DEMING – Plans are in place for the annual Old West Heritage Days celebration in Luna County, with a full schedule of rodeo events, live music, competitions, and family activities set for May 15th through May 17th at the Southwest New Mexico State Fairgrounds and additional activities scheduled at the Starmax parking lot in Deming.
Festival organizers say the three-day event will feature a variety of traditional western activities designed to highlight the region’s ranching culture and provide entertainment for residents and visitors throughout the weekend. Activities are planned across multiple locations, with events beginning Friday evening and continuing through Sunday.
Friday night will feature the Ranch Rodeo beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds, where working cowboys and cowgirls compete in events that reflect the daily responsibilities of ranch life. Teams will demonstrate skills such as trailer loading, stray gathering, sorting, and doctoring livestock, offering spectators a close look at the techniques used in real-world ranch operations across the region.
Saturday’s schedule includes competitive events such as Team Roping, where riders work in pairs to rope a steer in the fastest possible time. Organizers describe the competition as a test of precision, communication, and horsemanship that draws participants from across southern New Mexico and neighboring communities.
Families will also find youth-focused activities throughout the weekend. The Kids Timed Event Rodeo and Barrel Race are scheduled for Sunday morning, providing children an opportunity to participate in age-appropriate rodeo competitions while learning skills in a structured and supervised environment.
Live entertainment will also be part of the weekend lineup, including musical performances scheduled at both the fairgrounds and the Starmax parking lot, where additional community activities, vendors, and entertainment are expected to take place. Food vendors, exhibits, and a barbecue cook-off competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society are also planned, giving attendees a chance to sample local cooking and enjoy a range of festival-style attractions across both venues.
Organizers encourage residents to review the full schedule of events through the Old West Heritage Days website and social media pages, where updates and additional details will be posted as the event date approaches.
By John Krehbiel
Bravo Mic Communications, LLC
[email protected]
