1 Attend one of the oldest Native gatherings in the country. 

Gallup gleams during its annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, which has been happening for more than 100 years with Indigenous attendees from around the country. This year, it takes place August 1–10, featuring processions, powwows, parades, rodeo events, the Ceremonial Queen Pageant, arts and crafts, performances, and traditional dances that showcase the breadth and beauty of Indigenous culture in America. Most of the offerings take place at the under the rusty sandstone cliffs of Red Rock Park just outside of town, but some are in Gallup too. Find a complete schedule on the event’s website.

The Lincoln community performs in the "The Last Escape of Billy the Kid" pageant. Photograph courtesy of Old Lincoln Days.

2 Take a trip to the Old West. 

Historic Lincoln will feel like you have stepped into the 1870s during the annual Old Lincoln Days celebration this weekend. Reenactors, arts and crafts and food vendors, lectures, live music, and kids’ activities all recall a time when Lincoln was a hotbed of Wild West action.

“Old Lincoln Days are one of, if not the, oldest folk festivals in New Mexico,” says Oliver Horn, regional manager of Lincoln and Fort Stanton Historic Sites. “It’s an opportunity for the public and families to come and enjoy what was once the most dangerous streets in America, transformed into the most festive street.”

Attendees can visit the old Tunstall Store, which has original items from the 19th century, and the courthouse where infamous outlaws spent time behind bars. “Lincoln is the most intact 19th century town left in New Mexico with the highest concentration of Territorial architecture,” Horn explains. “You can literally walk in the steps of Billy the Kid.” On Sunday morning, festivities wrap with a parade at 10 a.m.

During Old Lincoln Days, The Last Escape of Billy the Kid pageant brings the town’s outlaw history to life. The staged performance features locals who act out the story of the Lincoln County War, and of course, the trials and tribulations of Henry McCarty, alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid. Some of the play’s cast members’ families have been participating since the annual pageant began in the 1940s. The Last Escape of Billy the Kid takes the stage at the LPFC Pageant Grounds on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Nohe y Sus Santos (Nohe and Her Saints) performs at the Girls Inc. Stronger Together Fest. Photograph courtesy of Nohe y Sus Santos.

3 Celebrate girls and community. 

Hit the Santa Fe Plaza on Saturday with the whole family for the Girls Inc. Stronger Together Fest, which promises a stacked lineup of summer fun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “This party is really two things,” says Adrienne Murray, chief storyteller at Girls Inc. “It’s a reimagination of our arts and crafts fair but really centered on community. And it’s a celebration of 70 years of Girls Inc. in Santa Fe.” At 1:30 p.m., attendees can enjoy cupcakes with a dance party to mark the anniversary.

The all-day affair includes hands-on activities, 40-plus artist booths curated by local nonprofit Vital Spaces, music by Santa Fe–based cumbia rockers Nohe Y Sus Santos, Latin Grammy winner Shae Fiol, spoken word poetry, dancing by the Pueblo of Pojoaque Youth Hoop Dancers, food vendors, water stations, and plenty of community celebration. Don’t miss master storyteller Joe Hayes at noon, in what is billed as his second-to-last performance before retirement. Many Santa Fe women grew up hearing Hayes’s bilingual tales rooted in Southwest cultures, which he has been telling for nearly 40 years.

“It’s our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and independent,” says Murray. “We invite alumni back to get a sense of how Girls Inc. impacted them growing up, and we hear that it provided them with stability and community. They take those skills and make their communities better places.” 

Alternative country band JD Nash and the Rash of Cash opens on the East Stage of Westside Summerfest, in Albuquerque. Photograph courtesy of JD Nash and the Rash of Cash.

4 Seize the summer, Burque-style.  

Make the most of the season at Ventana Ranch Community Park in Albuquerque on Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. during Westside Summerfest. See live music on two stages from local stars like indie rockers Prism Bitch and “Cajun Billy Polka Grass” genre-benders DB Gomez & The Bosque Boys. Food trucks on site include Kimo’s Hawaiian BBQ and Zia Strong Snac Shac, and kids’ activities include face painting and rock climbing. Shop locally made candles, jewelry, and baked goods from more than 25 vendors, and enjoy a boozy sip at the cantina.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History's new exhibition, "Skywired: The Story of Radio-Controlled Flight," highlights the history and advancements of radio-controlled technology. Photograph courtesy of the New Mexico Museum of Space History.

5 Take flight. 

The legacy of New Mexican innovation and radio-controlled aircraft gets the spotlight in a new exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, titled Skywired: The Story of Radio-Controlled Flight. The show highlights radio-controlled technology and the important role of George V. Holloman, an Alamogordo local whose innovations helped drones go mainstream. See Skywired through August 1, 2026.

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