1 Attend Native Fashion Week in Santa Fe.

SWAIA’s Santa Fe Native Fashion Week

Hosted by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts—the organization behind the legendary Indian Market—Native Fashion Week takes over the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in downtown Santa Fe this weekend. All day Friday and Saturday, the Native Creatives Market offers shoppers a trunk-show-like experience where they can buy the newest garments and accessories from designers including Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), Products of My Environment x Son of Picasso (Kiowa/Diné/Taos Pueblo/Delaware), and Himikalas Pamela Baker (Squamish/Kwakiutl/Tlingit/Haida). The event culminates on Saturday with the Taste of Native Fashion Gala, where attendees will see five handmade couture pieces in an intimate setting by Baker, Michaels, Jontay Kahm (Plains Cree), Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Wailaki/Okinawan/Shoshone-Bannock), and Lauren Good Day (Arikara/Hidatsa/Blackfeet/Plains Cree). “We will be showcasing designs throughout the room while enjoying Indigenous culinary arts and a few performers throughout the evening,” says Peshawn Bread (Kiowa/Comanche/Cherokee), producer of the event. “It will be small and simple,” Bread adds—but sure to pack a stunning punch.

Indigenous fashion show at Dineh & Co.

When designers caught wind that a fashion show featuring Sage Mountainflower was happening at Dineh & Co., a gallery on Canyon Road, they wanted to join in. Now, the event features seven Indigenous designers—including Penny Singer (Diné) and Bonnie Woodie (Diné)—and 14 models walking the Canyon Road runway. “All of our designers are Indigenous, and the runway will feature a DJ,” says Brenda Bluehouse, who co-owns the gallery with her husband, jeweler Milford Calamity, and others. “People tend to classify art as just paintings and sculpture. But you rarely see them talking about fashion as art. Through this fashion, these designers tell their stories and there is so much significance behind the colors and patterns they choose.” Catch the free event on Friday at 4 p.m.

Chizhii Pop-Up

Shop one-of-a-kind garments from Navajo designer Carrie Wood at this pop-up shop on Water Street in downtown Santa Fe. The pop-up also features fine jewelry by Matagi Sorenson (Yavapai-Apache Nation), clothing by Cree Larance (Hopi), and more. Find it at 411 W. Water St., Suite D, on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Follow Wood on Instagram (@chizhii) for sneak peeks at what will be available.

Release endangered Gila trout, explore wildlife activities, and celebrate the opening of a new park at Gila Fest.

2 Help one of the rarest fish in the world.

On Saturday, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife invites families to enjoy the beauty of nature at GilaFest. The community gathering celebrates the opening of a new park, the Glenwood Allred Wildlife Management Area, and the recently completed Glenwood State Fish Hatchery, which has been in the works for the last decade. Attendees can tour the new hatchery at 1, 2, and 3 p.m., enjoy birding and hiking activities, participate in archery and bowfishing simulations, and watch a fish release. “The Gila is one of the most beautiful regions in the state,” says Curt Coffman, assistant chief of education at the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. “It’s a great place to see wildlife.”

The day begins at 8 a.m. with a birding hike in conjuction with the New Mexico Birding Big Year. “This is a great way to get a glimpse of the bird diversity in the Gila,” Coffman explains. At 9:15 a.m. GilaFest invites folks to release Gila trout into the river at the Catwalk Recreation Area. “It’s a super fun, family-friendly activity where you get to put one of the rarest trouts in the world back into the wild.” Attendees can walk along the catwalk to release fish farther upstream or assist closer to the parking area, making the activity accessible for a range of mobility levels, Coffman says.

At 10 a.m., the festival portion begins at Glenwood Community Park, where there will be hands-on activities, ATVs to check out, and local nonprofit groups, including Nature Niños, leading fun activities until 2 p.m. Find a map and more information here.

Explore rare artifacts, historic footage, and personal stories in the Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit. Photograph courtesy of the Route 66 Exhibit.

3 See an exhibition covering 100 years of Route 66.

A new exhibition at the Rex Museum in Gallup celebrates two big milestones: the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the 250th anniversary of the United States. Sponsored by the Missouri Route 66 Association, the Route 66 Centennial Traveling Exhibit includes rare videos from the Mother Road’s early days, historic artifacts, images, and a space to record your own Route 66 memories and stories. See it in Gallup through December 31, or during a pop-up stint at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe, August 28–30.

Browse handmade Zuni jewelry, beadwork, and traditional art during the Zuni Pueblo MainStreet Festival. Photograph courtesy of Zuni MainStreet.

4 Shop Zuni artistry.

Zuni Pueblo invites everyone to a two-day festival on Saturday and Sunday during the 11th annual Zuni Pueblo MainStreet Festival, when artists line the street selling pieces made in Zuni traditions, including beadwork and stone inlay. All the Main Street galleries will be open, and traditional dances will take place throughout the day. Catch it from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Cheer on runners and their burros as teams race historic mining routes through Cerrillos. Photograph courtesy of ABQ BioPark.

5 Spend the day with Mom.

Mother’s Day at the zoo, Albuquerque

On Sunday, the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo hosts live music on seven stages all day, including performances from local folk group Watermelon Mountain Jug Band and flamenco ensemble Spanish Broom. Find snack bars set up throughout the grounds and cocktails available at the bandshell. The zoo will also have special family-friendly activities to celebrate mothers. It’s open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mother’s Day Native Arts and Crafts Fair, Farmington   

Visit the campus of San Juan College in Farmington on Thursday to shop a celebratory Graduation and Mother’s Day Native Arts and Crafts Fair. Featuring more than 20 Indigenous vendors from all over the Four Corners area, the market will offer unique and handmade gifts for the moms in your life. Find the market in the SJC Lounge from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mother’s Day Whitewater Races, Pilar

Head to Pilar for the 68th annual Mother’s Day Whitewater Races on Saturday, where competitors take on the Río Grande in a series of classes organized by difficulty. Spectators can post up along the course to catch the happenings, and after the races, a cookout and celebration take place at the New Mexico River Association headquarters in Embudo. Hop into the action by registering here.

Mother’s Day brunch at Noisy Water Winery, Ruidoso

Noisy Water Winery’s Midtown location in Ruidoso will serve brunch boards and mimosa flights on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The special Mother’s Day event includes permanent jewelry from Linked in Lincoln, so you and mama can get matching bracelets while you enjoy the bubbly.

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