This October, the Silver City Museum combines literature, culture and entertainment to present a series of bilingual virtual readings—perfect to capture the imaginations of all ages with important lessons on diverse cultures and traditions.
 
Events kick off on Sunday, October 4 at 7pm with a reading of Friends from the Other Side/Amigos del Otro Lado in both English and Spanish by Cindy Provencio and Frances Vasquez of League of United Latin American Citizens (among their many individual pursuits). Writer Gloria Anzaldúa is a major Mexican American literary voice. Illustrator Consuelo Méndez is a noted Latin American artist. Both grew up in South Texas. In this, their first collaboration, they have captured not only the hardship of daily life on the border, but also the beauty of the landscape and the dignity and generosity of spirit that the Mexican Americans and the Mexican immigrants share. To register and attend, visit : https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8cCbkhDxSiG-dAO0IBcmTw or use Zoom meeting ID 893 1142 6928.
 
On Sunday, October 18 at 7pm, enjoy a reading of Bowwow Powwow in English and Spanish by Nena Benavidez, noted psychic investigator, and Kim Klassen, local pizzeria owner. Through the story, join Windy Girl, who is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle, she gathers stories of long-ago traditions about dances and sharing and gratitude. Windy can tell such stories herself—about her dog, Itchy Boy, and the way he dances to request a treat and how he wriggles with joy in response to, well, just about everything. This playful story by Brenda Child is accompanied by a companion retelling in Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain and brought to life by Jonathan Thunder's vibrant dreamscapes. The result is a powwow tale for the ages. To register and attend, visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_ksvouKZ_Tjid9pKt8o1-Tw or use Zoom meeting ID 862 4365 8751.
 
For more information on museum programs, go to www.silvercitymuseum.org.

Attend the International Folk Art Market virtual gala, see Lakota John in concert, snuggle up with a Rudolfo Anaya story, listen to Music in the Park, and do art with the kids.

​Grab your favorite blanket and the best corner of the couch. Every other Sunday during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Silver City Museum hosts virtual bilingual story time. The one-hour live reading is recorded from a studio inside the museum and features a different New Mexico-related book read in both Spanish and English by members of the community. 

Read the rest at newmexico.org

​Comforting bedtime stories that highlight the landscapes, culture, and history of the Southwest are showcased as part of the Silver City Museum’s bilingual bedtime story series.

Read the rest at the Albuquerque Journal

Silver City MainStreet/Arts & Culture District has been designated as a 2020 Accredited Main Street America™ program.  Accredited status is Main Street America’s top tier of recognition and signifies a demonstrated commitment to comprehensive commercial district revitalization and proven track record of successfully applying the Main Street Approach™. 
 
“We are proud to recognize this year’s 860 Nationally Accredited Main Street America programs that have dedicated themselves to strengthening their communities,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of the National Main Street Center. “These Accredited Main Street programs have proven to be powerful engines for revitalization by sparking impressive economic returns and preserving the character of their communities. During these challenging times, these Main Street programs will be key to bringing economic vitality back to commercial districts and improving quality of life during the recovery process.”
 
In 2019 alone, $6.45 billion of public and private reinvestment was generated, 6,466 net new businesses were opened, 32,316 net new were jobs created, and 10,412 buildings were rehabilitated in Main Street America communities.
 
The Silver City MainStreet Project’s performance is annually evaluated by New Mexico MainStreet, which works in partnership with the National Main Street Center to identify the local programs that meet ten national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, documenting programmatic progress, and actively preserving historic buildings.
 
In the past 12 months alone, Silver City MainStreet has completed the Main Street Plaza, The Kelly Street project, installed wayfinding signs, street light banners, and promoted downtown to our community with Love Local promotions, the Urban Challenge Fun Run, Lighted Christmas Parade, and Shop Small and continue engaging merchants with the Merchant Mingles and communication about events they can participate in. We continue to publish the Downtown Guide and Map and maintain the brochure rack program. These are just some of our ongoing projects and programs.
 
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been a vital clearing house of information for merchants to connect them to resources. We ran a gift certificate promotion to encourage take out dining, run promotional radio ads, promoted state programs that help merchants, provided a forgivable loan program, a GoFundLocal program, and had NM MainStreet Revitalization Specialists help merchants get websites and facebook pages so they could stay connected to customers.
 
Silver City MainStreet celebrates 35 years of service this year and is one of the states oldest and most successful programs in the state, winning a Great American MainStreet Award in 2011, the only NM MainStreet program to win the award.  Only three MainStreet programs from across the country are awarded this honor each year.
 
About Main Street America
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for 40 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $85.43 billion in new public and private investment, generated 672,333 net new jobs and 150,079 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 295,348 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
 
The mission of Silver City MainStreet is "To encourage a vibrant, historic downtown Silver City which is recognized as the heart of our diverse community." Please visit our website, www.silvercitymainstreet.com to learn more.

Family-friendly festival offers a weekend full of events celebrating Latin culture

Western New Mexico University (WNMU) will once again host Fiesta Latina, WNMU’s signature event offering people the chance to explore Latin culture, rhythms, flavors and artisan crafts. Held on the campus of WNMU, this three-day festival features the Artisan Mercado where attendees can view the creations of 40 traditional master artisans who travel to Silver City from Mexico. The 2020 event will highlight artists from Michoacán. The headline show Saturday night features a tequila tasting and Elida and Lucky Joe live in concert.

Artists for the Mercado are chosen through a juried selection process.

• Art must be completely handmade by the artist;
• The use of multi-generational traditions is mandatory;
• The use of “natural” pigments/materials is mandatory;
• Overall quality.

In addition, there is a section dedicated to contemporary work created with traditional practices. The artists will display a variety of work including textiles, jewelry, pottery, bead work, and copper.

Free events during Fiesta Latina include live music on stage kicking off with Northern New Mexico’s Cuarenta y Cinco playing a free Friday night opening concert. Other acts throughout the weekend include Ballet Folklorico Alfaro from El Paso, Mariachi Plata, Paseo del Norte Folklorico dancers, Sonido Cachimbo from Juarez, plus more acts to be announced.

Light Hall Theater will be home to the Transcending Borders Film/Discussion series featuring documentaries on traditional Mexican crafts and techniques interspersed with discussions hosted by visiting artisans.

The Castro Family from Las Cruces will offer a Charro performance on Sunday afternoon.

Attendees will also find a dedicated tent for children’s crafting activities and artisans demonstrating their traditional crafts at their booths throughout the event.

To complement the event, Mexican food trucks will be offering a variety of fare. The Stadium Bar will also be open throughout the weekend.

For more information on all there is to see and do in Silver City, or to plan your visit, go to www.visitsilvercity.org. For tickets and more information on Fiesta Latina, visit http://fiestalatina.org

Make a sweet getaway to Silver City for its annual event that celebrates all things chocolate.

Chocolate Fantasia has more than 25 local businesses participating in the event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8. There will be plenty of chocolate concoctions to choose from and eventgoers can pick 20 of their favorites from participating restaurants, art galleries, gift shops and other retailers as well as the Murray Hotel. Tickets and a map of participating locations can be picked up at the Family Karate Center, which will serve as the event headquarters.

Read the rest at the Albuquerque Journal

​February 15, 2020, is Territorial Charter Day and Silver City MainStreet will participate in the celebration with the third Urban Challenge Fun Run in downtown Silver City. The run is approximately a 5K and both families and serious runners are encouraged to register with the goal of having fun in downtown Silver City. “We had families and even some dogs on the run last year, states Patrick Hoskins, Board President of Silver City MainStreet. We want more residents to come downtown and see what is here and this is a fun way to do that and celebrate our Territorial Charter.”
Silver City MainStreet is collaborating with WNMU and Coach Macario Campos with sponsorship from the Town of Silver City on the fun run.  The Urban Challenge fun run will wind through the historic district and will start under the downtown archway and end at the Market Street walking bridge. The first 100 registered runners will receive a t-shirt and the entry fee is three cans of food that will be donated to the Grant County Community and WNMU Food Pantries.
 
“Coach Campos and his team from WNMU were great to work with last year and everyone had a good time. Runners gave us great feedback and it was fun to see entire families including parents with babies in strollers participate, states Hoskins. We look forward to having another great race and festive day. You can walk, run or skip the course - it’s a fun run, but it is timed and medals will be awarded for each age category.”
 
The race starts at 9 am with registration open at 8 am at the Visitor Center located at 201 N. Hudson St. To register for the 5K Urban Challenge Fun Run please email Charmeine@silvercitymainstreet.com or stop by the Silver City MainStreet office located in the Visitor Center at 201 N. Hudson St.
 
The mission of Silver City MainStreet is "To encourage a vibrant, historic downtown Silver City which is recognized as the heart of our diverse community." Please visit our website, www.silvercitymainstreet.com to learn more.

​The Mimbres Region Arts Council presents Chocolate Fantasia on Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 11am to 4pm.  Spend the day with your sweetheart or family as you stroll around historic Silver City sampling gourmet chocolate confections.
 
Visitors will find more than 25 downtown merchants and galleries decorated in the spirit of this year’s theme, Cupid Carnaval, and distributing chocolates. Tasting tickets offering 20 tastes for $25 are on sale now. Proceeds from the event benefit arts education programs for children in the area.
 
“Silver City has its own unique charm. Add in gourmet, handmade chocolate confections, and you’ll see why February is a sweet time to come visit,” said Kevin Lenkner, Executive Director of the Mimbres Region Arts Council. “Chocolate Fantasia is one of our most anticipated annual events. We encourage those interested in attending to purchase tickets early as the event sells out each year. ”
 
Empty Valentine boxes will be available for $3 each while supplies last at Chocolate Fantasia Headquarters; Family Karate Center, 416 N. Bullard Street.
 
Ticket holders can cast their People’s Choice votes for best chocolates and best business decorations on the back of their tasting tickets, and then, once they have finished collecting their chocolates, turn in their tickets by 3 pm at any of the host sites. 
 
Awards for best decorations and chocolates will be given out at the closing ceremonies at 4:30 PM at the Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery.  
 
Proceeds from Chocolate Fantasia are used to fund youth outreach programs including the Youth Mural Program and Arte Para Todos. These programs are free to children in the area as a way for the Mimbres Region Arts Council to provide access and opportunity to anyone wanting to participate in meaningful arts experiences.
 
“Whether you visit just for Chocolate Fantasia or come for the whole weekend, Silver City and the surrounding area offer plenty to see and do,” added Lenkner.
 
For more information on all there is to see and do in Silver City, or to plan your visit, go to www.visitsilvercity.org. For tickets or more information on the Chocolate Fantasia, visit https://www.chocolatefantasia.org.

A true cross-section of the Silver City, New Mexico community – young, old, ranchers, farmers, hikers, bikers, professors, miners, students, and more – as well as visitors will come together for the 8th annual Silver City CLAY Festival Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament. The Tournament will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 3-10 pm at the Murray Hotel Ballroom at 200 West Broadway in downtown Silver City.
 
Local poker aficionado, King Crowder, will host for the second year in a row. Players will play Texas Hold ‘Em through the afternoon and evening, enjoying one of the world’s most popular forms of poker.
 
“First, the people that play are gracious, fun, and entertaining,” said James Pagels, who has played in the tournament every year. “Second is the community spirit involved. The time and effort dedicated is awe-inspiring. Lastly, the poker is competitive and fun – it’s always a joy to donate to the local efforts!”
 
Popular since its inception during the CLAY Festival’s inaugural year, the tournament is a draw for both locals and visitors, and many participants have returned year after year.
 
James’ wife Bailey, who has seen him play in the Tournament every year, comments that, “for folks who take poker seriously, but like to have a good time, this game is the game of the year. The prizes are always worth the climb to the top.”
 
Players will be placed at round tables in the Murray Hotel Ballroom, a new venue for this beloved event, and will play Texas Hold ‘Em until only ten players remain. The final ten players will choose among prizes, including a stay at a Flagstaff condo resort with a golf course and swimming pool. Seats are limited for the Tournament, and players may register at https://clayfestival.com/2020-poker-tournament-registration until all spots are filled.
 
“It’s one of the few times you really see a broad mix of our community together,” said Lee Gruber, founder of the CLAY Festival. “People sit down to play poker, to play a game – it’s a pleasure to see.”
 
When you play, you can have fun and rejoice in supporting Silver City’s CLAY Festival. For more information, visit www.CLAYfestival.com.