1 Spice up your life.

Sample blazing bites at the National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, a culinary fest at Sandia Resort & Casino, in Albuquerque, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The vendors sell everything from salsas to barbecue sauces with a bite alongside fiery rubs, nuts, and cocktail mixers. Not everything is off the spice charts: Check out options like bizcochitos, fermented foods, and cheese curds. Happening annually since 1988, the 2026 fest includes more than 170 vendors and expects to draw around 20,000 visitors over the three-day run.

Meet local beauty and wellness pros offering demos, treatments, and styling tips at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Photograph courtesy of Adobe Stock/Prostock-Studio.

2 Get a glow on.

Have a glamorous time at the Albuquerque Convention Center during the Glow Up Expo, a showcase of local aestheticians, nail artists, makeup artists, and hair stylists. Vendors will give demos, perform on-site treatments, teach skincare and styling practices, and share wellness tips, all designed to help you look and feel your best. On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this inaugural festival offers special pricing and access to some of New Mexico’s most talented beauty, fashion, and health experts all under one roof.

See new works by Chris Pappan and Jesse Littlebird during a Friday reception at Blue Rain Gallery. Courtesy of Blue Rain Gallery.

3 See new work by contemporary Native artists.

Visit Blue Rain Gallery, in Santa Fe, on Friday evening and catch a reception for a new exhibition featuring works by Chris Pappan (Kaw/Osage/Cheyenne River Sioux) and Jesse Littlebird (Laguna/Kewa) from 5 to 7 p.m. “The show includes about 30 pieces of new work between the artists,” says Leah Garcia, marketing director at Blue Rain Gallery.

The Chicago-based Pappan has created works influenced by the traditional medium of ledger art. “He plays with ideas of abstraction and Native symbolism,” Garcia says. “In this new series, he’s leaning into more abstract shapes.” Littlebird’s Meditations on Fire series confronts the recent death of his father, artist and filmmaker Larry Littlebird. “He reflects on ceremony, memory, grief, and spiritual heritage; things his father taught him,” Garcia explains. “There are stories of time with his father that go along with the pieces.” Both Pappan and Littlebird sit at the forefront of contemporary Native art. “They both focus on themes of lineage and transformation,” Garcia says. See the exhibition through March 12.

Browse more than 100 historic and new quilts at the Gathering of Quilts hosted by the Winter Quilters Guild. Photograph courtesy of Gathering of Quilts.

4 Visit a collection of quilts.

A display of more than 100 historic and new quilts are on view at the Truth or Consequences Civic Center on Friday and Saturday during the Gathering of Quilts. Hosted by the Winter Quilters Guild of Sierra County, the event offers free admission, a raffle to win a quilt, and a selection of vendors selling quilting and sewing materials. It’s open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

Watch 14 short films celebrating fly fishing and conservation at Sky Cinema in the Railyard. Photograph by Scott Martin.

5 Attend a fish-filled film fest.

See 14 short films exploring fly-fishing during the Santa Fe Fly Fishing Film Festival at Sky Cinema in the Railyard on Sunday. The movies play from 1 to 3:15 p.m. with an intermission. Hosted by the Truchas chapter of Trout Unlimited, these screenings share the beauty of natural landscapes, supporting conservation efforts to protect these places and the fish that call them home. Get tickets here.

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