Portales, NM – September 26, 2023– Eastern New Mexico University and the City of Portales are set to host the first-ever Rally on Main event this Friday and Saturday, September 29-30, hosted on Main Street in Downtown Portales.
"ENMU is very excited to co-host this event with the City of Portales," said James Johnston, ENMU Chancellor. "This is Family Weekend at ENMU and an excellent opportunity to welcome back the families of our students and showcase our family-friendly community. I look forward to a great turnout and enjoying a fun-filled weekend."
The fun starts Friday night as ENMU and the City of Portales present live music from 5 to 9 p.m. on the stage located at 413 S. Main Ave. Eastern New Mexico's own "Blackwater Band" will open the show from 5 to 7 p.m. and then the husband-and-wife duo from Ruidoso, New Mexico "The Hamilton's" will play from 7 to 9 p.m.
Enchantment Vineyards will host a beer and wine garden from 5 to 9 p.m. at 413 S. Main Street, featuring beer and wine vendors from around New Mexico. Food trucks and other fun activities will also happen on Main Street on Friday night.
Saturday will feature food trucks, inflatables, a DJ, and live music performances by ENMU's student band, Fully Boddy, and an additional performance by the ENMU Jazz Combos. At 1 p.m., ENMU and the City of Portales will host a community pep rally featuring ENMU and Portales High School sports teams, cheer squads, and the ENMU band. 311 Entertainment will also be hosting its Annual Rib Cookoff that day.
U.S. Bank Family Weekend events will also be held downtown as the annual Family Weekend Presidents BBQ has been relocated from campus to 311 Entertainment, and the annual Family Weekend morning breakfast meet and greet has been relocated from campus to The Courthouse Café.
Main Street will be closed from 4th Street to 5th Street starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and will not reopen until after 3 p.m. on Saturday. Additional street closures will happen on Saturday, with a closure of Main Street around 311 Entertainment for their Rib Cookoff from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a closure of Main from 3rd Street to 5th Street from 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. for the Community Pep Rally.
Parking is available at the Portales Municipal School District Administrative Offices located on S. Abilene Ave.
For more information on the Rally on Main event, visit enmu.edu/RallyOnMain or contact the ENMU Office of Communication Services at [email protected].
