1 Go wild for the Gila.

A plethora of offerings—from lectures to hikes to art exhibits—celebrate the Gila Wilderness centennial anniversary this weekend in Silver City. On Friday, the beautifully restored Silco Theater in Silver City hosts a speaker series acquainting listeners with many aspects of the Gila, from firsthand accounts by Grant County photographer Michael P. Berman to the role of wilderness during a panel that includes writer and conservationist Leeanna Torres and Aldo Leopold Foundation senior fellow Curt Meine.

Also on Friday, the Francis McCray Gallery at Western New Mexico University opens Gila Wilderness Observed, an exhibition of works by Philip Connors, Jan Haley, Michael Berman, and New Mexico Magazine photography contributor Jay Hemphill at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Gough Park hosts an all-day bash featuring games, live music, and locally made artworks. At 4:30 p.m., 13 WNMU students premiere the short films they created after spending 11 days immersed in the Gila (watch the trailers here) as part of a two-semester program.

On Sunday, grab your hiking boots and head out to multiple themed hikes in the Gila Wilderness area.

Try special New Mexico Cocktail Week drinks at bars and restaurants throughout the state, including El Rey Court's Fair Winds & Following Seas. Photograph courtesy of New Mexico Cocktail Week.

2 Lift your spirits.

New Mexico Cocktail Week toasts the Land of Enchantment with seven days of boozy dinners, garden parties, a margarita dance party, and much more. The brainchild of author and mixologist Natalie Bovis, who infuses all her events with fun, Cocktail Week takes place at venues in the OG Las Vegas, Silver City, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces.

Some of this weekend’s festivities include the sold-out Taco Wars, which kicks things off Friday at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Pavilion; a spirited stroll along Canyon Road on Saturday afternoon; and a Sunday garden party at Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery and a Chef & Shaker Dinner at Coyote Café. Find a full schedule and tickets to all the events here.

Folklore gallery showcased nine of Emelie Richardson's painted weavings, including Wait and See. Photograph courtesy of Folklore.

3 Pull at nature’s threads.

Santa Fe’s Folklore gallery and shop debuts Second Nature, a new exhibition by weaver Emelie Richardson on Saturday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Richardson, who has studied alongside master weavers at Ortega’s Weaving in Chimayó, creates handwoven earth-toned paintings that are both ethereal and natural. With titles like Spring Storm, Emerge, and Slow Shift, the exhibition’s nine works are especially rooted in the high desert and display a deep presence of place. The show runs through July 15.

Spend a few days learning about family agriculture and enjoying the beauty of Wines of the San Juan vineyards. Photograph courtesy of Wines of the San Juan.

4 Save the family farms.

Wines of the San Juan family vineyard hosts the Save the Family Farms convention on Saturday (9 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.–2:30 p.m.), in Blanco. “Big agriculture is taking over family farms,” says Brittny Arnold, Wines of the San Juan event coordinator and marketing director. “When we lose control of our food sources, what else do we have? We want to support family farms and secure the land for animals and people. It’s about protecting the land and helping our communities.” 

The two-day events include lectures from sustainability and farming experts such as Montana University’s Dr. David Sands and soil scientist Terry Buettner. The goal is to help families learn to protect and nurture their farms. But organizers say the event is really for everyone. “If you’re a farmer, a gardener, a foodie, or anyone who eats, this affects you,” Arnold says.

Attendees can also enjoy tasty treats from Pat’s Thai Food, listen to live music, relax beneath towering cottonwood trees, and sip some locally made wine. “The farm is a beautiful place to enjoy,” says Arnold.

Doug Hyde's (Assiniboine, Nez Pearce, Chippewa) "People of the Red Tailed Hawk" is among the works featured in the Santa Fe Botanical Garden's "Elements of the Earth." Photograph courtesy of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

5 Enjoy art in the garden.

The Santa Fe Botanical Garden unveils Elements of Earth: Contemporary Native Sculpture, a new exhibition featuring works by seven Indigenous artists on Saturday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Meet artists Greyshoes, also known as Upton Ethelbah Jr. (Santa Clara Pueblo, Apache), Sean Rising Sun Flanagan (Taos Pueblo), Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo), Tammy Garcia (Santa Clara), Doug Hyde (Assiniboine, Nez Pearce, Chippewa), Adrian Wall (Jemez) and Kathleen Wall (Jemez) while enjoying light snacks and live music.

Read more: For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.