1 See New Deal art.

Using a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, gallupARTS has united more than 120 works made during the New Deal program in the 1930s and 1940s into the Gallup New Deal Virtual Museum. “The artwork has been housed in different locations with varying degrees of accessibility,” says Rose Eason, executive director at gallupARTS. “Since we don’t have a physical space to display the work, the idea was that we could unify the collection and make it publicly accessible.” The ongoing virtual exhibition includes tinwork, murals, furniture, paintings, drawings, and architecture by artists like Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache), Harrison Begay (Diné), Taos artists Gene Kloss and Joseph Fleck, and Santa Fe artist Sheldon Parsons.   

The museum “opens” on Saturday with a day of events at the McKinley County Courthouse including a tea party, crafts, lectures, and IRL tours of some works. The celebration wraps with Sounds in Place: Music of Diné People, History, and Land, a performance by trumpeter Delbert Anderson (Diné) and instrumentalist Jacob C. Morgan (Diné) at the El Morro Theatre at 7 p.m. Activities start at 9 a.m.

Celebrate spring in the mountains at the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival in Edgewood. Photograph courtesy of the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival.

2 Party at the Ren Faire.

Enjoy springtime in the mountains at the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival in Edgewood this weekend and next. Hosted in the Wildlife West Nature Park, the events follow a theme each weekend (first Celtic, then Medieval). The festivities include live music on five stages with performances from on-theme acts including the Harp Twins and the Scott Jeffers Traveler band. This weekend, catch a traditional Scottish wedding and performances from Celtica Nova. Next weekend, enjoy jousting tournaments, knights in armor, and a queen’s court. The festival happens Saturday and Sunday both weekends.

The Santa Fe Playhouse kicks off its 2025 season on Saturday with Duncan Macmillan’s "Every Brilliant Thing," directed by Colin Hovde and starring Santa Fe native Pilar O’Connell. Photograph courtesy of Santa Fe Playhouse.

3 Set the stage for theater.

The Santa Fe Playhouse opens its 2025 season on Saturday with Duncan Macmillan’s Every Brilliant Thing. Directed by Colin Hovde, the play explores what we cherish in this life—little things like ice cream and laughter—while delving into issues such as mental health and pain. Santa Fe native Pilar O’Connell, who plays the role of the narrator, makes their first appearance on a City Different stage in 18 years.

Multidisciplinary artist R. Melinda Hoffman draws from her student journals for her new exhibition, "Accoutrements, Amulets, and Adornments," opening at form & concept in Santa Fe. Photograph courtesy of form & concept.

4 Go analog.

Multidisciplinary artist R. Melinda Hoffman dug into her past for inspiration in her new exhibition, Accoutrements, Amulets, and Adornments, which opens at form & concept in Santa Fe on Friday with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. On a cleaning spree, she discovered a collection of journals filled with project ideas from her time as a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and used those to inform new creations.

Hoffman’s practice is dedicated to creating without technology’s interference. Using an analog process, her work stands out as antithetical to an increasingly digital world. On view through May 10, Accoutrements, Amulets, and Adornments includes an interactive component that invites attendees to contribute their own objects during a series of workshops, while a chalkboard offers a space for viewers to add their own ideas to the exhibition.

Automobile enthusiasts gather in Artesia this weekend for the Main Event Car Show, featuring iconic lowriders, classic rides, and hot rods. Photograph courtesy of Artesia Chamber of Commerce.

5 Hop into the car scene.

Automobile enthusiasts come from around the country to enjoy iconic lowriders, classic rides, and hot rods at the Main Event Car Show in Artesia this weekend. On Friday, the cars are on view from 1 to 5 p.m. before a 6 p.m. parade, when the cool rides cruise up and down Main Street. On Saturday, the car show takes over downtown from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect throaty engines and intricate paint jobs, food trucks, live music, a comedy show, and a heap of spring fun.

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