New Mexico’s fall season is almost upon us, filled with unique festivals and cultural activities that beg for attention. As Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, I welcome you to New Mexico, a place like no other.
Michael Cerletti
For 17 days every September, Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque becomes its own little city during the annual New Mexico State Fair, with free entertainment, concerts, rodeos, carnival rides, farm animals, horse shows, art displays, competitions, and much more. Youll want to explore every cranny of its 236 acres to avoid missing anything during this wonderful statewide celebration.
Presided over by the State Fair Queen, the New Mexico State Fair offers livestock exhibits and competitions of all kinds to local farmers, ranchers, and 4H club members, while school children from all over the state look forward to seeing their art work displayed in one of the exhibit halls.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a world-renowned attraction and destination for kids of all ages. For more than three decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently through the crisp fall air.
Guests from all over the world come to Albuquerque to celebrate ballooning. Literally hundreds of balloons will be taking flight from the Balloon Fiesta Park this year October 3 through 11, 2009.
America's longest and highest railroad, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad between Chama, New Mexico, and Antonito, Colorado, announces both its awe-inspiring line-up of Fall Foliage train rides, and murder, mayhem and more on the Moonlight Express moonlight dinner trains.
The glorious shades of fall blanket the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Mountains each autumn. The best way to view Nature's colorfest is on board the C&TS RR. Chugging over high mountain rails, winding through canyons, and taking in the stupendous golden hues of Aspen and Cottonwood forests nestled amongst the giant Ponderosa Pines, is a site that photographers and nature lovers alike clamor to experience. And they won't be disappointed.
Bring in the harvest with the villagers of El Rancho de las Golondrinas; crushing grapes for wine by foot, watching burros grind sorghum to make molasses, stringing colorful chile ristras, and enjoy bizcochitos fresh from the horno and tortillas hot off the comal at the annual Harvest Festival October 3-4, 2009, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. each day
The Harvest Festival offers 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.
Microbreweries, vendors, food, German "oom-pah" polka music, contests and activities for the kids await at the Oktoberfest Festival in Red River October 9-11, 2009 (Columbus Day Weekend).
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.
Travelers seeking an affordable vacation packed with activities should consider Albuquerque for their next getaway. Others are touting how great Albuquerque is on the 'best city' lists for several attributes, why not come visit and add Albuquerque to your 'best cities to visit' list?
The annual Corrales Harvest Festival and the Wagner's Farmland Experience corn maze attract visitors by the thousands in search of some old-fashioned country fun for children of all ages.
The 24th annual Corrales Harvest Festival, September 26-27, 2009, is indeed a community event, with special activities planned throughout the village, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. Festivities include the annual pet parade, salsa contest, home-made pie contest, juried arts and crafts show, 5K and 10 K runs, and hayrides throughout the village, plus: Entertainment, ponies, vaulting and face painting at the Village Mercantile; wine and gourmet food tasting at the Frontier Mart and beer tasting at the Corrales Bistro Brewery; Mercado Antiguo, crafts for children, apple tasting and corn shelling at the Old Church; animals, blacksmiths, a puppet playhouse, Spanish guitar and traditional music at Casa San Ysidro; and Kid's Zone with rides at the Corrales Recreation Center east soccer field.
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.
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New Mexico Tourism Department Information
September 2009 Events
19-20 Golden Aspen Motorcycle, Ruidoso - 575-257-8696
20-28 High Country Fish Fest, Eagle Nest - 505-377-2420
23-27 Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta- 505-438-8060
or santafewineandchile.org
26-27 Corrales Harvest Festival, Casa San Ysidro
- 505-898-3915
28-10/4 Eastern New Mexico State Fair, Roswell - 575-688-3210
October 2009 Events
2 – 4 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival
- www.riograndefestivals.com
Oktoberfest,
Red River - redrivernewmex.com
2-5 Shiprock Fair
– 800-448-1240
3 Road
Apple Rally and Junior Rally, Farmington - 800-448-1240
3-4 Octoberfest Juried
Art Show - Cloudcroft – www.cloudcroft.net
4 St.
Francis of Assisi Feast Day, Nambe Pueblo - nambefalls.com
4-5&11 Studio tours in Cerrillos, Madrid and San Marcos
- 505-438-7003
9-10 Four Corners Storytelling
Festival, Farmington - 505-599-1273
10 Los Leones
de Mesilla Car Show - 575-644-3747
Ancient
Way Cycling Tour, Grants - 505-287-4802
Open
Air Market, Jemez Pueblo - jemezpueblo.org
10-11 Abiquiu Studio Tour - www.abiquiustudiotour.org
17-18 Octoberfest, Ruidoso - 575-257-6171
Peanut
Valley Festival, Portales - www.portales.nm
Duke
City Marathon - www.dukecitymarathon.com
High
Rolls Apple Festival - www.highrollsfestivals.org
November 2009 Events
2 Dixon Studio
Tour - dixonarts.org
13-15 International Mariachi Conference & Concert
- 575-525-1735
15 Mixed Nuts Arts & Crafts
Show, Rodeo - hidalgocounty.org
17-22 Festival of the Cranes, Socorro - friendsofthebosque.org
26 Christmas on the Pecos
through 12/31, Carlsbad - christmasonthepecos.com
27-30 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Holiday Show - www.riograndefestival.com