TULAROSA — Tularosa is in for an eventful weekend starting Friday, May 5 as they celebrate the red brick schoolhouse’s centennial and the Tularosa Arts and History Council (TAHC) will be hosting an art and music festival May 6 – 7.

The red brick schoolhouse is one of Tularosa’s most recognized historical buildings and will hopefully be restored, it is being maintained by the Red Brick Building Restoration Foundation Inc. (RBBRF) which was established in 1994.

RBBRF is inviting the community to a fundraiser at Grill 49, 313 Granado St. on May 5. There will be a no-host bar at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and reservations can be made by contacting Stephanie DuBois at 430-1640.

On Saturday, May 6 and Sunday, May 7, the TAHC will be hosting the Tularosa Art and Music Festival along with an Ice Cream Social.

The art and music festival will showcase local artists and musicians from in and around the Tularosa area.

TAHC President Jen Gruger said the council was formed to highlight Tularosa’s local talent.

“The Tularosa Arts and History Council is a non-profit organization, it was formed around the idea that the Tularosa area has tremendous potential in regard to art and we really want to pull out the artists that are living here,” Gruger said. “We’re very interested in the history of Tularosa and making sure that it’s passed from one generation to the next. Our projects and events are based on how we can reveal those people and draw new people.”

Gruger said their mission is to get visitors to stop in Tularosa and see what the tiny town has to offer.

“A lot of people drive through Tularosa and don’t stop and realize that there’s some cool stuff to see. Our mission is to get people to stop,” she said. “The Tularosa Art and Music Festival is one event that we specifically want to have on Granado Street, which is sort of our Main Street, to show that it’s a great place to walk, shop, eat and relax.”

The Tularosa Art and Music Festival will feature vending booths that will include an art exhibit of the Tularosa Middle and High School art students, live music, food vendors, dance groups from the area, a hands-on weaving demonstration and a live robotics demonstration from the Tulie Tech students.

Gruger said the event will also rekindle the Ice Cream Social, a tradition that was started several years but diminished over the years.

“In Tularosa there used to be an annual event where they would give out ice cream, they would give ice cream to everyone, it was a way to kick off the summer,” Gruger said. “We’re kind of bringing back that little piece of history bringing back the events that make Tularosa unique.”

The ice cream is being sponsored by Lancon Construction.

Gruger said TAHC intentionally planned their event to coincide with the centennial celebration of the red brick schoolhouse as well as the 1960s Tularosa High School reunion.

“We specifically chose this weekend because it’s the 100th anniversary of the red brick schoolhouse and the 1960s Tularosa High School reunion is also happening the same weekend,” she said. “We’re trying to work that history with our event.”

The Tularosa Art and Music Festival and Ice Cream Social will be held Saturday, May 6 from to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TAHC would like to thank the following sponsors: Desert Sun Motors, the Tularosa Basic Telephone Company, The MERC, BDC Door Co. and Karl Clay Vetter Studios.

Vendor booths for artists and food are still available, for booth space contact Gruger at 505-710-2924. For general information contact Karl Vetter at 973-5739. For more information on TAHC and how to join visit their Facebook page at https://facebook.com/TheTAHC/

Schedule of events

Saturday

10 – 11:30 a.m. Tulie Peak Trio

11:30 a.m. – 12 noon: Tigua Dancers from El Paso

12 noon – 1:30 p.m. Simple Gifts

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Tigua Dancers

2 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Lizard Lounge

Sunday

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Ed and Sky

12 noon – 1:30 p.m. Flickinger House Band

1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Folklorico dancers

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Chris Baker