Reposted from the Las Cruces Bulletin, April 1, 2011
Theaters, museums, farmers market has record number
If you haven’t been Downtown lately, you might just be in the minority. As the revitalization of the heart of our city continues, the number of local and out-of-town visitors who frequented the area this past fiscal year climbed to almost 300,000. What did this hoard of visitors do while they were Downtown?
Theaters. According to Peter and Ceil Herman, owners of the Black Box Theatre, 4,000 guests attended No Strings Theatre Company and other performances during the 2010-11 fiscal year. Las Cruces Community Theatre President P.J. Waggaman reported that last season’s performances attracted 5,500 theatergoers. Attendance was also high at the Rio Grande Theatre, where, according to manager David Salcido, more than 21,000 men, women and children attended one or more of the various plays and performances offered during the year.
Museums. According to City of Las Cruces Museum Administrator Will Ticknor, more than 121,000 area residents and visitors toured Downtown area museums during the past year. The Museum of Art attracted more than 61,000 art lovers of all kinds, while more than 46,000 visitors attended events at the Branigan Cultural Center. During the same period, more than 13,000 history buffs visited the Railroad Museum. The Natural History Museum, which is currently located in Mesilla Valley Mall and scheduled to move Downtown next year, attracted an additional 152,000 visitors.
Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market. Ranked No. 1 in New Mexico and No. 9 nationally, according to market manager Eric Montgomery, the market attracts approximately 1,000 attendees each Wednesday and upwards of 4,000 to 5,000 visitors each Saturday – a total of around 130,000 shoppers annually.
First Friday Art Ramble. According to my fuzzy math, approximately 200 to 250 art aficionados tour Downtown art galleries the first Friday of each month – adding an additional 2,400 visitors to the annual total.
SalsaFest. The Downtown Las Cruces Partnership (DLCP) estimates that 4,000 area residents and visitors attended last summer’s second annual SalsaFest. This year’s event, scheduled for Aug. 28, will be held in conjunction with the kickoff of New Mexico’s Centennial Celebration and is expected to draw upwards of 5,000 to 10,000 attendees.
Winterfest. The DLCP reports that more than 1,000 individuals and families attended December’s second annual Winterfest, which celebrates the holiday season at different venues in and around the Downtown area.
In addition to the dollars spent by visitors to the Downtown area, Downtown business and property owners have invested more than $2 million remodeling, opening and/or expanding their Downtown area businesses.