1 See wool become yarn.

Many of us wear wool, but few know how it gets from a sheep’s coat to the yarn that makes our cozy sweaters. At the Bosque Redondo Fiber Fair near Fort Sumner, learn about this process through sheep shearing demonstrations, workshops, and ranger talks on Saturday. Six experts from Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild will demonstrate many of the wool-curing processes, from shearing to washing, skirting, and carding, using the memorial’s resident Navajo Churro sheep. Fair attendees can also check out the site’s exhibitions and take an audio tour on its interpretive trail. The fiber fair is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrate Smokey Bear's 81st birthday with family-friendly fun, fire safety demos, food vendors, and a parade.

2 Attend Smokey’s birthday party.

Smokey Bear, a furry symbol of fire safety, was a real bear who was rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico before becoming an icon. This weekend Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitán celebrates what would have been his 81st birthday. During Smokey Bear Days on Friday and Saturday, park visitors can learn about fire safety, eat snacks from food vendors, see a parade, and participate in family-friendly activities and games.

Cheer on burros and runners as they tackle rugged trails. Photograph courtesy of Roland Pabst.

3 Watch burros race the hills.

Burros gallop through three- or six-mile courses in Cerrillos on Saturday during the Turquoise Trail Burro Race. Up to 60 teams of burros and runners hit the start line on Main Street at 10 a.m. and take to the paths that wind through the yucca- and sage-covered hills surrounding the town. The event is run by the Western Pack Burro Association, which hosts races in small towns across the West, honoring the legacy of working burros in historic mining communities. (Did you know the hills around Cerrillos were once rich with turquoise?)

Join the fun in Truth or Consequences for a three-day fiesta packed with a rodeo, parade, concerts, and a rubber duck race. Photograph courtesy of T or C Fiesta Archive.

4 Find joy at a three-day party.

The 75th annual Truth or Consequences Fiesta brings a diamond anniversary’s worth of fun to town. The weekend-long event offers partygoers a rodeo, a parade, a rubber duck race, a skateboard competition, a film festival, games, and live music from performers including headliners Metalachi, which is exactly what it sounds like: a mash up of metal and Mariachi tunes. The whole shebang is overseen by Grand Marshal Steve Stucker, the former KOB4 meteorologist and recipient of a lifetime achievement Emmy award. Find a full schedule online.

Shop unique, handmade gifts from Indigenous artists at the Bernalillo Indian Arts Fair. Photograph courtesy of the Bernalillo Indian Arts Festival.

5 Get mom a great gift at an Indigenous Art Fair.

The Bernalillo Indian Arts Fair takes over a new venue this year: the Sid Cutter Pilots Pavilion at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque. With over 100 artists attending the juried market, it’s a diverse array of Indigenous art, and a great place to shop for a Mother’s Day gift. Expect mediums ranging from fetishes to paintings to jewelry. Snack on delish bites at the food court from vendors Platero Frybread, Native Food, and Busy Bee Ice Cream. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Get tickets here.

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