Las Cruces Chile Drop receives $10,000 state grant ahead of New Year’s Eve celebration
The Las Cruces Chile Drop received a $10,000 state tourism grant ahead of New Year’s Eve, with a new sponsor and redesigned chile sculpture planned for the downtown event.
Tourism funding, a new presenting sponsor and a redesigned chile sculpture will shape the 12th annual downtown New Year’s Eve event
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - The 12th annual Las Cruces Chile Drop will ring in the New Year with added support from the state, a new presenting sponsor and a redesigned chile sculpture, according to Main Street Las Cruces.
The downtown organization announced it has received a $10,000 Tourism Event Growth and Sustainability grant from the New Mexico Tourism Department to support the New Year’s Eve celebration.
State tourism funding
The grant comes through the Tourism Event Growth and Sustainability program, part of the state’s New Mexico True initiative, which promotes cultural tourism and heritage-based events.
Organizers say the funding reflects statewide recognition of the Chile Drop as a signature New Mexico event with growing regional and national reach.
New presenting sponsor
This year’s event will also feature a new partnership with Nusenda Credit Union, which joins as the official presenting sponsor.
Organizers said the sponsorship will help expand the event’s programming and visibility.
A redesigned chile sculpture
Main Street Las Cruces is partnering with New Mexico State University’s Aggie Innovation Space to design and build a new chile sculpture for the drop.
Engineering students, guided by faculty, are developing a chile that organizers say will be brighter, more durable and more visually dynamic than previous versions. The project also provides hands-on experience for students.
Attendance and recognition
According to organizers, the Chile Drop has drawn more than 8,000 attendees annually in recent years and has become a major New Year’s Eve attraction for downtown Las Cruces.
The event received national attention in 2023, including coverage by CNN and a ranking as the No. 3 New Year’s Eve celebration in the country by USA Today.
Event schedule
- 6 p.m. — Food and amusements begin
- 9 p.m. — Live music and celebration
- Midnight — Chile Drop and welcome of 2026
The event takes place in downtown Las Cruces on Dec. 31.
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