Silver City Blues Festival weekend — live music

The Mimbres Region Arts Council is set to stage the 31st annual Silver City Blues Festival on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, at Gough Park in Silver City, New Mexico. The festival is free to attend, according to the event’s official website and organizer materials. Published hours run from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Organizers say the weekend will pair live blues performances with food and beverage vendors and space for dancing and general festivalgoing. ### When does the music start, and how long does the weekend run? Saturday, May 23, is scheduled to begin with gates opening at 10 a.m., according to the festival FAQ. Sunday, May 24, is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. The official site says music will continue until 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) The 2026 event falls on Memorial Day weekend, a slot the festival has used for years, according to organizer and local event listings. Grant County Beat described this year’s gathering as the 31st annual edition. ### Which acts are on the published 2026 lineup? (silvercitybluesfestival.org) The festival website lists five acts for Saturday: Illusions Band at 11 a.m., Pocket Chocolate at 1 p.m., Piper & the Hard Times at 3 p.m., Connie Brannock at 5 p.m. and Bill Magee at 7 p.m. Sunday’s posted lineup lists Local Rhythm Music at noon, Hurricane Ruth at 2 p.m. and Joe King at 4 p.m. (grantcountybeat.com) Grant County Beat published the same lineup in a May 5 event notice, describing the bill as a mix of regional and national blues musicians. The official homepage says the festival will feature “established blues performers” alongside newer acts, though it does not break performers into those categories by name. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) ### Where in Silver City is it happening? Gough Park is the stated venue for the main event, with the festival FAQ placing it at the corner of North Pope Street and 13th Street in Silver City. Organizer materials say the event is traditionally held there, and local event coverage uses the same location. (grantcountybeat.com) Silver City Blues Festival travel information published on the event site points visitors to U.S. Highway 180 and New Mexico Highway 90 as the main road approaches into town. The site says the nearest interstate connection is I-10. ### What should visitors know before they go? The event is free, but organizers ask attendees for donations to help sustain the festival. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) The FAQ says no tents, canopies, umbrellas or coolers will be allowed inside Gough Park. Outside alcohol is prohibited, while beer and cocktails will be sold inside the park under New Mexico licensing rules, according to the site. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) Food and beverage vendors will be on site, and the FAQ says a food court and tented seating area will be available. Visitors may bring chairs, but seating space is first-come, first-served, the site says. Kids are welcome, while pets other than service animals are not allowed in the park during the event. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) ### What access and contact details have organizers published? The festival FAQ says free on-street parking will be available, along with handicap parking in the Furniture Gallery lot and designated accessible seating near the large gazebo. The site also says the venue will have wheelchair-accessible areas and toilets. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) The festival homepage lists the organizing body as the Mimbres Region Arts Council and provides contact information for questions, including an event coordinator email and the group’s Silver City office phone number. Organizers say more information is available through the festival website ahead of the May 23 opening. (silvercitybluesfestival.org) (silvercitybluesfestival.org)