Forty-four years ago, Ruidoso artists decided they wanted to show and sell their wares in a celebration of the art destination their community was becoming.

Forty-four years later, the Ruidoso Art Festival – to be held July 24-26 – has grown to be one of the biggest, best-attended events in the Southwest.

“This is our biggest event of the year,” said Becky Brooks, director of the Ruidoso Chamber of Commerce, which has hosted the event every year. “We expect a full house.”

A “full house” is about 112 artists and vendors, crammed onto the main floor at the Ruidoso Convention Center, with hospitality and refreshments in the smaller convention rooms.

“This is a very well-attended show,” Brooks said. “We usually have double the people apply than can actually compete in the juried show.”

It’s also grown from highlighting local artists to drawing work from around the Southwest. Winners at last year’s show hailed from across New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado, working in a variety of mediums and styles.

Roy Cavarretta, making the 700-plus mile trek from Hallettsville, Texas, won Best of Show or his work in mixed media.

Admission to the show is $6 for adults, $1 for children under 10. Two-day passes are available for $10, three-day passes for $15. Military personnel get a $4 discount.

The real point of the show is for artists to sell their work. With thousands coming to Ruidoso for the show, plenty of money is likely to change hands. Not all of it has to be for the highest-price work.

“There’s something for everyone, something everybody can afford,” Brooks said. “Anyone can likely find something they’d be able to buy.”