SkyFiesta is coming back to Las Cruces International Airport for its second year on Oct. 17, bringing high-speed air racing, aerobatic performers and a lineup of World War II-era aircraft to the runway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event marks a milestone for an airshow tradition that was upended nearly two years ago when a stunt pilot died mid-performance, forcing organizers to cancel the show on the spot.
A Second Year for a Rebuilt Event
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, this year's SkyFiesta will feature sport-class air racing, air aerobatics, World War II displays, interactive flight simulators, exhibits and live entertainment at the Las Cruces airport. The event is now in its second year under the SkyFiesta name, after the City of Las Cruces moved event management to a vendor with event-management expertise, following two years of producing the Las Cruces Air & Space Expo itself, per Sport Class Air Racing. SkyFiesta is produced by Sport Air Racing Council Corp. and KLRU Events Inc., with support from New Mexico True, the state Economic Development Department, the City of Las Cruces, the Town of Mesilla and Doña Ana County, according to the event's own website.
The 2026 lineup includes 28 sport-class race airplanes, Vicky Benzing flying her P-51 Mustang Plum Crazy, Brad Wursten flying his MX2, and the Tora Tora Tora team, the station's report notes. Last year's event brought historically significant aircraft and crews for a reenactment of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, per the SkyFiesta website, though organizers have not confirmed every act from prior years will return for 2026.
The 2024 Crash That Grounded the Show
SkyFiesta's return carries extra weight because of what happened at the 2024 Las Cruces Air and Space Expo, when pilot Charles T. “Chuck” Coleman was killed in a stunt crash. Authorities said Coleman was performing aerobatics when his aircraft went down about a half-mile west of the airport, according to CBS News, and the show was called off immediately after the crash. The City of Las Cruces said at the time that the accident, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the airport, was being investigated by New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Per a city spokeswoman, a Federal Aviation Administration investigation later determined the 2024 crash was not caused by safety conditions at the airport. Coleman's identity was confirmed by KVIA in the days following the crash.
Betting on Tourism and Growth
Organizers have framed SkyFiesta as more than a single day of flying. The event drew over 10,000 attendees in 2025 and is expected to host 65 vendors this year, and organizers say they aim to promote aviation in the community, provide tourism benefits to New Mexico and the local economy, and host a safe event for the public. The Las Cruces Bulletin has reported that organizers envision eventually growing SkyFiesta into a multi-day event that draws international spectators and supports tourism and economic development in the valley.
That ambition lines up with how state officials have talked about the event. State Sen. Bill Soules has described the event as having the potential to deliver multi-million-dollar local benefits over the coming decade. In 2024, organizers designed three air-racing courses that received Federal Aviation Administration accreditation, and at the time those were described as the only approved air-racing courses in the United States.
Tickets, Parking and Getting There
General admission for ages 12 and up costs $17.60 online, according to the SkyFiesta ticket page. Children under 12 get in free, though a ticket is still required and kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Premium parking at Las Cruces International Airport, located at 8990 Zia Blvd., costs $23.02 for a vehicle or $12.18 for a motorcycle, and is free for drivers with an ADA placard. For those looking to skip the fee, the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds at 12125 Robert Larson Blvd. offers free parking along with a free shuttle to the SkyFiesta entrance.
