1 Follow the art prints.

Printmakers unite in Silver City this weekend during the Southwest Print Fiesta. The art festival features workshops, artist talks and demos, exhibitions, print parties, hands-on activities, a community mural, steamroller printmaking, and a Printers’ Market on Main Street, where 35 artists from across New Mexico and the West sell their work.

“I love the way it brings people together,” says organizer Kyle Durrie, owner of Power and Light Press. “It’s a very conversational and curious event for all involved.” At the Printers’ Market, many artists do demonstrations and have hands-on activities for shoppers, with pieces ranging from $2 zines to $400 lithographs. 

New this year, the fiesta includes a Friday screening of a short documentary at the Silco Theater about the Press Room Collection, an archive of more than 60,000 vintage advertising blocks used to print ads from the 1930s through 1980s. “We are going to do live printing from some of the collection in the lobby of the theater,” Durrie says. Find a full schedule of events and locations at southwestprintfiesta.org.

Raise a stein in Red River, where live music, bratwurst, and Bavarian-style contests mark 20 years of mountain-town Oktoberfest fun. Photograph courtesy of Red River.

2 Don your lederhosen.

This year marks 20 years of Red River’s Oktoberfest, happening Friday through Sunday. For this celebration of autumn, Red River partners with the Red River Brewery & Distillery to bring barrels of beer and a bonanza of Bavarian fun to the downtown area. Expect competitions like  best beard and mustache, bratwurst eating, stein holding, mechanical bull riding, and a strongman contest, plus DJ sets from Luisa Houseworks and live polka from the Lederhosen Junkies.

Dance under the stars as SocorroFest fills the historic plaza with blurgrass, local brews, food trucks, and family-friendly activities all weekend long. Photograph courtesy of Visit Socorro.

3 Enjoy a free music festival.

Three stages and more than 20 bands bring live music to Socorro during New Mexico Tech’s SocorroFest. The fun starts Friday evening with country and bluegrass performances on the historic Socorro Plaza, at Capitol Bar & Brewery, and Box Canyon Brewing Company. The free festivities include kid-friendly fun such as mining for minerals and jump houses. There will be food trucks, a beer and wine tent pouring local sips, and arts-and-crafts vendors. Headliners the Dreamboats hit the plaza stage on Saturday at 8 p.m., performing a set of classic rock covers from greats like Elvis, Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly.

Cruise into Santa Fe's Railyard for a Route 66-themed bash featuring classic cars, live music, barbecue, and more.

4 Celebrate Route 66.

The Mother Road turns 100 in 2026, and the Santa Fe Railyard is celebrating with Route 66 Fest, a community block party running Friday through Sunday. Starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, enjoy barbecue by Whole Hog plus a cash wine bar by NM Wine Studio, a cocktail bar by As Above So Below, music by the Jacob Shije Trio (Santa Clara Pueblo), tintype photography by High Desert Alchemy, and mechanical bull rides. Saturday delivers a full day of fun with live music, food including Il Encanto Pizza and Brujas Dogs, artist vendors, and a beer garden from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Close out the weekend on Sunday with a classic car show featuring vintage rides, lowriders, and motorcycles, more food, and a set by DJ Sin, with events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meet artists and explore adobe studios in Galisteo and Abiquiu, where painters, potters, and printmakers open their doors to visitors. Photograph courtesy of Galisteo Studio Tour.

5 Hit the road.

Galisteo Studio Tour

A longtime artist haven south of Eldorado, Galisteo boasts a plethora of studios amid old adobe walls and a little church. They’re open to visitors during the annual Galisteo Studio Tour, which offers visitors a peak into the artists’ lives on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 20-plus stops on the tour represent mediums such as ceramics, jewelry, painting, and photography. Find a map of locations at galisteostudiotour.org.

Abiquiú Studio Tour

Visit an area known and loved by creatives long before and after Georgia O’Keeffe during the 2025 Abiquiú Studio Tour. Printmakers, oil painters, ceramicists, furniture makers, textile artists, and more welcome visitors into their studios Saturday through Monday. Find a map at abiquiustudiotour.org.

Honor Indigenous Peoples' Day in Santa Fe with traditional dances, art booths, and the colorful Parade of Nations hosted by the Santa Fe Indigenous Center. Photograph courtesy of the Santa Fe Indigenous Center.

6 Bonus: Spend Indigenous Peoples’ Day amid Native culture. 

In Santa Fe, an Indigenous Peoples’ Day party takes over the Santa Fe Plaza on Monday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hosted by the Santa Fe Indigenous Center, the celebration showcases traditional dances performed in full regalia, a variety of Indigenous artist booths, and a grand-entry Parade of Nations at noon. It’s free to attend.

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