1 Cozy up to fiber arts. 

The Murray Hotel Ballroom in Silver City hosts the Southwest Women’s Fiber Arts Collective’s Fall Fiber Arts Sale on Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The 16 member booths feature works such as felted slippers, knit garments, batik dyed lampshades, wearable art, welt felted sculptures, fabric greeting cards, and leather and fiber bags. 

“This is one of the only fiber arts sales in southern New Mexico,” says Charmeine Wait, president of the collective. The event will also include items from Weaving for Justice, the Las Cruces nonprofit that sell weaving and textile art made by women from Chiapas, Mexico. “One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to those weavers,” adds Wait. 

Part of the fiber arts collective’s mission is education. “We have a welcome booth and textile boards that explain the types of fiber art,” says Wait. “Our members like to share their methods. Some will be doing work in their booths, so it’s a great opportunity to learn.”

Enjoy the Fall Fiesta at Valles Caldera National Preserve with beautiful fall colors, Native American art, demonstrations, and late-night park access. Photograph courtesy of NPS/Corey Lycopolus.

2 Fall into an epic setting.  

Fall Fiesta at Bandelier

Visit the stunning sites at Bandelier National Monument for this celebration of the season on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Los Alamos event brings cultural demonstrations, traditional dances, and artisans selling items including jewelry and ceramics to the park. Catch the action around the visitors’ center before or after exploring the 33,000-acre national monument, which is the ancestral land of many Indigenous peoples.

Fall Fiesta at Valles Caldera

As the leaves turn gold and the temperatures dip, Valles Caldera National Preserve near Jemez becomes its best self. Elk herds are frolicking the fields, and you can too during the Fall Fiesta on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Look forward to an artisan market with works from Acoma, Zuni, and Hopi pueblos, demonstrations, and plenty of opportunities to see and photograph the natural beauty as the park stays open until 10 p.m.

Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center with traditional dances, Native art, and insightful discussions. Photograph courtesy of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

3 Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.  

Spending Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center means basking in the glow of Native traditions. The center hosts five dance groups from pueblos throughout the state on Monday in the courtyard from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Coming here is an experience,” says Monique Silva, director of guest experience at the cultural center. “You will hear people speak about Indigenous Peoples’ Day and what it means to them. You will hear singing and see dancing, and we will have over 30 artists who make pottery, jewelry, and other art forms.”

Experience a hauntingly charming Halloween at Fort Selden Historic Site with pumpkin carving, spooky stories, and 19th-century crafts. Photograph courtesy of New Mexico Historic Sites.

4 Travel back in time. 

Get into the Halloween spirit in Radium Springs at the Fort Selden Historic Site during the Ghosts of the Past: Folklore of New Mexico event. On Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m., carve pumpkins, eat s’mores, and gather around the fire for tales of New Mexico history from storyteller Sarah Addison. “Everyone is a volunteer from the community who has put a lot of time and effort into researching local folklore,” says Emily Wilson, instructional coordinator at the historic site. Dress in your best 19th-century attire, watch a demonstration of colcha embroidery, and enjoy a hands-on craft with the Las Cruces Library. While you explore the site, you may be stopped by a wandering ghost who wants to tell their story. “The paths and ruins will be lined with jack-o’-lanterns lighting the walkways,” Wilson says. “It’s an intimate, warm, and welcoming event where anybody of any age can enjoy themselves.”

Join the family fun at Minium Park in Aztec this Saturday with eating contests, live music, vendors, and more. Photograph courtesy of the Aztec Chamber of Commerce.

5 See the state’s coolest cars. 

Aztec Fall Festival & Car Show

Minium Park in Aztec is the place to be on Saturday during this family-friendly celebration from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., hosted by the Aztec Chamber of Commerce. The fun includes eating contests, a raffle, cornhole, a car show, live music, more than 70 food, arts, and crafts vendors, and beverages from Wines of the San Juan.

575 Car’s Oktoberfest

Rad rides take center stage at Sisbarro Autoworld Volkswagen in Las Cruces on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event awards trophies in five categories including best of show, best paint job, and best interior design. There will be food and drink vendors on site, as well as a live performance from the five-piece family band, UnLyshed.

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