2025 AVA Convention Schedule

Here is the schedule for the 2025 AVA Biennial Convention in Las Cruces, NM, April 26 – May 4, 2025. Please check regularly for updates and changes to the schedule.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

  • Featured pre-convention Walk at City of Rocks State Park (1-½ Hours, 90 Miles from Las Cruces). Individuals Will be Responsible for Entry Fee. Transportation is on Your Own. Register at the park between 8:30am – 11:30am. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4. 
  • iMIRA! Las Cruces Spring Festival in downtown Las Cruces, 2pm – 10pm. Free event. Stop by the AVA table.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

  • Featured pre-convention walk in Silver City (2 Hours, 120 Miles from Las Cruces). Transportation is on your own. Register at the Plaza Area, Western New Mexico University at 1000 W College in Silver City from 8:30am – 11:30am. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4.
  • Other YREs in the area are available including Fort Bayard and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

Monday, April 28, 2025

  • 8:00 – 11:00am Convenience Table
    Located outside the Convention Center main entrance (near the corner of University Avenue and Union St.)
    This is a temporary start point for sports events in Las Cruces until we can get inside the Convention Center at 11:00am
  • 11:00am – 4:00pm Registration, packet pickup, and silent auction drop off, book stamping, and Start Point for Convention Seasonal Events at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
  • No featured walk, so we suggest New Mexico State University, included in Full Convention and 5-Day packages 5/10K walk next to the Convention Center. (Rated 1A) Directions are available at the CC. There are also 2 YREs using the city bus from the CC to the Encanto walk and Mesilla Or you can drive east to the mountains for two YREs, Cloudcroft and Ruidoso; north to Truth or Consequences; or west to Deming.
  • Dawn to Dusk Bike Event Opens
  • 2:30pm – 4:00pm Credentialing

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

  • 9:00am – 5:00pm Convention Center Open
  • Organ Mountain Dripping Springs Chairperson’s Walk (30 Minutes, 15 Miles from Las Cruces). This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4 and there is a parking fee. Transportation is on your own.
  • 9:00am – 5:00PM Registration, packet pickup, silent auction drop off.
  • 9:00am – 5:00pm Exhibit tables set up.
  • 10:00am – 4:00pm Book Stamping
  • Dawn to Dusk Bike Event
  • 10:00am – 4:30pm Silent Auction Open
  • 10:30am – 12:45pm Credentialing
  • 11:00am – 3:00pm Swim Event, Day 1 of 3, New Mexico State University, Recreation Swim Center, Indoor Pool
  • 1:00pm – 3:00pm AVA Board Meeting at Convention Center. The public is invited. 
  • 4:15pm – 8:00pm Opening Reception with buffet at New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum. (Welcome by the Mayor of Mesilla Valley) Busing from and returning to the Convention Center. Buses start leaving the convention center at 4:15pm.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

  • 7:00am – 8:00pm Convention Center Open

Your choice of three walk options: Bus to and From Convention Walks (One Day Only)

  • Option One: El Paso International Walk – 6K Rated 1A Buses begin boarding from 7:00am – 7:30am from and to Las Cruces Convention Center (1 Hour, 50 Miles away). Snacks and entertainment provided in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. To return to Las Cruces, wait for buses at the start point in El Paso. Walk Officials will be at the Enter/Exit border crossing to check-off walkers. This walk is ONLY available on April 30, 2025, and you must pre-register. Passports or Official New REAL State ID’s or Driver’s License is Required.
  • Option Two – International Walk followed by the Rose Garden Walk Buses begin boarding from 7:00am-7:30am from and to the Las Cruces convention center. Walkers not intending to return to the Las Cruces Convention Center by the start of the General Session Meeting may select this option. Walk the International 6K walk followed by one of the Rose Garden 5K loops. Lunch on Your Own. The bus will stop for 30 minutes at a fast-food restaurant for you to buy lunch. The estimated return time to the convention center is 3:00pm.
  • Option Three – El Paso Rose Garden / Manhattan Heights District – El Paso, TX Two 5K Loops to choose from. Buses from and to Convention Center, 7:30am – 8:00am. The last bus leaves to return to Las Cruces at 1:00pm. Passport Not Needed. Lunch On Your Own. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4.

Participants wanting to attend the AVA Regular Membership Meeting in Las Cruces should select Option 1 or Option 3.

  • 7:00am – 10am and 1:30pm – 3:30pm Registration/Packet Pickup and Merchandise Sales
  • 11:00am – 3:00pm Swim Event, Day 2 of 3, New Mexico State University, Recreation Swim Center, Indoor Pool
  • 12:00pm – 5:00pm Exhibits Open
  • Dawn to Dusk Bike Event
  • 12:30pm – 3:00pm Book Stamping
  • 12:30pm – 7:45pm Silent Auction
  • 1:30pm – 3:30pm Credentialing/Deadline to submit voting credentials – Last Opportunity
  • 3:45pm – 5:30pm Regular Membership Meeting, Part 1 (Welcome by the Mayor of Las Cruces)
  • Lunch and Dinner on Your Own
  • 6:30pm – 7:45pm Dessert in the Desert Enjoy dessert, coffee, and tea while listening to great speakers:
    • 6:30-7:00 From Conflict to Cooperation: The Story of Chamizal National Memorial, by J. R. Lujan, park ranger with Chamizal National Memorial in El Paso, TX
    • 7:15-7:45 A Las Cruces Overview – From Volcanoes to Moon Rockets, with Jim Eckles, retired from White Sands Missile Range, known as WSMR’s Historian

Thursday, May 1, 2025

  • 6:30am – 10:00pm Convention Center Open 
  • White Sands National Park Walk – 5K Rated 2C (One hour, 55 Miles from Las Cruces). Buses leave from 7:15 – 8:15AM. Bus Ride Includes Park Entry Fee. If driving a private vehicle, you will need to pay entry or display a park pass. There are very limited parking spaces. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4, 2025. Walk participation may be switched to the Mesilla Valley State Park Walk based on busing requirements. 
  • Mesilla Valley State Park – 5K and 10K Rated 1B (20 Minutes, 5 Miles from Las Cruces). The bus begins to leave convention center at 7:30 and continues back and forth until 10:30am. Last Bus leaves the park at 12noon. If driving a private vehicle, there is a parking fee. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4, 2025 
  • 6:30am – 9:30am and 12:00pm – 4:00pm Registration/Packet Pickup and Merchandise Sales 
  • 12:30pm – 2:30pm Box lunches provided at the convention center upon return from the walks. Lunches are included if you purchased the full convention or 5 days walk pass. 
  • 11:00am – 3:00pm Swim Event, New Mexico State University, Recreation Swim Center, Indoor Pool – Day 3 of 3 – Last Swim date.
  • 12:00pm – 6:00pm Exhibits Open 
  • Dawn to Dusk Bike Event 
  • 12:30pm – 5:00pm Book Stamping 
  • 12:30pm – 7:00pm Silent Auction-Closes Today 
  • Workshops 2:00 – 4:05pm. Las Cruces Convention Center
  • 6:00pm Pre Gala Social – Entertainment and Cash Bar (Lobby of the Convention Center)
  • 7:00pm- 10:00pm Gala and Hall of Fame Induction, including 2027 Convention Site Presentations

Friday, May 2, 2025

  • 6:30am – 5:00pm Convention Center Open 
  • White Sands National Park Walk -5K Rated 2C (Hour, 55 Miles from Las Cruces). Buses leave from 7:15 – 8:15AM. Bus Ride Includes Park Entry Fee. If you drive a private vehicle, you need to pay entry or display park pass. There are very limited parking spaces. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4. Walk participation may be switched to the Mesilla Valley State Park Walk based on busing requirements. 
  • Mesilla Valley State Park – 5K and 10K Rated 1B (20 Minutes, 5 Miles from Las Cruces). The bus begins to leave CC at 7:30 and continues back and forth until 10:30am. Last Bus leaves the park at 12noon. If driving a private vehicle, there is a parking fee. This walk is available anytime April 26 – May 4.
  • 6:30am – 9:30am and 2:30pm – 4:30pm Registration, Packet Pickup, and Merchandise Sales 
  •  8:30am – 4:30pm Silent Auction payment and pickup items at the convention center 
  • 12:00pm – 4:00pm Exhibits Open 
  • 12:30pm – 2:30pm Box lunches provided at the convention center upon return from the walks. Lunches are included if you purchased the full convention or 5 days walk pass. 
  • 12:30pm – 2:30pm Book Stamping 
  • Dawn to Dusk Bike Event 
  • 1:00pm – 2:15pm Credentialing – information only/no credential forms accepted
  • 2:30 – 4:30PM Regular Membership Meeting, Part 2(Delegates should get on earlier AM buses to and from the morning walk event.)
  • Convention Closes at End of the meeting 
  • 4:45pm – 6:45pm Co-Chair’s Social for new and departing AVA Board Members and Deputy Directors, Location TBA – Invite Only Event

Saturday, May 3, 2025

  • Community Walk in downtown Las Cruces , 10K start at 8am, 5K and 3K Community Group Walk at 9am. Rated 1A; (05/03/25 Main Date with Start/Finish Table) Available other dates as a seasonal event walk on your own. The start is at the Visit Las Cruces offices, 336 S. Main. Transportation on your own. City buses are free. You will walk through the large Farmer’s Market and Historic Mesquite District. 
  • Other Event: Town of Mesilla (Approximately 2.3 miles from the Convention Center) The Town will be holding their Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! City buses are free.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

  • Featured post-convention Walk at Socorro (2-½ Hours, 150 Miles from Las Cruces) Rated 1A, mostly flat surface (05/04/25 Main Date with Start/Finish Table) Transportation is on Your Own. This walk is available on other dates as a seasonal event walk on your own. Free University Mineral & Gem Museum but not open on Sundays.