As someone who loves collecting art, and traveling, one of my favorite ways to plan a weekend trip is by searching for art festivals near me. Every January, I sit down with a map, make a list of towns I want to visit, and then build weekend getaways around art events.
My great-grandparents lived in Ruidoso, and I hadn’t been since I was a kid. So, I traveled to Ruidoso specifically for the Ruidoso Art and Wine Festival. What a great excuse to get re-acquainted with the town!
We arrived at the Ruidoso Convention Center around 10:30 a.m., which turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made. There wasn’t a crowd yet, parking was close and easy, and most artists had time to chat. If you enjoy talking with artists and taking your time to really appreciate the art rather than squeezing through crowds, I highly recommend getting there early.
Since we didn’t do the wine tasting (too early for us), we were able to focus entirely on exploring the artists and looking at original artwork.
We were only there for about an hour, but the experience surprised me in a good way.
If you’re wondering whether the Ruidoso Art & Wine Festival is worth attending, here’s what we experienced. I’ll cover the admission price, what kinds of artwork you’ll find, whether it’s worth the cost, and my favorite artists from the show.
The relaxed pace made it easy to browse and chat with artists without feeling rushed.
Festival Information
- Admission: $10
- Location: Ruidoso Convention Center
- Time We Visited: 10:30 a.m.
- Time Spent: 1 hour
- Best For: Original Art Lovers, Couple, Tourists
- Wine Tasting: Available for $20/per person
First Impressions
Normally art festivals seem to be very busy. I get overwhelmed easily and then rush through the festival instead of taking my own advice. But the Ruidoso Art Festival was surprisingly low key. Normally, it sounds like a negative to have a quiet art festival, but this turned out to
Since there weren’t as many people filling the aisles, almost every artist had time to chat with us. I didn’t feel any pressure to keep on moving quickly to rush and “get out of the way” of others. Instead, I was able to take my time, browse, and relax.
It must have been less crowded because it was early. It made for easy parking, plenty of room to get around the building, easy to navigate, and we never waited to view the artist booths.
This was easily one of my most favorite art festivals I have attended. The mountain town, the friendliness of the artists, the ease of location all attributed to the experience. I felt like I was getting a private showing from many of the artists.
What Kind of Art Will You Find?
There was a surprising variety of art mediums at the Ruidoso Art and Wine Festival, especially for the size. There was something for everyone.
- Oil paintings
- Southwestern landscapes
- Wildlife art
- Contemporary paintings
- Woodworking
- Mosaic wood portraits
- Metal wall art
- Copper water fountains
- Glass art
- Jewelry
- Gourd art
My Favorite Artist
After making my way down the first corner of the show, I saw these huge, stunning, acrylic, southwest scene paintings. But it wasn’t the painting that first caught my attention, it was watching the artist actually paint.
People were naturally drawn to his booth to slow down and watch him work. After taking some time and looking at the rest of his pieces, it was easy to see why.
I was drawn to the textures and the rich colors used in his work. His large originals were priced within a range of $700 to $2,000. Considering the size and quality, I thought those were really good prices. Especially considering other vendors had substantially smaller works of art for double or more the price and gallery’s charge over $5,000 plus for similar works.
He had a piece that I loved loved loved, and I would have purchased it if I had a larger home. Unfortunately, my apartment walls just aren’t big enough for artwork of that scale.
I am still on the hunt for the perfect southwest piece though!
Watching artists create their work is one of the best reasons to arrive early at an art festival. And one of my favorite discoveries of the festival, a stunning Southwestern landscape that I still wish I had room for.
The Most Memorable Artists
Another booth immediately stood out to me because the artists were dressed in red, elaborate sequined jackets. The artist, Von Seibert, specializes in dimensional aluminum metal work. The pieces on display seemed to move with the light and then varied with how close you were to them. I am not usually drawn to metal artwork, but this was so cool.
Not only did Mr. Seibert talk about his origins as an artist, the conversation flowed through many topics like Vikings, books, surfing, and his new natural sunscreen company. It was so cool to have a random conversation with a stranger that was so engaging. A stranger that just so happened to also be a fabulous artist.
You never know who you are going to meet at an art festival if you just take the time to strike up a conversation. This was one of those experiences that made this trip memorable.
Meeting artist Von Seibert was one of the highlights of our visit.
The Woodworking Booth We Couldn’t Stop Looking At
I am used to seeing certain items in a woodworking booth at art festivals. Usually, it will be cutting boards and bowls, which are still very beautiful. But the Ruidoso Art Festival had something special to offer in the woodworking category that I had never seen before.
There was a booth that we kept coming back to that had mosaic wood portraits, wireless phone chargers, and my favorite, retro alarm clocks. It was such a different medium of art to look at. The mosaics were made with tiny pieces of wood all grouped together to create a portrait. The clocks were mid century modern style and looked like they were out of an episode of the Jetsons.
They were so cool, but a little out of my price range. So fun to look at though!
This woodworking booth combined craftsmanship with mid-century modern design and mosaics.
Gourd Art (Oh My Gourd!)
Now this booth was really cool. I have seen painted gourds before, but these ones were carved and painted all with a southwest theme. It looked like they must use a type of gourd that had an especially thick rind to be able to carve deep into them the way they did.
This is also not something I would normally look at at art festivals, but it really stood out to me here. It made me consider my office and how it would be a great decorative addition to make it feel more like me.
It was a whole different medium than what I am usually interested in, but the shapes, textures, and colors were all interesting and would bring a new, much needed element into my space.
I wasn’t expecting gourd art to become one of my favorite discoveries of the day.
Is the Ruidoso Art Festival Worth the Admission?
What We Loved
- Friendly artists
- Relaxed pace
- Easy parking
- Great conversations
- Lots of original artwork
- Wide variety of mediums
Things to Know Before You Go
- Bring a bigger budget if you’re hoping to purchase original artwork.
- Arrive early if you enjoy talking with artists.
- Don’t expect a huge festival like Tempe.
- Most artwork leans toward Southwestern themes.
My Thoughts on Ruidoso
Ruidoso was interesting to visit as an adult and I’m sure that things have drastically changed since I visited as a child.
I think many mountain towns have the polished feel that caters specifically to tourists. Ruidoso also thrives on tourism, but it feels a bit more authentic and rustic than other mountain towns I have visited. Some streets were full of bustling shops and restaurants, while others had empty storefronts, aging buildings, and businesses that looked like they’d seen better days.
I appreciated that the town hadn’t been over commercialized and still felt like a real mountain town. I thought that maybe this is what towns like Durango or Breckenridge Colorado were like back in the 60s and 70s.
Obviously, the town was full of other tourists, but it really felt like a hidden gem to me.
The mountain views are just one more reason to plan a weekend in Ruidoso.
Final Thoughts
Even though we only spent about an hour at the Ruidoso Art Festival, I am so happy and grateful that we did. The slower pace allowed me to take more time browsing and to really look at and appreciate the art, and to speak with the artists. I would not have had that opportunity at a larger show.
I left without buying anything. Not because I didn’t find anything I loved, but because my home or my budget was not big enough for it.
If you’re planning a weekend in Ruidoso, or you’re like me and like to discover artwork while traveling, the $10 admission into the Ruidoso Art Festival is well worth it. It offers you options to decorate your home, collect art, or to buy an amazing souvenir while on your trip. I definitely recommend it for a chance to meet talented artists and do something different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ruidoso Art Festival worth it?
Yes. If you are in Ruidoso during the time of the Art and Wine Festival, I highly recommend.
How much does the Ruidoso Art Festival cost?
$10 admission for the Art Festival. $20 if you add wine tasting to your ticket.
How long does it take?
1 – 2 hours or longer depending on how long you talk to artists and if you decide to wine taste.
What kinds of art are sold?
- Oil paintings
- Southwestern landscapes
- Wildlife art
- Contemporary paintings
- Woodworking
- Mosaic wood portraits
- Metal wall art
- Copper water fountains
- Glass art
- Jewelry
- Gourd art
Can you buy original artwork?
Yes, it was mostly all original artwork. Some booths had prints for sale.
Is the festival family friendly?
Yes, the art festival was family friendly. The wine tasting was for 21 and above.
