1 Shop folk art from around the world.

A spectacular gathering of artists from around the world, the 21st annual International Folk Art Market takes over the Santa Fe Railyard Park this weekend. The 2025 cohort of 150 artists hails from more than 50 countries, representing traditions including Zulu basketry, Myanmar weaving, Māori carving from New Zealand, and cartonería sculpture from Mexico.

The market is divided into neighborhoods that group artists together in categories like innovation, women-led, sustainability, and the Ramada, where attendees will find the most traditional artists. “We have generations of families presenting in one tent together in the Ramada,” says Stacey Edgar, executive director at IFAM. “This year, we have included three New Mexican artist families as well.”

Layout is always a top priority for the IFAM planners, who want to keep visitors cool and entertained. “We are really excited about adding a lot more shade. The more pleasant it is, the longer people can stay and enjoy,” says Edgar. “We have opened the performance green area, so everyone will get to enjoy all the performances while shopping our artists this year.” Beginning Thursday night, expect live music and artist demonstrations, with free admission on Sunday sponsored by New Mexico True.

Catch the thrills of the WildThing Championship Bullriding in Gallup. Photograph courtesy of Visit Gallup.

2 Cowboy up.

Hold onto your hats as the WildThing Championship Bullriding brings some of the biggest and best bucking bulls to Red Rock Park in Gallup this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, the rodeo opens at 8 p.m. with massive cash prizes and firework finales. The event is cash-only and the proceeds from concessions benefit the Manuelito Navajo Children’s Home. Buy tickets at the door.

Strata Gallery in Santa Fe opens a new group exhibition showcasing 15 artists exploring today's issues through painting, photography, and mixed media, including works by Grant Johnson. Photograph courtesy of Strata Gallery.

3 See artists capture the zeitgeist.

The 5th annual group exhibition at Strata Gallery, in Santa Fe, showcases works by 15 artists from throughout the country as they respond to current events. Ranging in perspectives and mediums, the exhibition opens with a reception on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and runs through August 1. It includes paintings, collage, drawings, and photography, capturing this moment in time in a range of artistic expressions. For example, Grant Johnson focuses on climate change in his  drawings; Lin Medlin contemplates spirituality and existence through landscapes; and Carlos Canul reflects on violence and war in his poetic drawings.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center kicks off its Pueblo Pottery Arts Celebration with demonstrations, talks, and a fashion show. Photograph courtesy of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

4 Immerse yourself in Pueblo pottery.

As the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque ramps up to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026, they’re ushering in a series of new programs and big exhibitions, including a refreshed rotation in the permanent exhibit We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story, opening later this summer. In the lead-up, the center hosts the Pueblo Pottery Arts Celebration & Gathering Weekend, starting Friday. The ceramics-centric event includes talks from expert potters such as Barbara Gonzales (San Ildefonso Pueblo), the great-granddaughter of Maria and Julian Martinez, who continues her family’s tradition of making black-on-black pottery; a full day of demonstrations, and a fashion show by Sage Mountainflower (Ohkay Owingeh, Taos Pueblo, and Diné). Find tickets and a full schedule here.  

Jo's Farms in Albuquerque invites you to stroll lavender fields and pick your own fragrant bouquets. Photograph courtesy of Jo's Farms.

5 Stop and pick the flowers.

The pale purple fields at Jo’s Farms in Albuquerque welcome visitors to pick their own fragrant lavender bunches this Friday through Sunday. Evening sessions run from 6 to 8 p.m., when the summer heat cools, and early morning sessions from 7 to 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday beat the midday sun. Beyond the blooms, the sweet event offers ice cream, coffee, pastries, and bath and body products like lavender candles and oils for sale. “You can enjoy the benefits long after the visit,” says owner Lisa Fontanarosa, who named the farm after her mother. “It’s like a getaway to the French countryside. Walking in a lavender field is otherworldly and calming. It really creates lasting memories.” It’s $30 to pick an oversized bouquet, and the farm grows multiple varieties, including a culinary strain from Provence.

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