The Great Race, Western New Mexico University’s longest standing and most popular tradition, will be celebrating a key milestone, 50 consecutive years, with a Mustang Festival event on Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Old James Stadium.
The free, community event will include live music, food vendors, carnival games, and the opportunity to experience the Great Race competition. Teams will be competing on a route that circles the university campus three times with the start line at the footsteps of the Fine Arts Center Theater.
Opening ceremonies for the race begin at 10:30 a.m. with a balloon release and remarks by some of the original event commissioners from the inaugural race in 1967.
“Every year our students look forward to the Great Race as an opportunity to come together and celebrate community and friendly competition,” said Abe Villarreal, WNMU Director of Communications. “This year has extra significance because of the presence of special guests from the event’s first years of existence.”
Original team members and participants from former teams will be on campus participating in alumni events beginning Friday, April 28.
The Mustang Festival will begin at 10:00 a.m. with live music by the Illusion Band. Attendees can attend the event at no cost. Food vendors, area businesses and non-profits will be present. The race begins at 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by an alumni race, as well as a race by children of the Child Development Center at WNMU.
For more information, contact 575-538-6336.