Event in the Village of Columbus, New Mexico on Saturday, March 8 2025
Event by Village of Columbus, New Mexico
300 W Broadway Ave, Deming, NM 88030, United States
Join us on March 8, 2025, as we honor the history and sacrifices of the Villa Raid with a day of remembrance, friendship, and community!
Memorial Ride from the border into Columbus, NM. Ride in Luna County’s longest horse parade. Mariachis and folkloric dancers in the Plaza downtown. Vendors, food booths and games. Entertainment for the whole family! Annual Camp Furlong Day at the Pancho Villa State Park speakers TBA. Columbus Historical Society annual memorial for fallen victims of the infamous raid on Columbus, NM in the predawn hours of March 9, 1916
109 Years LaterWe’ve transformed a tragic turning point in history into a celebration of unity. Men and women from both sides of the border will come together to renew promises of friendship and goodwill during this special event.
Memorial RideBring your horse, a friend, or your friend’s horse to participate in Luna County’s longest equine parade, starting from the US/Mexico border. Experience camaraderie as we honor history together.
Activities and Entertainment-Ballet Folklorico Performances
-Mariachis
-Food Booths
-Guest Speakers at the State Park
-Guided Walking Tours by retired US Army soldier Vern Yates
-Book Signings and Films at Ogden Memorial Library, featuring –Southwest authors and documentaries throughout the weekend
Family Fun DayThis is a free event with no cover charges for any of the facilities. Fun for the whole family!
Calbagata History – Each year in February and March, the Cabalgata Binacional Villista commemorates the 9 March 1916 invasion of the United States by Pancho Villa’s men. The first cavalcade took place in 1999 and followed the same route that Pancho Villa used, coming from the Hacienda de San Jerónimo, Bachíniva. A handful of riders were expected but more than 125 showed up. The Cabalgata passed Namiquipa and Cruces, as during the original 1916 event. In 2008 the 9th cavalcade began on 27 February in Ciudad Madera with more than 200 riders. During the next 10 days, they traversed 397 km (247 mi) north through towns and villages in northern Mexico (Ignacio Zaragoza, Buenaventura, Galeana, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Casas Grandes, Colonia Graciano Sánchez, Janos, Ascensión, Seis de Enero) to Puerto Palomas de Villa, arriving on 7 March with a complement of 400 riders and twice as many crew.
Watch the 2024 Calbagata recorded en Español
On 8 March 100 riders continued across the United States–Mexico border 3 miles to the Pancho Villa State Park and Museum in the village of Columbus, New Mexico. From the border the Villistas were accompanied by 200 American riders. The 8th cavalcade in 2007 was larger, with 500 riders arriving in Puerto Palomas de Villa. The 7th cavalcade in 2006 was smaller but the arrival of the 100 Villistas at Pancho Villa State Park coincided with ceremonies attended by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Chihuahua Governor José Reyes Baeza Terrazas, and many other dignitaries.[8] The cavalcade in 2010 was the opening event of the centennial celebrations Tres Siglos, Tres Fiestas (Three Centuries, Three Fiestas).
The riders are received each night with a dinner, rodeo, music and dancing, and their horses are fed and watered. The growing popularity of the cavalcade presented increasing financial challenges for the communities along the route. In 2008, the community presidents formed an association, Presidentes Municipales de la Región Noroeste, to coordinate and manage the event.
Horses traveling from Mexico to the United States normally are subject to quarantine of at least 3 days, but starting in 2006, a special 12-hour waiver was obtained for up to 100 horses (hence the limit of 100 Villistas). Before 2006, the Mexican horses were left behind in Mexico, and the Villistas rode American horses from the border to the park.
The 11th cavalcade in 2010 began on February 23 in Hacienda San Jerónimo, Bachíniva, repeating the historical original route, passing through Namiquipa, Cruces to Buenaventura. There the cavalcade joined the group coming from Madera, continuing together up to Columbus, New Mexico. Source – Wikipedia
Watch the whole Pancho Villa Raid Day story
Visit our Village Tourism Website To Fully Enjoy Your Blast Into The Past!