IN THE SPRING OF 1950, the city of Hot Springs changed its name to Truth or Consequences as part of a contest hosted by a national radio show with the same moniker. As a thank you, show host Ralph Edwards threw the first Truth or Consequences Fiesta, and it’s been a tradition ever since. Fiesta commissioner Destiny Mitchell has had a front-row seat since her family moved to Truth or Consequences in 1986. “My mom had a beauty salon on Broadway,” she says. “I literally grew up with the celebration in my front yard. We all dressed up to participate and visit the carnival. It was so much fun.” The fiesta celebrates its 75th year with a parade featuring former KOB4 meteorologist Steve Stucker as grand marshal, a cornhole tournament, a beer garden, pancake breakfasts, live music, and the return of the Fiesta Rodeo at the Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Arena. “Fiesta is back—big and glorious,” Mitchell says.
Star turn. “From the first fiesta in 1950 until the 1970s, Ralph Edwards and a whole Hollywood entourage would come down to T or C for the party,” Mitchell says. “It was a huge thing. The Geronimo Springs Museum has binders full of headshots of celebs who came.”
Laugh track. “When the town’s name change was announced in 1950, it was on April Fools’ Day,” Mitchell says. “At first, everyone thought it was a joke.”
Gag gifts. The fiesta kicks off Friday at the historic El Cortez Theater with a beard and mustache contest and the Mr. Fiesta Follies, which features politicians and police officers performing a talent show in prom dresses. “It stays true to the game show spirit,” Mitchell says.
More than 60 racers participated in last year’s Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race.
Photograph courtesy of Roland Pabst.
TURQUOISE TRAIL PACK BURRO RACE
May 3, Los Cerrillos
Nestled in the mineral-rich hills just southwest of Santa Fe, the town of Los Cerrillos hosts the Turquoise Trail Pack Burro Race on May 3. With both a three-mile and a six-mile course, the event sees animal and human pairs parade through town at a quick pace. The runners adhere to strict guidelines, ensuring the burros don’t endure any abuse on their paths to glory.
Slide into family fun at Mayfest in the Mountains.
Photograph courtesy of Town of Red River.
Smokey Bear Days, Capitán
May 2–3
The Smokey Bear Historical Park celebrates the wildfire prevention icon with parades, music, dancing, a chainsaw carving contest, food, and arts and crafts vendors.
Mayfest in the Mountains, Red River
May 23–25
Red River’s Brandenburg Park hosts rock climbing, cornhole, live music, great food, and arts and crafts vendors.
Silver City Blues Festival
May 24–25
Kick off summer with the best regional and national blues acts in Gough Park.
New Mexico Wine Festival, Albuquerque and Las Cruces
May 24–26
Happening in both towns over Memorial Day weekend, this festival invites attendees to sip vino from the best vintners in the state.
Native Fashion Week at the Santa Fe Railyard brings together Indigenous designers, models, and artists for four days of cutting-edge runway shows.
Photograph courtesy of Tira Howard.
DOUBLE TIME
Two events spotlight Indigenous designers, models, and artisans.
SWAIA Native Fashion Week
May 7–11, Santa Fe Community Convention Center
The Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) has partnered with Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week to host 30 designers for runway shows, industry panels, trunk shows, and pop-up events. “It’s a really beautiful expression of Native-Indigenous voice, not only from the designers, but from the entire industry,” says SWAIA executive director Jamie Schulze (Northern Cheyenne/Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate). DON’T MISS: Jeremy Donavan Arviso (Diné/Hopi/Akimel O’odham/Tohono O’odham) challenges perceptions with bold graphics and messages like in his Bows N’ Arrows take on the classic Guns N’ Roses T-shirt. “I’m excited to see his next step in his creative pathway,” Schulze says.
Native Fashion Week Santa Fe
May 8–11, Santa Fe Railyard
Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika), who has produced the SWAIA runway shows for more than a decade and launched last year’s inaugural Native Fashion Week, dresses up the Santa Fe Railyard with 30 designers and 100 models for runway shows, a VIP Sky Railway train event, panel discussions, trunk shows, and a film festival. “The goal is to grow into something citywide that’s a real economic powerhouse for the Indigenous designers and everyone involved,” says Bear Robe, Native Fashion Week Santa Fe’s founder and executive director. DON’T MISS: Products of My Environment x The Son of Picasso creates modern streetwear using sustainable materials and traditional Diné dyes. “A lot of my designers are visual artists who really push the boundaries and expectations of what Indigenous art and fashion are,” says Bear Robe.
