COLUMBUS – Pancho Villa State Park. On March 9, 1916, soldiers led by Mexican Gen. Francisco “Pancho” Villa attacked the military camp at the border town, killing 18 Americans. This was the only ground invasion of the continental U.S. since 1812.
Pancho Villa State Park’s extensive historical exhibits depicting the raid and the U.S. Army’s subsequent Punitive Expedition into Mexico are now housed in the park’s new $1.8 million, 7,000-sq.-ft. Exhibit Hall. The Park will host a variety of programs and workshops at 10am on Saturday mornings.

Pancho Villa State Park is located in the village of Columbus, 35 miles south of Deming via NM Hwy. 11. From El Paso, take NM Hwy 9, 65 miles west. The Exhibit Hall is open year-round, from 8am to 5pm, seven-days a week. The adjacent campground, offering picnicking, 62 electrical hookups and tenting sites, is open year-round, 24-hours daily.
575-531-2711
www.nmparks.com

RUIDOSO – Area Events:
Clint Black in Concert, Jul 13. Clint Black has written, recorded and released more than 100 songs, many of which have achieved hit song status. Tickets start at $25. Time: 6pm. Location: Inn of the Mountain Gods.
877-277-4577
www.innofthemounaingods.com

The Smothers Brothers, Jul 18. Legends of comic timing, one of the most popular duos in the history of comedy. Time: 8pm. Location: Spencer Theater.
575-336-4800

37th Annual Ruidoso Arts Festival, Jul 25-27. From humble beginnings as an outdoor tent show, the Ruidoso Art Festival has evolved into an annual indoor show renowned as one of New Mexico’s Premier Juried Fine Arts Shows. The show features 110 artists from various states. Location: Ruidoso Convention Center. Admission: $1-$5.
877-RUIDOSO (877-784-3676)
www.ruidosonow.com/artfestival

Fort Stanton Live, Aug 2-3. Come join in the fun at the historic old cavalry fort on the banks of the Bonito. There are reenactments of Indian Wars, Civil War and the 1850s military drills, parade, and encampment and civilian impersonators. Location: Fort Stanton,
New Mexico.
575-258-4338
www.fortstanton.com

Trace Adkins, Aug 8. Concert is held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.
877-277-4577
or Ticketmaster online

All American Futurity, Sep 1. Ruidoso Downs Racetrack presents the World’s Richest Quarter Horse Race, a $2 million purse. Racing begins at noon.
575-378-4431

The 38th Annual Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally, Sep 17-21. Location: The Ruidoso Downs Sports Theater Complex, 3/4 miles east of the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack entrance.
800-452-8045
575-257-8696
www.motorcyclerally.com

Aspenfest Weekend, Oct 4-5. Weekend celebrations include a parade through midtown (Sat at 10am, from the corner of Sudderth & Mechem to the 700 block of Sudderth Dr; arts and crafts at the Schoolhouse Park on Sudderth (Sat from 9am-5pm, admission $2 adults, free to kids under 12), Chili Cookoff at Little Creek RV Park (Sat 9am-5pm), Rod Run Car Show at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack (Sat 8am-4pm, free admission).
www.ruidosonow.com/aspenfest/

Asleep at the Wheel, Oct 9. This concert kicks off the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium at the Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.
575-378-4114
www.cowboysymposium.org

19th Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, Oct 10-12. Cowboy poets, musicians, chuckwagon cooks and craftsmen as well as all-day entertainment, vendors and more are at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack.
575-378-7262
www.cowboysymposium.com

TUCUMCARI – Area Events:
Tucumcari Car, Motorcycle and Children’s Show, Jul 12. The show includes an Air National Guard Concert Band, who offer a free concert at the auditorium at 7pm. Location: Wailes Park. Hours: 10am-5pm.
575-461-9679

Quay County 4H Rodeo and Horse Show, Jul 25-26. Location: Quay County Exhibit Hall.
575-461-0562

Auto Show, Jul 27. The show includes games, music, cage fights, skateboard competition and prizes, all at the Convention Center.
575-403-5029 • 575-791-9192

Route 66 Quilt and Fiber Show,
Aug 2-3. Show takes place at the Senior Citizens Center on Sat from 10am-4pm and Sun from 10am-3pm.

Quay County Fair and Carnival,
Aug 12-16. Location: Quay County Exhibit Hall.
575-461-4201

Quay County Heritage Dayze,
Sep 19-20. Location: Tucumcari Historical Museum.
575-461-4201

Rotary Air Show, Oct 1. Location: Tucumcari Municipal Airport.
575-461-1200

ALBUQUERQUE –
Area Events:
Silk Painters International Special Exhibition: The Art of Ballooning – Patterns in the Sky,
Aug 1-Oct 12. Location: Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
505-768-6021
www.cabq.gov/balloon

4th Annual Salsa Fiesta, Aug 16. Enjoy salsa music and dance, a competition for Albuquerque’s “best salsa,” live entertainment throughout Old Town. Location: Historic Old Town.
505-822-1662
www.cabq.gov/crs

New Mexico Wine Festival, Aug 30-Sep 1. New Mexico’s oldest wine festival offers wine tastings from several of New Mexico’s wineries plus live entertainment, food, high-quality arts and crafts in Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque. Location: Loretto Park, Bernalillo.
505-867-3311
www.nmwine.com

New Mexico State Fair, Sep 5-21. Located in the heart of Albuquerque, the New Mexico State Fair is one of the largest fairs in the nation with PRCA rodeo and nationally known country recording stars, and Indian and Spanish villages. For 17 days, visitors explore art, agriculture, animals, entertainment, food, carnival rides, exhibits and shopping all in one place. Location: EXPO New Mexico.
505-265-1791
www.exponm.com

7th Annual Go! Downtown Arts Festival 2008, Sep 26-28, a celebration of contemporary art, sculpture photography, fashion and arts and crafts. Location: downtown on Gold Avenue
505-243-2230
www.downtownabq.com

Biennial Southwest 2008,
Sep 28-Nov 30. A juried exhibition, presenting a wide range of contemporary art currently being produced in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. Location:
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History.
505-243-7255
www.cabq.gov/museum

20th Annual Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival, Oct 3-5. “Under the Big Top Tent” at 1-25 and Paseo del Norte.
505-292-7457
www.riograndefestival.com

Fall Indian Market, Oct 4-5. Buy direct from more than 50 Native American artisans.
505-843-7270
www.indianpueblo.org

20th Annual Fine Arts Show,
Oct 4-12. Location: Old San Ysidro Church in Corrales.
505-897-3942

LAS CRUCES – Events:
New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival, Aug 30-Sep 1. Celebrate New Mexico’s wine harvest with grape stomping, wine tasting, live entertainment and more. Location: Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Hours: noon-6pm each day. Admission: $13 for adults 21 and older, under 21 free but must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
575-522-1232
www.nmwine.com

Hatch Chile Festival, Aug 30-31. Sample some of the world’s finest chile; enjoy food, crafts, an auction, live music and more. Location: Hatch.
575-267-5050
www.hatchchilefest.com

White Sands Balloon Invitational,
Sep 20-21. A collection of colorful balloons fill the air over the white gypsum dunes of White Sands National Monument.
575-430-7585
800-826-0294
www.nps.gov/whsa

The Whole Enchilada Fiesta,
Sep 26-28. New Mexico has a chile festival and an apple festival, why not an enchilada fiesta! Downtown Las Cruces is hosting one big street party complete with food, dancing, a parade and the making of the official world’s largest enchilada! Location: Meerscheidt Recreation Center.
575-526-1938
www.enchiladafiesta.com 

Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo, Oct 1-5. The Southern New Mexico State Fair has something for everyone; a midway, an auction, food, music, livestock shows and a cowboy rodeo. Location: Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
575-524-8602
www.snmstatefair.com  

7th Annual Mesilla Jazz Happening, Oct 4-5. The Plaza hosts free live jazz music at two venues. A special Wine Garden at each venue features eight New Mexico Wineries who provide wine tasting. Horse drawn wagons offer free transportation between the Mercado and the historic plaza. Location: Old Mesilla Plaza.
575-524-3524
575-524-3262
www.oldmesilla.org 

SOCORRO – Events:
13th Annual Socorro Chile Harvest Triathlon, Aug 9. A three-part race for adults and kids: swimming, running and biking. Starts and ends at the City of Socorro pool. Come early and enjoy one of the Hot August Nights on Aug 8, from 6-10pm featuring live music, food and fun on the Historic Plaza.
575-838-3035
Info and registration
www.sdc.org/ssr/chile

Enchanted Skies Star Party, Sep 24-27. One of America’s leading star parties filled with a night observing the skies at 10,700 feet atop South Baldy peak, a chuck wagon dinner at the El Camino Real International Heritage Center, workshops and lectures for amateurs and professionals on current research frontiers.
575-835-8927

Trinity Site Open to Public, Oct 4. This is where the first atomic bomb was exploded July 16, 1945. White Sands Missile Range is only open twice a year. Van Shuttle offered by the Socorro Heritage and Visitors Center.
575-479-6124 • 575-835-8927

Very Large Array Guided Tours, Oct 4. This twice-annual tour runs in conjunction with Trinity Site. Van Shuttle offered by the Socorro Heritage and Visitors Center.
575-835-7000 •575-835-8927

6th Annual SocorroFest, Oct 11. It’s a harvest festival featuring a full day of entertainment on three stages, including two spirits tents offering New Mexico wine and microbrew. The weekend begins on Friday night with Fianna Fumana performing at N.M. Tech Macey Center.
575-835-8927