1 Engage with emerging artists.

The Harwood Art Center celebrates the opening of two new exhibitions during a reception on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. SURFACE is an annual exhibition showcasing work by emerging artists from throughout the state. This year, the Albuquerque art center features 16 artists who reflect diverse backgrounds, mediums, and influences. Among them are husband-and-wife duo Mimolo; Victoria DeBlassie, whose work has been exhibited in Italy and who teaches art at the Native American Community Academy in Albuquerque; and Maki Kimura, a Japanese calligraphist.

Hózhó, the first solo exhibition by Maya Perez, is the culmination of a year’s work. Perez was part of the 2025 SURFACE exhibition and won the center’s solo exhibition award, which supports one artist from every SURFACE cohort in developing a new body of work. “I feel overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” Perez says. “It feels surreal.”

Over the past year, Perez says she has explored and reconnected to her Diné identity, listening to the stories of her people, learning to speak Navajo, and making work throughout the process. The show’s title, Hózhó, refers to the Diné concept of living well, and means to walk in beauty. “It encompasses balance, harmony, and beauty,” she says of the philosophy. “So, I really focused on those three terms throughout this exhibit.” See both exhibitions through July 25.

Festival Flamenco de Albuquerque brings international performers, workshops, and show to venues across Albuquerque. Photograph courtesy of Ariel Guevara.

2 Feel the force of flamenco.

Albuquerque becomes the center of the flamenco world for nine days during the 39th annual Festival Flamenco de Alburquerque, which begins this weekend. The lineup offers main-stage shows featuring flamenco artists from around the globe who push the folk art form to new heights, performances at Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque in a dinner-show setting, workshops for beginner and expert artists alike, and camps and classes for kids that introduce flamenco to the next generation of dancers. The festival stretches into next week and weekend. Find the full lineup and tickets here.

Watch more than 40 hot-air balloons rise above Moreno Valley during Balloons over Angel Fire. Photograph courtesy of Visit Angel Fire.

3 Be awed in Angel Fire.

Rise early and catch the mass ascension of more than 40 colorful hot-air balloons over the Moreno Valley in Angel Fire this weekend during Balloons Over Angel Fire, which draws balloonists from across the country. “It’s so special and unique to have a balloon rally here in the mountains,” says Wolfe Ashcraft, director of marketing at Angel Fire Resort, which sponsors the ballooning event. “You often get to see the pinks and oranges of the sunrise as the balloons take off.”

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6:30 to 9 a.m., attendees can enjoy tethered balloon rides and see the big balloons take to the skies. Attendees can also take tethered rides during a Friday evening balloon glow from 5 to 8 p.m. “I grew up here and took my first balloon ride at this event when I was about eight or nine,” Ashcraft says. Beyond balloons, there’s plenty of fun to enjoy in Angel Fire this weekend, including mountain mimosas at Angel Fire Resort, a summer concert series show on Saturday night, fly-fishing clinics, and a Porsche car show on North Angel Fire Road. “In one weekend, there’s a ton of stuff to do in the area,” Ashcraft says.  Wear layers to catch the sunrise ascensions, it’s chilly in the mountains even in June.

Brewdoso fills Wingfield Park in Ruidoso with New Mexico beer, wine, spirits, and live music. Photograph courtesy of Brewdoso.

4 Sip in the sun.

Grab a cold, locally brewed beer and enjoy some live music at Wingfield Park in Ruidoso on Saturday during Brewdoso: Craft Beer & Wine Festival. From noon to 9 p.m. the one-day festival offers boozy sips from 12 New Mexican breweries, wineries, and distilleries, including As Above So Below Distillery and Lost Hiker Brewing Company, to be enjoyed during concerts from groups including funk-rockers Fungi Mungle and indie band Driveway Dive. There are food options on-site to fuel your day.

The Silver City Clay Festival wraps up with exhibitions, artist talks, receptions, and the popular CLAY Market. Photograph by Jay Hemphill.

5 Catch clay artists.

Experience the final days of the Silver City Clay Festival this weekend, with closing receptions for ceramic-focused exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, and the CLAY Market at the Historic Murray Hotel. On Friday, a special festival reception at Made in Silver City celebrates the exhibition Finding Flow, featuring earthenware and stoneware pieces by Mary-Clare Wilkinson. Light Art Space hosts a closing reception for the juried exhibition Convergence on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., and another closing reception for the three-person show, Divergence, in the Flash Gallery at the same time. Don’t miss the CLAY Market, one of the festival’s highlight events, featuring 20 ceramicists from around the Southwest. Shop everything from sculptural pieces to functional works, like plates and mugs, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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