RICK JENKINS GREW UP in an off-roading family that loved to explore and camp in remote locations. “When I think about off-roading, I think about going outdoors and getting to places most people can’t go,” says Jenkins, vice president of the Cliffhangers Four Wheel Drive Club, in Farmington. “You see parts of history like old ghost towns, mines, ruins, and old train tracks.” Jenkins shares that passion each year during Farmington’s Four Corners 4x4 Week, September 1–7, which includes an auto parts swap meet, Fall Crawl guided trail runs, Mods Outdoor Show, Off-Road Downtown Takeover, and the World Extreme Rock Crawling Grand Nationals. “Farmington is an excellent destination for the off-road community, because it’s quick and easy to get to trails,” says Jenkins, whose daughter is a competitive rock crawler. While enthusiasts from throughout the country test their vehicles on scenic desert trails in and around Farmington, there’s plenty for spectators to enjoy as well, including a rock crawling simulator.
Hop shop. Find gear and upgrades for your ride at the Mods Outdoor Show at the Farmington Civic Center on September 4 and 5. “The entire show is a beer garden,” Jenkins says. “So you can visit all the Mod vendors while enjoying a drink.”
Cruise with the crew. On September 4, the Cliffhangers Four Wheel Drive Club hosts an easy trail ride through Largo Canyon. Available to any high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle, it passes Native sites and petroglyphs. “It’s really great,” Jenkins says. “Even some of the more extreme-built Jeeps decide to join this run and see a piece of history.”
Go extreme. “You can start rock crawling with a stock vehicle and then get all the way up to a completely custom vehicle,” says Jenkins, who notes the Brown Springs OHV Recreation Area is a great place to catch all the action of the World Extreme Rock Crawling Grand Nationals.
Folklórico dancers enliven the plaza during Mesilla’s Diez y Seis de Septiembre Parade and Fiesta.
Photograph courtesy of Norm Dettlaff/Visit Las Cruces.
DIEZ Y SEIS DE SEPTIEMBRE PARADE AND FIESTA
September 13–14
The historic town of Mesilla, which was part of Mexico until 1850, celebrates Mexican Independence Day with the Diez y Seis de Septiembre Parade and Fiesta on the plaza, September 13–14. Marking the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain in 1810, the fiesta includes dancing, mariachis, and vendors selling handcrafted goods.
See Antonin Fourneau and Manuel Braun’s "The Screamaton" at Paseo.
Photograph courtesy of Antonin Fourneau and Manuel Braun.
Fiesta de Santa Fe
August 30–September 7
The beloved Santa Fe tradition brings food, music, dancing, and parades to the plaza. Don’t miss the Desfile de los Niños, also known as the Pet Parade, and the fine arts and crafts market.
Pickamania, Kingston
September 5–7
Black Range Lodge, in the Gila National Forest, hosts this intimate music festival featuring bluegrass, Americana, and folk performers on an outdoor stage.
Blossoms & Bones Festival, Abiquiú
September 11–13
Genre-defying singer Santigold and guitarists Hermanos Gutiérrez are among the acts taking the Ghost Ranch stage during this three-day music fest.
Paseo, Taos
September 12–13
Under the theme of “Thresholds,” Taos becomes the backdrop for projected artworks, performance pieces, and installations during this weekend-long festival.
Sample the city’s best restaurants at Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta.
Photograph courtesy of Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta.
Bands of Enchantment Music Festival, Albuquerque
September 20
Four nights of live music at the KiMo Theatre conclude with outdoor performances, a car show, vendors, and more along Central Avenue.
Turquoise Trail Studio Tour
September 20–21, 27–28
Visit artists in their studios along this scenic byway that meanders through hills and mining towns that are as beautiful as the artworks its residents create.
Aspencade Festival, Red River
September 26–28
Live music, arts vendors, and changing leaves make this early-fall festival a dreamy time.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta
September 24–28
Nearly 100 wineries pour sips during this culinary and wine extravaganza that features Santa Fe’s best restaurants
