Mark your calendars! Aug. 30, 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of the Burning of Zozobra. This traditional cultural event will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it's an exciting tradition you won't want to miss. This wonderfully creative way to get the community together is hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe.
Burning of Zozobra is a tradition that started 100 years ago. In 1924, an artist by the name of Will Shuster, Jr. created the first Zozobra, a 6-foot-tall effigy. The name "Zozobra" is Spanish for "anxiety" or "gloom."
Over the years, it became an annual event and the effigy grew tremendously in size throughout the years. Each one is now a marionette over 50 feet tall. They are built with wood, wire, and cotton.
Slips of paper are filled out with people's gloomy thoughts, anxieties, and negativities. The papers then get slipped into the Zozobra and these thoughts of doom and gloom go up in smoke when the effigy goes down in flames. This gives everyone a clean slate of sorts for the year ahead.
Will you attend the 100th anniversary of the Burning of Zozobra this year? Remember, it will be held at Fort Mercy Park in Santa Fe on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. Gates to the event will open at 4 p.m. To learn more about the event and to purchase your tickets, head to the official Burning Zozobra website. You should also follow The Official Burning of Zozobra Facebook page for event updates.
Need a place to stay when attending the Burning of Zozobra event? Make a reservation at Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza located less than a mile from Fort Mercy Park.
What plans do you make during the fall months? Do you enjoy leaf-peeping around the state? How about a colorful fall hike? While the state steps into a different rhythm during the autumn months, a whole new world of activities seems to follow. Pumpkin picking, apple picking, hayrides, and haunted houses are just a few of the enjoyable activities we can enjoy this time of year. And then there are the slew of fall festivals that hit the calendars! We searched high and low and put together this list of some of the best fall festivals in New Mexico that are sure to put you in the spirit of the season.
If you've searched for a "fall festival near me," perhaps this one came up for you on the web. Located in Torreon, Manzano Mountain Retreat is hosting its annual Harvest Festival typically from the end of September until the end of October, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Once you find out all that's in store, you'll be making your fall plans to include this event! Bring the whole family and enjoy apples, cider, a climbing wall, family-friendly games, food, tours, and more. What a way to ring in the season!
If you're looking for fall festivals near Alamagordo, look no further than the annual Apple Festival that usually takes place at the beginning of October. Tickets are always nominally priced and it is always a great activity for the entire family. This festival of fall fun will have food vendors, cider donuts, live music, beer, wine, arts and crafts vendors, caramel apples, and even a petting zoo!
For fall festivals near Albuquerque, New Mexico, head to the village of Corrales, a suburb of the city, at the end of September. During this time, the Corrales Harvest Festival will be happening and you won't want to miss it! This fall event has been going strong since 1985 and is a great event to get a feel of the village's agricultural and cultural community. For even more fun during the event, be sure to attend The Hootenanny on Saturday night!
Close to the Colorado-New Mexico border lies the town of Red River. Each year, this town hosts its epic 18th Annual Oktoberfest. This year's much-anticipated event will be held in mid-October, and will make you feel like you're in a Bavarian country. Enjoy live entertainment, a beard and mustache competition, art vendors, food vendors, a kid's zone, and, of course, beer. Don't forget to wear your lederhosen!
To learn more about Oktoberfest in Red River, visit the Red River website as well as the Red River Facebook page.
5. Harvest Festival at El Rancho de las Golondrinas
For fall festivals near Santa Fe, nothing is quite like the Harvest Festival at El Rancho de las Golondrinas. This annual festival which has been going on for over 50 years is typically held near the beginning of October when the weather in New Mexico is still nice and inviting. El Rancho de las Golondrinas is a 200-acre living history museum with 30 historic buildings surrounded by the fall foliage of the cottonwood trees. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to stomp grapes, pick out pumpkins, make crafts, sample local food vendors, and more. This is a can't-miss fall event in Santa Fe!
One of the most amazing fall festivals near Albuquerque is its hot air balloon festival. Nothing rings in the fall season quite like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This special event is held every October and each year features over 600 hot air balloons in a kaleidoscope of colors. People come from far and wide, not just from around Albuquerque and other parts of New Mexico, but literally from all over the United States and all over the world. It is perhaps one of the best known hot air balloon festivals in the world. Also, be sure not to miss the balloon glow events. They are nothing short of spectacular!
Visit the
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" target="_blank">Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta website to purchase tickets and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Facebook page for updates.
For another fantastic fall event in and near Albuquerque, you can't go wrong with a beer festival! This year's New Mexico Brew Fest will be held near the beginning of October at Expo New Mexico. This is one of the most popular beer festivals in the country and, if you're a craft brew aficionado, you'll want to attend. Dozens of breweries, cideries, and distilleries from around the state will be here. It's possible you'll discover your new favorite brew here this year!
So, will you attend any (or maybe all) of the best fall festivals in New Mexico this year? If your favorite isn't on this list, please mention it in the comments along with any other fun activities you enjoy this time of year. Also feel free to tell us: What are some of your favorite things to do during the fall in New Mexico? What about your favorite Albuquerque fall festivals?
Have you thought about embarking on a fall hike in New Mexico this year? Just remember to download the AllTrails+ app to find some of the best trails around the state.
Thinking about taking a Land of Enchantment vacay soon? Then consider booking your flight via the Dollar Flight Club.
If you’re still in the mood for more New Mexico adventures, take a look at this video:
When summer fades away, it's time to get excited for all that the fall season brings! If you love cooler weather as much as I do, there's nothing better than making plans to spend some time outdoors on a farm. With corn mazes, apple orchards, and Oktoberfest celebrations, there's no end to the fun we can have this season. Here are some of the best pumpkin patch farms in New Mexico to enjoy this year:
Looking for the "best pumpkin patch near me" in Las Cruces? Bring your family to the Mesilla Valley Maze with 30 acres of family-friendly fun this fall. There will be hayrides, a corn maze, gem mining, duck races, a field of flowers, giant slides, a playground, and, of course, a pumpkin patch. They are typically open Saturdays and Sundays. Call or check the website for their hours and current ticket prices. Parking is free.
For pumpkin patches near Roswell, you can't go wrong with the one at Graves Farm & Garden. If you love pumpkin patches and hayrides, this is the farm for you! During the farm's fall festival, visitors can take a hayride to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect gourd. There will also be plenty of fun activities including cow milking, watermelon eating contests, a zip line, pony rides, a corn maze, and more. The corn maze turns into a haunted maze after dark on weekends in October and there will also be a zombie paintball hayride on weekends as well. Sounds fun, doesn't it? It really is one of the best pumpkin patch farms in New Mexico!
Typically open daily every fall season, the Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch is one of the best pumpkin patches near Albuquerque. Located in Rio Rancho, families will have a blast here playing mini golf, trying to find their way through the harvest maze, playing corn hole, visiting the farm animals, and picking pumpkins, among all the other exciting activities!
As one of the best pumpkin patches near Las Cruces, La Union Maze offers plenty of fun on weekends this fall. Ride the cow train, stroll through the Fairytale Trail, and take a hayride to the pumpkin patch...and that's just for starters. There's more fun to be had here including jumping pillows, slides, pig races, rubber duck races, a sports arena, and farm animals too. This pumpkin patch is typically open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but check the La Union Maze website for specific details. Tickets can be purchased online ahead of time.
Come one, come all to one of the best pumpkin patches near Albuquerque! McCall's Pumpkin Patch is typically open on weekends on Fridays, Saturdays ,and Sundays, but be sure to check the McCall's Pumpkin Patch website for specific hours and admission prices. During the Pumpkin Patch event, there will be over 60 attractions including a 15-acre corn maze, a candy cannon, a ropes course, a jumping pillow, a pumpkin train, and pumpkin picking.
Held on weekends in October, the Heirloom Acres Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is one of the best pumpkin patches near Carlsbad. This fall event is typically open on Saturdays and Sundays so check the website for specific hours and admission prices. While there will be corn mazes, campfires, and a variety of attractions to enjoy, you'll also get to cut your very own pumpkin off the vine in the pumpkin patch!
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If you were to do a search for "pumpkin farms near me," one of these spots would most certainly appear near the top of the list!
Do you plan on visiting any of these absolute best pumpkin patch farms in New Mexico this fall season? What are some of your favorite New Mexico pumpkin farms? What about best suggestions for overall fall activities? We'd love to read about your experiences in the comments section below!
If you plan on spending a lot of time outdoors this fall, you'll need the appropriate attire. Check out the selection of lightweight jackets from The North Face.
