As Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, I welcome you to New Mexico, a truly diverse destination. Autumn is New Mexico's golden season. Escape to the mountains, where the trees change color, days are crisp and cool, and the bitter-sweet scent of pinion lingers in the clear, dry air; or head south for mild year-round temperatures, dazzling blue skies, and sunny days.
There is no place like New Mexico and no time like now.
Michael Cerletti
September 5-21, 2008 is the 70th anniversary of the New Mexico State Fair -
“A Fair to Remember” - with its free entertainment, concerts, rodeos, carnival rides, farm animals, horse shows, art displays, competitions, and much more. You'll want to explore every cranny of Expo New Mexico’s 236 acres to avoid missing anything during this wonderful statewide celebration.
The Pueblo of Jemez announces the opening of a new exhibition focusing on the history of formal education in the Jemez Valley, featuring the 100-year-old school at Jemez Pueblo.
The new exhibit - “Remembering Our School Days: Education in the Jemez Valley” - opened Saturday (August 16, 2008) and continues through February 2009. It includes an interactive storyboard and ongoing heritage and oral history projects in collaboration with local school communities.
The 2008 Taos Fall Arts Festival celebrates 34 years of exhibiting the fine art of Taos County artists September 26 – October 13, 2008, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, at the Rio Grande and Bataan halls on Civic Plaza Drive. Opening night reception is September 26, 5-8 p.m.
Taos Fall Arts Festival consists of three art exhibits: Taos Living Masters Invitational, Taos Invites Taos, and the Taos Open.
Taos Living Masters is comprised of artists who have lived in Taos County for at least 15 years, have a national and/or international reputation, and have been nominated by their peers.
Farmington celebrates New Mexico’s longest running mountain bike race, the 28th annual Road Apple Rally, October 4, 2008. In what has been called “the most fun mountain bike race there is,” the Road Apple Rally offers classes for everyone.
All races start and finish at Lion’s Wilderness Park Amphitheater, with the beginners riding a 15-mile loop, and all others riding the 30-mile Road Apple Loop. Climbing on the course is minimal, making it fast and fun.
Microbreweries, vendors, food, German “oom-pah” polka music, contests and activities for the kids await at the Oktoberfest in Red River, October 3-5, 2008.
The Red River Chamber of Commerce hosts the three-day family event in Brandenburg Park, right in the middle of Red River on the Enchanted Circle, high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico.
Bring in the harvest with the villagers of El Rancho de las Golondrinas; crush grapes for wine by foot, watch burros grind sorghum to make molasses, string colorful chile ristras, and enjoy bizcochitos fresh from the horno and tortillas hot off the comal at the annual Harvest Festival October 4-5, 2008, 10 a.m. - 4p.m. each day
The Harvest Festival offer visitors an in-depth look into the celebrations, music, dance and many other aspects of life in the period when this part of the United States was ruled by Spain and Mexico. Enjoy music and dancing on our entertainment platform and buy arts and crafts directly from the artisans. Participate in an outdoor Mass and procession for San Isidro, led by the Archbishop of Santa Fe. You will never look at history the same way again.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque announces the opening of “Meso-Americhanics (Maneuvering Mestizaje) de la Torre Brothers and Border Baroque” September 12, 2008, 6 p.m., with a free public reception in the Center’s Art Museum. On September 20, 2008, brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre will lead a free tour of their exhibition, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located at 1701 4th Street SW on the corner of 4th Street and Avenida César Chávez.
Las Cruces, New Mexico’s second-largest city and a crossroads of Hispanic, Indian and European cultures, fertile river valleys and vast deserts, offers its visitors a summer to remember with a host of events providing both heritage and hospitality: the Whole Enchilada Fiesta, Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo, Trinity site Tour at the nearby White Sands Missile Range, the Mesilla Jazz Happening and the La Viña Wine Festival.
One of the nation’s premier cowboy events, the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, returns to the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino October 10-12, 2008. Now in its 19th year, the Symposium welcomes more than 20,000 visitors annually to celebrate all things Western.
The Harvest Festival offer visitors an in-depth look into the celebrations, music, dance and many other aspects of life in the period when this part of the United States was ruled by Spain and Mexico. Enjoy music and dancing on our entertainment platform and buy arts and crafts directly from the artisans. Participate in an outdoor Mass and procession for San Isidro, led by the Archbishop of Santa Fe. You will never look at history the same way again.
Bring in the harvest with the villagers of El Rancho de las Golondrinas; crush grapes for wine by foot, watch burros grind sorghum to make molasses, string colorful chile ristras, and enjoy bizcochitos fresh from the horno and tortillas hot off the comal at the annual Harvest Festival October 4-5, 2008, 10 a.m. - 4p.m. each day