tribes and states who will set up in tepees and tents selling their artwork and handcrafted items. Among those will be featured artists, Raul Davis, Jordan Torres and Lindsey Shakespeare. Each of these artists has been invited to exhibit in various museums and the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market.

We are honored to have them participate, along with a growing list of phenomenally talented artisans. In the coming weeks, we will be posting individual bios and artwork from many of the artisans who will be exhibiting and selling their work. Whether you’re interested in Native American jewelry, paintings, photography, clothing, handcrafted cultural items, or books, the artisan booths will have that and more!

The Lee Pike War Dance Group will be performing at scheduled times as well as Mescalero Apache Cultural & Historical Presentations in a tepee and an immersive Mescalero Apache Cultural Presentation with a Q & A session by artist, Lindsey Shakespeare at her booth. 

The J & S Stage will be featuring well known, award-winning musicians from various genres. We are excited to have three-time Grammy Winner and Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Miller, Mohican from Nashville and the award-winning Navajo Blues musician, “Levi Platero” as co-headliners!
The remaining live music lineup is incredible featuring The Riverwinds, songwriters and national award-winning musicians from Knoxville, Tennessee, Native Flute Player, Lanny Maddox, award winning Blues band, Sam Barlow and the high energy Country Punk and Hillbilly Rock sounds from the Doso Dirt Bags.

We’re looking forward to having Dr. Munchies y Mas famous food truck and multiple Native American Food Vendors will be set up around the park. Just follow the aroma to Steak Tortas…Pastor Tacos…Fry Bread…Red Chili Posole…Indian Tacos…Apache Chili...Lemonade, baked goods, snow cones, pickles and soft drinks will keep us snacking all day!!!

This event is just one more example of why Ruidoso won USA TODAY’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Small Town Cultural Scene!

So whether you have to board a plane…pack the car, or walk around the block…you won’t want to miss the “Ruidoso Mescalero Apache Honor Day Festival”!