New Mexico's summer season is in full swing, jam packed with outdoor adventure, 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
From hands-on art classes to living like a Mountain Man to a celebration 100 years in the making, New Mexico’s museums and monuments offer a way to stretch your family’s fun this summer – and your dollar. At www.100reasonstogo.org, you’ll now find a new and comprehensive list of July and August events – most of them free or free with admission or membership, all of them a bargain.
Try your skill at making shadow puppets at the Museum of International Folk Art. Relive the days of Billy the Kid at the Lincoln State Monument. Enjoy a cheap date night at the New Mexico History Museum and Museum of Art with free admission every Friday night – and meet an author or artist while you’re there.
One of New Mexico’s major summer events, the 88th annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, is August 12-16, 2009.
Since 1922, the people of Gallup have been proud to present the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial each summer. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Native American arts, cultures, and traditions, “Ceremonial,” as it is known throughout the region, is a special time when indigenous peoples from throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico travel to Gallup to share the best of their creative and performing talents and diverse heritages with the rest of the world, and to reunite with other indigenous groups.
The 3rd annual New Mexico Black Expo, featuring information, art and entertainment showcasing African American talent and resources, is September 5, 2009, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque, Third Street and Tijeras.
The New Mexico State Office of African American Affairs is sponsoring and facilitating the Expo, which is designed by the African American community for the New Mexican community and its visitors. Entry is free.
Angel Fire hosts a three-day weekend event September 11-13, 2009, featuring a variety of headline speakers discussing UFOs, aliens and abductions, Area 51, ghosts, mythical monsters and Native American legends, as well as psychics and other paranormal experts at the Paranormal Symposium.
You've seen them on TV. You've read their books. You've followed their investigations. Now meet the paranormal experts in an informal arena where you can ask them questions, discuss their research, activities and experiences and see their artifacts.
The Connie Mack World Series for baseball players ages 16 to 18 returns to in Farmington for the 45th straight year August 7-4, 2009. Games are played daily at Ricketts Park.
Players the caliber of Cal Ripken, Jr., Edgar Martinez, Ivan Rodriguez, Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., Ozzie Smith and Derek Jeter are products of the Connie Mack program. The Connie Mack World Series is attended by approximately 80,000 fans.
Since Farmington hosted the first tournament in 1965, the Connie Mack World Series has grown to be the largest tournament in the realm of amateur baseball.
“Viva! Santa Fe” - a festival of dance, art, music, local foods, culture, and celebrities – is the opening celebration of events planned around the 400th Anniversary of Santa Fe.
“Viva! Santa Fe” is September 5-6, 2009, at Fort Marcy Park on the edge of downtown Santa Fe. Planning to join in the celebration are heads of state from the U.S., Spain, Mexico, and Native America.
“Viva! Santa Fe” will kickoff 16 months of non-stop anniversary action from an art series to monthly Santa Fe story nights to an outdoor cinema of films shot in New Mexico to a national classroom webcast to special anniversary editions of many of Santa Fe's signature events.
The annual Great American Duck Race in Deming offers a family fun-fest featuring fast duck race competitions, a tortilla toss, the Great American Outhouse Race, a green chili cook-off, food booths, craft vendors and nonstop entertainment.
This year’s them is "Rock n’ Roll,” and both pageant and parade participants will be judged on how well they depict the theme. Expect to see everything from Chuck Berry to Elvis Presley – look-a-likes, of course.
Most Duck Race activities take place at McKinley Duck Downs (the Luna County Courthouse Park).
In the new Disney/Pixar film “Up,” a balloon salesman ties 1,000 helium-filled balloons to his house in search of adventure.
You, too, can experience the adventure of a lifetime witnessing more than 600 hot air balloons at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® by entering Albuquerque’s High Flying adventure Sweepstakes
Experience the excitement of Albuquerque, the ballooning capital of the world, October 5-7, 2009 with a getaway for two to the world’s largest hot air ballooning event – the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. The getaway is valued at more than $1,500:
American Eagle will begin new daily, roundtrip air service between the Santa Fe Municipal Airport and Los Angeles LAX beginning November 19. The announcement was made shortly after the first of American Eagle's direct service flights between Dallas and Santa Fe landed.
"I am thrilled that American Eagle is leading the way in returning commercial air service to Santa Fe with flights now to Dallas and soon to Los Angeles," said NM Governor Bill Richardson. "Commercial air service is the key to the economic development of the area and to growing New Mexico’s thriving tourism and film industries.”
With the lifting of the U.S. State Department travel advisory to Mexico May 15, 2009, New Mexico Tourism Department Secretary Michael Cerletti says now’s the time to fly the friendly skies between Albuquerque and Chihuahua City, Mexico aboard AeroMexico’s non-stop, round-trip flight.
Taos Pueblo Pow Wow, July 10-12, Taos
Jamboree Arts & Crafts Fair, July 11-12, Cloudcroft
Fire & Ice Bike Rally, July 17-19, Grants
Little Beaver Celebration, July 18-19, Jicarilla Apache Reservation
National High School Finals Rodeo, July 19-25, Farmington
Cowboy Days, July 24-25, Chama
Zia Art Festival, July 25-27, Ruidoso
Spanish Market, July 25-26, Santa Fe
Old Lincoln Days, August 7-9, Ruidoso
Los Alamos Festival, Fair & Rodeo. August 14-16
Fort Stanton Live, August 11–15, Fort Stanton
Hot Chile Days & Cool Mountain Nights, August 14-16, Red River
Music from Angel Fire, August 16-September 1, Angel Fire, Taos
Santa Fe Indian Market, August 22-23, Santa Fe
Sunflower Festival, August 29, Mountainair
Enchanted Circle Century Tour & Top of the World Bike Races, August 29-30, Red River
Tejano Fiesta, August 29-31, Lordsburg
Hatch Chile Festival, September 5-6, Hatch
Annual Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta, September 5-6, Truth or Consequences
New Mexico Wine Festival, September 5-7, Bernalillo
Harvest Wine Festival, September 5-7, Las Cruces
All American Futurity, September 5-7, Ruidoso Downs