Las Cruces UkeFest, sponsored by Hutton Broadcasting, returns May 29–31, 2026, bringing seven structured workshops, a professional concert, jam sessions, and a ukulele marketplace to New Mexico State University (NMSU).
The festival is designed for players who want concentrated instruction and an immersive music weekend rather than a single event.
For musicians in the Four Corners region, including Durango and Farmington, the five- to six-hour drive south offers access to a coordinated, multi-day learning experience not typically available in the region.
- What Is Las Cruces UkeFest?
- What Can You Expect at a Ukulele Festival?
- When and Where Is Las Cruces UkeFest 2026?
- Why Travel from the Four Corners Region?
- Who Are the Instructors for 2026?
- How Much Does Las Cruces UkeFest Cost?
- Can I Attend Just the Concert?
- Are Ukulele Festivals Good for Beginners?
- Why Do People Own More Than One Ukulele?
- What Is Included in the Ukulele Marketplace?
- Why Attend Las Cruces UkeFest?
- FAQs About Las Cruces UkeFest
It’s not a quick afternoon outing, but for players looking for concentrated instruction and a full weekend devoted entirely to music, the trip delivers more than a single concert or workshop.
What Is Las Cruces UkeFest?
Las Cruces UkeFest is an annual ukulele festival held in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The event blends professional performance with structured workshops and organized group play. Participants attend instructional sessions during the day and then gather for a Friday evening concert featuring professional performers and the local Las Cruces Ukes.
The weekend also includes a large-group jam session, open-mic opportunities, a catered lunch, and access to a vendor marketplace and swap meet for registered attendees. Ukulele festivals across the country follow a similar format, combining daytime education with evening performance and collaborative playing.
What Can You Expect at a Ukulele Festival?
Similar to other ukulele festivals, Las Cruces UkeFest follows a consistent structure:
- A featured concert by professional performers
- Multiple workshop tracks organized by skill level
- Open mic sessions
- Group jam sessions
- Vendor marketplace and instrument sales
While the ukulele is often associated with Hawaiian music, modern players perform folk, rock, blues, pop, and classical arrangements. Artists such as Jake Shimabukuro have demonstrated the instrument’s technical range and versatility. Attendees often leave surprised by how much musical ground four strings can cover.
Recap: Las Cruces UkeFest combines structured instruction, live performance, and collaborative playing into one organized weekend.
When and Where Is Las Cruces UkeFest 2026?
Las Cruces UkeFest 2026 takes place May 29–31, 2026, at NMSU.
Friday concert: Atkinson Recital Hall in the NMSU Music Building
Saturday and Sunday activities: Third floor of the Corbett Center Student Union
Hosting the event on campus keeps workshops, vendors, and jam sessions within walking distance, creating a centralized and easy-to-navigate environment.
Why Travel from the Four Corners Region?
Communities in the Four Corners area have strong arts traditions, but multi-day ukulele festivals with multiple class tracks and national instructors are rare in the region. The drive south offers access to several structured workshops, nationally recognized teaching artists, and a community of players from across the Southwest.
For musicians in Durango, Farmington, Cortez, and other smaller surrounding towns, the Las Cruces UkeFest offers an opportunity to step into a focused musical environment that is difficult to replicate locally.
Rather than attending a single workshop or jam, participants experience a coordinated weekend designed to improve technique, expand repertoire, and build confidence in a short period of time.
Who Are the Instructors for 2026?
Las Cruces UkeFest 2026 features experienced teaching artists:
- Stu Fuchs, known for combining mindfulness practices with “Ukulele Zen” instruction.
- Amy Kucharik, an award-winning singer-songwriter who performs as a one-woman band and teaches at festivals nationwide.
- Victoria “Viggy” Kolasinski, a ukulele educator who built a strong online following during and after the pandemic.
- Sho Humphries, a Berklee College of Music alum and International Ukulele Contest winner, is performing original music and covers.
How Much Does Las Cruces UkeFest Cost?
Early bird registration is $195 through March 31. After that, regular registration is $225. Discounted pricing is available for full-time students.
Registration includes:
- Several workshops
- Friday night concert
- Catered Saturday lunch
- Access to open mics and jam sessions
- Entry to the ukulele marketplace and swap meet
Advance registration is recommended, especially for those arranging lodging and travel from the Four Corners region. Online registration closes May 15 at 7 p.m.
Can I Attend Just the Concert?
Yes. The Friday night concert is open to the public.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. on May 29, 2026, at Atkinson Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 at the door. Children aged 12 and younger attend free with a paid adult.
For travelers who want a shorter visit or are passing through Southern New Mexico, the concert provides an affordable way to experience the festival without full registration.
Are Ukulele Festivals Good for Beginners?
Yes. Las Cruces UkeFest includes beginner-level workshops during each session block.
Workshops move beyond basic strumming while remaining accessible. In addition to foundational topics such as song arranging, rhythm development, fingerpicking, and fretboard navigation, the 2026 schedule includes:
- Kung Fu Pinkie! focuses on strengthening the little finger and expanding chord shapes
- Uke-a-Billy explores rockabilly rhythms inspired by Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, and The Beatles
- Blues Basics with The Beatles! introduces blues structure through familiar songs
- Vaudevillian Ukulele Stunts & Four String Circus Tricks! focuses on performance flair and stage presence
Sessions are clearly labeled by level, so beginners through intermediate players can select classes appropriate to their experience.
Why Do People Own More Than One Ukulele?
The festival marketplace highlights the variety within the instrument family. Differences in body size, tuning, and construction influence tone and feel.
The four primary sizes are:
- Soprano
- Concert
- Tenor
- Baritone
Soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles are typically tuned G-C-E-A. Baritone ukuleles are tuned D-G-B-E, matching the highest four strings of a guitar and producing a deeper tone.
Specialty instruments include bass ukuleles, resonator models, banjo ukes, pineapple-shaped bodies, and electric ukuleles with built-in pickups.
Many players jokingly refer to UAS, or Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome. The swap meet provides registered attendees a structured environment to buy, sell, and trade instruments with fellow musicians.
What Is Included in the Ukulele Marketplace?
The marketplace features vendors selling instruments, cases, strings, straps, music books, and related products. It also includes peer-to-peer sales through the swap meet.
This year, instruments from late Las Cruces Ukes member Ted Powers will be available, with proceeds benefiting Mesilla Valley Hospice. Participants can purchase instruments while supporting a local nonprofit organization.
Note: The marketplace and swap meet are open only to registered attendees.
Why Attend Las Cruces UkeFest?
Las Cruces UkeFest offers:
- Structured learning from experienced instructors
- Live performance in a recital hall setting
- Community playing with musicians from across the country
- Affordable pricing compared to many national festivals
- A centralized campus location
For musicians in Durango, Farmington, and surrounding Four Corners communities, the five- to six-hour drive results in a concentrated and organized weekend dedicated entirely to ukulele. Rather than attending scattered events, participants gain access to a cohesive program that blends instruction, performance, and collaboration.
Las Cruces UkeFest 2026, sponsored by Hutton Broadcasting, provides a structured, welcoming, and skill-focused weekend for ukulele players willing to make the trip south.
FAQs About Las Cruces UkeFest
What is Las Cruces UkeFest?
Las Cruces UkeFest is a three-day ukulele festival held each spring at NMSU in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The event blends live performance with structured, skill-based workshops and organized group playing. During the day, registered participants attend instructional sessions focused on technique, rhythm, arrangement, and repertoire.
On Friday evening, attendees gather for a concert featuring professional performers and the local Las Cruces Ukes. The weekend also includes a large-group jam session, optional open-mic opportunities, a catered lunch, and access to a vendor marketplace and swap meet. Musicians travel from across New Mexico and neighboring states, including the Four Corners region, to take part in this focused musical gathering.
Is it worth traveling from Durango, Farmington, or other Four Corners communities?
For many players, yes. From Durango, the drive is about 436 miles and typically takes more than six hours. From Farmington, it’s closer to 404 miles and roughly six hours by car. In return for that travel time, attendees gain access to several workshops, nationally recognized instructors, and a weekend fully dedicated to ukulele.
Rather than attending isolated jam sessions or occasional local classes, participants experience a coordinated, multi-day program designed to improve technique, expand repertoire, and build musical confidence. Many attendees treat the trip as a music-focused getaway, combining travel with concentrated learning and community connection.
Do I need to be an experienced player to attend?
No. Las Cruces UkeFest is designed to accommodate a broad range of skill levels, from true beginners to seasoned performers. Workshops are clearly labeled so newer players can select foundational sessions that focus on chord transitions, steady strumming, rhythm development, and introductory fingerpicking.
Intermediate and advanced participants can choose more specialized topics such as blues techniques, arrangement strategies, and performance skills. No one is required to perform publicly, and open mic participation is entirely optional.
Instructors present material in manageable steps, ensuring that less experienced players can follow along comfortably while still providing depth for more advanced musicians.
What does full weekend registration include?
Full weekend registration provides access to the complete festival schedule from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. That includes admission to the Friday night concert, several workshops across Saturday and Sunday, organized jam sessions, optional open mic participation, and a catered Saturday lunch.
Registration also grants entry to the vendor marketplace and swap meet. Rather than purchasing separate tickets for each activity, participants move freely between structured classes and informal playing sessions throughout the weekend.
This format creates a seamless, immersive experience that blends instruction, performance, and social interaction into a single coordinated event.
Is the marketplace open to the general public?
No. The vendor marketplace and swap meet are limited to registered festival attendees. Vendors offer ukuleles, cases, strings, straps, music books, and related accessories in a centralized campus location. Registered participants may also buy, sell, or trade instruments with other players through the swap meet.
Limiting access helps maintain a manageable and comfortable environment for browsing and transactions while ensuring that those who commit to full registration receive the added benefit of marketplace access. The Friday evening concert remains the only portion of the festival open to the public without registration.
