New Mexico Event Calendar

New Mexico Events Calendar for 2025

Welcome to my 2025 New Mexico Event Calendar—a curated guide to the festivals, traditions, and offbeat happenings that give the Land of Enchantment its name. Whether you’re drawn to ancient Pueblo ceremonies, indie art fairs, or the thrill of watching horned lizards dash for glory at a pie festival (yes, really), you’ll find something here to spark your curiosity.

I’ve included a mix of iconic, can’t-miss events and lesser-known local gems that make New Mexico such a fascinating place to explore. I do my best to keep this calendar updated at least a month ahead, so you can plan accordingly.

Got a favorite New Mexico event I should know about? Feel free to shoot me a note at [email protected].

As always, double-check dates and details with official event websites—schedules can shift.

Happy Travels!

Mark (aka The New Mexico Travel Guy)

April 2025

April 5 – 6, 2025: Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest (Albuquerque). Billed as “the world’s largest festival for chocolate, coffee, and gourmet foods,” the Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest event brings together thousands of sweet-toothed caffeine lovers for a weekend of indulgence. While I haven’t personally attended this one yet, it definitely draws a crowd and seems to be a love-it-or-leave-it experience based on the reviews. If you decide to check it out, go in with an open mind—and maybe an empty stomach.
April 12, 2025: World Art Day (Carrizozo): Celebrate creativity in the high desert with a full day of art, music, and merriment in downtown Carrizozo. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., galleries will open their doors to the public, including the Tularosa Basin Gallery of Photography and several spots along 12th and 13th Streets. Word Art Day highlights include a Hanuman Puppet Theatre performance at 10:30 a.m. (1010 13th Street), a local artisan Fashion Walk at 2 p.m. (Biban & Company on Central Avenue), and a free outdoor concert at 4:30 p.m. behind the Tularosa Basin Gallery.
April 19, 2025: ZoZo Underground Music Festival (Carrizozo). The Malkerson Gallery 408 and Photozozo Gallery of Photography are hosting an afternoon of free music and festivities behind the Photozozo Gallery, located off 12th Street in Carrizozo. The event runs from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and promises a lively atmosphere for music enthusiasts.
April 24 – 26, 2025: Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (Albuquerque). Recognized as North America’s largest powwow, the Gathering of Nations brings together over 500 tribes from across the United States and Canada. Held at Expo New Mexico, the event features traditional dancing and singing competitions, the Indian Traders Market with numerous artisans and vendors, and the crowning of Miss Indian World. Additional highlights include Stage 49, showcasing contemporary Indigenous music performances, and the Horse & Rider Regalia Parade, honoring the heritage of the Horse Nation.

May 2025

May 2 – 4, 2025: Spring Migration Celebration at Bosque del Apache (San Antonio, NM). Held annually at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico, the Spring Migration includes three days of in-person birding field trips led by Holly Merker and Alex Harper.
May 10, 2025: New Mexico Jerky Fest (Albuquerque). Held at Isleta Resort & Casino, the New Mexico Jerky Fest celebrates all things jerky—beef, bison, elk, you name it—along with live music and a classic car show thrown in for good measure. I haven’t been to this one yet, so I can’t vouch for the jerky, but it looks like a fun and flavorful way to spend a day if you’re into savory snacks and old-school engines.
May 9 – 11, 2025: Rio Grande Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show (Albuquerque, NM). The Rio Grande Kennel Club (RGKC) will host its annual dog shows and trials over Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-11, 2025, at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque. These events will feature all-breed conformation shows, obedience, and rally trials, bringing together dog enthusiasts and competitors from various regions.
For more information about the Rio Grande Kennel Club and their events, you can visit their official website at Rio Grande Kennel Club
May 23–25, 2025: Mayfest in the Mountains (Red River). Replacing the traditional Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, Red River’s Mayfest in the Mountains offers a family-friendly weekend filled with live music, food vendors, and activities at Brandenburg Park. A notable feature is the Wall of Honor tribute at the Conference Center, honoring those who have served.

June 2025

June 20 – 28, 2025: Albuquerque Flamenco Festival. The 38th Festival Flamenco Alburquerque is scheduled for June 20-28, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Presented by the National Institute of Flamenco, this event is renowned as the largest flamenco festival outside of Spain. Attendees can anticipate world-class performances, workshops led by esteemed artists, and a vibrant gathering of flamenco enthusiasts celebrating the rich heritage of this passionate art form. Here’s a link to the Albuquerque Flamenco Festival website.
June 21, 2025: Albuquerque Taco Fest (Albuquerque). Taco Fest takes over Balloon Fiesta Park on June 21 with a full day of mouthwatering tacos, tequila tastings, and throwback hip-hop performances. In addition to the eats and beats, you’ll find lucha libre wrestling, a showcase of the Southwest’s finest lowriders, and towering loaded nachos. I haven’t been yet, but it looks like a flavorful, high-energy experience for taco lovers of all ages.

July 2025

July 4 – 6, 2025: Roswell UFO Festival (Roswell). The annual Roswell UFO Festival is a classic. The event commemorates the 1947 Roswell Incident and attracts enthusiasts worldwide. Attendees can anticipate a variety of activities, including guest speakers, live entertainment, a costume contest, and family-friendly events, all celebrating the city’s unique extraterrestrial heritage. If nothing else, you’ll walk away with some fun photos. Here’s an article I wrote about the Roswell UFO Festival.
July 14–20, 2025: Silver City CLAY Festival (Silver City). Celebrating its 12th year, the Silver City CLAY Festival brings together artists, educators, and enthusiasts to explore the multifaceted world of clay. The week-long event features exhibitions, workshops, and the popular CLAY Market, where artisans showcase and sell their clay-centric creations. I’m planning to check it out this year to see what it’s all about.
July 26 – 27, 2025: Contemporary Hispanic Market (Santa Fe). The Contemporary Hispanic Market is the largest event of its kind, drawing art enthusiasts from across the United States. Every July, collectors flock to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to discover and purchase unique works from a wide array of talented artists. This vibrant market, set in the heart of the city, is free to attend and offers something for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned art collector or just enjoy browsing. Here’s a link to the Contemporary Hispanic Market website.

August 2025

August 16 – 17, 2025: Indian Market (Santa Fe). The 103rd Santa Fe Indian Market, organized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), is scheduled for August 16-17, 2025, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. As the world’s oldest and most prestigious Native North American fine art market, this prestigious event will feature over 1,000 Native American artists from more than 200 tribes, showcasing a diverse array of traditional and contemporary art forms, including jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings, and sculptures. In addition to the art market, attendees can look forward to live performances, cultural demonstrations, and special events such as the Indigenous Fashion Show. Here’s a link to the Indian Market website.
August 21–24, 2025: Great American Duck Race (Deming). Deming’s signature event, the Great American Duck Race, returns for its 46th year. This beloved festival features live duck races on wet and dry tracks, a parade, hot air balloon ascensions, and the Duck Royalty Pageant. Additional attractions include a carnival, vendors, and various tournaments, ensuring fun for all ages.
August 23, 2025: White Oaks Miner’s Day (White Oaks). Each August, the historic ghost town of White Oaks springs back to life for Miner’s Day—a lively celebration of the town’s mining heritage and quirky charm. Highlights include the small-town parade, live music, gold panning, and the festive crowd gathered around the legendary No Scum Allowed Saloon. It’s a great mix of Old West history, local pride, and just the right amount of weirdness. If you’re up for a day trip that feels like stepping back in time, this one’s worth the detour. Here’s a blog post I wrote after attending White Oaks Miner’s Day.
August 30 – September 1, 2025: Hatch Chile Festival (Hatch). The Hatch Chile Festival is an annual event held in Hatch, New Mexico. This renowned festival attracts over 30,000 visitors each year, offering a variety of activities including chile roasting, a parade, carnival rides, and local food vendors, all celebrating the region’s famous chile peppers. For more information and updates, you can visit the official website: hatchchilefestival.org

September 2025

September 6, 2025: Dragonfly Festival at Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Roswell). The annual Dragonfly Festival is a free, family-friendly event that celebrates the area’s rich biodiversity, particularly its over 100 species of dragonflies and damselflies. Attendees can participate in guided tours led by professional dragonfly experts, enjoy live programs featuring bats and raptors, and engage in various hands-on activities, including arts and crafts, archery, and wildlife observation. The festival also offers opportunities to learn about local wildlife through discovery stations and van tours, making it an educational and entertaining experience for all ages. Here’s a link to learn about last year’s Dragonfly Festival to give you an idea of what to expect.
September 13, 2025: The 43rd Annual Pie Festival (Pie Town). he Annual Pie Festival in Pie Town, New Mexico, is a beloved celebration of homemade pies, small-town charm, and community spirit. Held every September, the festival features pie-baking contests, a pie-eating competition, live music, and family-friendly activities. Visitors from all over come to sample a variety of pies and enjoy a quintessentially American experience in the heart of New Mexico’s scenic landscape. To learn more about Pie Town, here’s an article I wrote about the Pie Town and the festival.

October 2025

October 4 – 12, 2025: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Albuquerque). The largest hot air balloon event in the world, with hundreds of balloons filling the sky each morning, evening glows, and live entertainment. Here’s a link to the Balloon Fiesta event website.
October 18, 2025: Trinity Site Open House (White Sands Missile Range). The Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb was tested in 1945, opens to the public just one day in 2025, on October 18th. Visitors can tour Ground Zero, view historical photographs, and visit the McDonald Ranch House, where the bomb’s plutonium core was assembled. The Trinity Site Open House offers a unique opportunity to explore a pivotal location in world history.

November 2025

November 1, 2025: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration (Mesilla / Las Cruces). Día de los Muertos is a vibrant celebration that honors departed loved ones through art, music, and cultural traditions. The event features art exhibits, live musical performances, community altars, and a local vendors marketplace. Families can also enjoy children’s crafts and a play area, making it a meaningful occasion for all ages. To learn more, you can visit the Las Cruces Dia De Los Muertos website.

December 2025

Late November – December 30, 2025: River of Lights (Albuquerque). Take a leisurely walk along our 1.6-mile trail, where you’ll encounter over 700 unique, hand-crafted light displays. Along the way, catch sight of animated and 3D sculptures, all brought to life by millions of sparkling lights. It’s New Mexico’s top pick for a walk-through holiday light show, and it just might become yours too. Here’s an article that I wrote about the River of Lights event to give you an idea of what to expect, and here’s the River of Lights event website.
December 3 – 7, 2025: Festival of the Cranes (San Antonio, NM). Held annually at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico, the Festival of Cranes celebrates the migration of sandhill cranes and other birds. It features tours, workshops, and other activities for bird nerds like me. I also wrote a blog post about San Antonio and the Festival of Cranes.
Early December, 2025 (Final Date TBD): Old Town Holiday Stroll (Albuquerque). Enjoy holiday shopping, live music, and the grand lighting of the Christmas tree in the heart of Albuquerque’s historic Old Town.
Early December, 2025 (Final Date TBD): Ruidoso Festival of Lights Parade (Ruidoso). The Festival of Lights Parade in Ruidoso is a cherished event that gathers friends and family for an evening of sparkling lights and community spirit. Following the parade, the celebration continues at the After Party in Wingfield Park. Here’s a link to the Ruidoso Festival of Lights event website.
Early December, 2025 (Final Date TBD): Las Posadas on the Plaza (Santa Fe). Las Posadas, a cherished tradition celebrated globally, depicts Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging before Jesus’ birth. This year marks the 48th annual presentation of this historic Hispanic event, brought to life by local volunteers and participants from various northern New Mexico communities. The candle-lit procession kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe Plaza, wrapping up with festive carols and merriment. The History Museum will close at 3 p.m. to get ready for this complimentary public gathering. Arrive at the Plaza by 5:00 p.m. to prepare your candles.
December 24, 2025: Canyon Road Farolito Walk (Santa Fe): On Christmas Eve, Santa Fe’s historic Canyon Road is illuminated with farolitos (small paper lanterns), creating a magical atmosphere as visitors stroll through the art district. The event begins at sunset on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
December 25, 2025: Luminaria Ski and Snowshoe at Enchanted Forest (Red River). Imagine spending the evening of Christmas Day (December 25th) on a short cross country ski / snowshoe trail loop that is lit up by luminarias or farolitos. It’s supposed to be an amazing experience. Reservations available for 6pm or 8pm. Here’s a link to Enchanted Forest website for more info.
December 31, 2025: Taos New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade (Taos). Ring in the New Year with a torchlight parade at Taos Ski Valley, where skiers carry torches down the mountain, followed by fireworks.
Pueblo Feast Days and Dances (various locations in NM): Many of New Mexico’s pueblos host traditional dances and feasts during December, especially around Christmas. These events are rich in Native American culture and are open to respectful visitors. Be sure to contact the pueblo in advance to confirm event details and visitor protocols.

Missed It in 2025? Here’s What’s Likely Coming Back in 2026

January 2025

January 17 – 19, 2025: Albuquerque Comic Con (Albuquerque). The Albuquerque Comic Con is an annual pop culture convention held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, bringing together fans of comics, anime, gaming, science fiction, and fantasy.
January 25, 2025: World’s Largest Matanza (Belen). Hosted by the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County, the annual World’s Largest Matanza takes place each January at Belen Eagle Park. This centuries-old tradition—brought to the Americas by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century—involves the communal butchering and cooking of a pig, with the meat shared among friends, family, and neighbors. It’s a celebration of heritage, food, and community, and also serves a great cause: raising scholarship funds for local students. And if you’re curious what it’s like to experience a Matanza firsthand, check out my blog post from the 2025 event.
January 29 – Feb 2, 2025: Taos Winter Wine Festival (Taos). A multi-day celebration of wine and culinary arts, featuring wine tastings, gourmet dinners, and seminars at local restaurants and Taos Ski Valley. Here’s a link to the Taos Winter Wine Festival website.

February 2025

February 1 – 2, 2025: Angel Fire Shovel Race Championships (Angel Fire). A thrilling, snow-packed race where participants ride modified snow shovels down a ski hill, reaching high speeds in this unique winter sport. Here’s a link to the Angel Fire Shovel Race event website.
February 21 – 23, 2025: Santa Fe Film Festival (Santa Fe). Showcasing international and independent films, this festival includes screenings, panels, and discussions with filmmakers in Santa Fe’s scenic venues. Here’s a link to the Santa Fe Film Festival event website.
February 27 – March 4: Mardi Gras in the Mountains (Red River). Red River, New Mexico, puts its own spin on the classic Mardi Gras celebration with this week-long festival. The Mardi Gras in the Mountains event kicks off with the Thursday Night Parade down Main Street, followed by the symbolic Burning of the Wild Tchoupitoulas to cast away worries. Festivities include live music, costume contests, and the Grand Ball, in case you’d like to experience Mardi Gras traditions against a snowy mountain backdrop.
February 28 – March 2, 2025: National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show (Albuquerque). For lovers of all things spicy, this show features the hottest chili peppers, sauces, and salsas, along with BBQ demos and tastings. Here’s a link to the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show website.

March 2025

March 1–2, 2025: Truth or Consequences Rock & Gem Show (Truth or Consequences). Hosted by the Sierra County Rock and Gem Society, the annual Truth or Consequences Rock & Gem Show offers a weekend filled with geological wonders. Attendees can explore a variety of vendors showcasing rocks, minerals, gems, beads, jewelry, and fossils. Activities include geode cracking, gold and sapphire panning, educational presentations, and field trips to local rockhounding sites. For families, there’s free rock painting for kids under 12. It’s an opportunity for both seasoned collectors and curious newcomers to delve into the world of geology. Admission and parking are free.
March 8, 2025: Las Cruces Cowboy Days (Las Cruces). Experience the Wild West with rodeo events, live cowboy music, reenactments, and cowboy poetry at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. Here is a link to learn more about Cowboy Days at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
March 14 – 15, 2025: Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the KiMo Theater (Albuquerque). Featuring thrilling outdoor adventure films from around the world, this traveling festival lands in Albuquerque for two nights of cinematic excitement to help you plan your next outdoor adventure. You can find more information about the Albuquerque’s showing of the Banff Mountain Film Festival at the local film festival event webpage on Stone Age Climbing Gym’s website.

As you can see, there’s a wide variety of things to experience in New Mexico in 2025, so get out there and check it out.

Happy travels!