1 Attend a new Native art festival.

After almost 20 years as a Memorial Day tradition in Santa Fe, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture’s Native Treasures Art Market is being replaced by a new Native Elements Art Festival + Market. The festival, which kicked off Wednesday, features more than 150 Indigenous artists, an art walk, live music, a night market, a Friday night VIP reception at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens, and a closing reception on Memorial Day. “We expanded to be more than just a weekend event,” says David Young, executive director at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens, who is co-directing the fest with the Institute of American Indian Arts and the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. Both the opening and closing receptions take place at the gardens.

“This kicks off the summer arts scene in Santa Fe,” says Young. “It provides a platform for Native artists.” Native Elements will highlight “featured” artists, including jeweler Cree Larance (Tewa/Hopi/Navajo) and sculptor and stone carver Cliff Fragua (Jemez Pueblo), with prime space at the market in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. The Memorial Day closing reception at the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens is free and will have food and drinks available for purchase, plus live music from Jacob Shije. Find tickets to other events, and more info about the artist lineup here.

Celebrate summer at Riverfest in Farmington with rafting, live music, various contests, and more. Photograph courtesy of Riverfest New Mexico.

2 Chill along the river.

Languid summer days are best spent by water, which is exactly what Riverfest in Farmington invites attendees to do every Memorial Day weekend. The 37th annual event includes wiener dog racing, disc golf, a car show, a duck race, a recycle fashion show, live music, art vendors, a beer and wine garden, and more in both Animas Park and Berg Park. Festgoers can float the river in a raft, see a raft parade, and participate in a fun run.

Slide into family fun at Mayfest in the Mountains. Photograph courtesy of Town of Red River.

3 Start summer in the mountains.

Red River welcomes summer with Mayfest in the Mountains, a weekend full of events for the entire family. Ride carnival rides and play cornhole at Brandenburg Park, see live music performances from artists including Michael Smith and Casey James, jump around in bounce houses, and eat food from vendors at the park. Festivities start Friday.

The Silver City Blues Festival celebrates its 30th year with a three-day event featuring blues ensembles, food trucks, a beer garden, and more. Photograph courtesy of Silver City Blues Festival.

4 Sing the blues.

Silver City’s Gough Park hosts bands from across the country during the 30th annual Silver City Blues Festival on Saturday and Sunday. “This event has been happening for three decades and now it’s part of Silver City culture,” says Stephen Lindsey, a coordinator at the Silver City Blues Festival. “To celebrate, we’ve extended the festival’s physical footprint, we’re bringing in national acts, and bringing back the community car show. This will be one of our biggest and best events yet.”

See Ray Fuller and the Bluesrockers from Columbus, Ohio, Stoney Curtis Band from Los Angeles, and local favorites Felix y Los Gatos, in addition to other ensembles from Nashville, California, and Washington. Sip a cold one at the beer garden, get sustenance from food trucks, and shop an artisan market between shows. Beyond Gough Park, find pre-fest performances in local venues and bars Friday night, and Saturday and Sunday after the park festivities end.

The New Mexico Wine Festival offers a taste of over 200 wines, live music, artisan booths, and food vendors in Albuquerque and Las Cruces this weekend. Photograph courtesy of New Mexico Wine.

5 Enjoy local wine and sunshine.

Welcome Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer with the annual New Mexico Wine Festival, which happens simultaneously in Albuquerque and Las Cruces from Saturday through Monday, noon to 6 p.m. Featuring 200-plus wines from the state’s best vintners, the festival offers tastings, live music, food trucks, and artisan markets. Find the Albuquerque fest at Balloon Fiesta Park, and the Las Cruces event at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Sippers receive a commemorative Viva Vino wine glass with ticket purchase.

 

Honor fallen soldiers at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire with ceremonies Sunday and Monday. NeONBRAND on Unsplash

6 Bonus: Honor our veterans.

On Memorial Day, Angel Fire honors fallen soldiers at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with ceremonies on Sunday and Monday. The swooping white structure and chapel were built by the family of U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Victor David Westphall III after he was killed during the Vietnam War. Completed in 1971, it was one of the first memorials to Vietnam’s fallen soldiers. Attend a flag march Sunday at 9 a.m. and memorial vigil at 6 p.m. A Memorial Day ceremony begins Monday at 11 a.m.

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