Five Things to Do This Weekend

1 Get a taste of Alamogordo. 

This Saturday in Alamogordo, pair local wine and agriculture at the Corks and Shells Wine Festival at Alameda Park. “Being in southern New Mexico, we have a lot of different agriculture,” says Sarah French, event and marketing coordinator for Thrive in Southern New Mexico, the nonprofit hosting the event. “That includes pistachios, pecans, and pomegranates. We wanted to be able to highlight all we have to offer.” From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., sip from regional wineries, including Rio Grande Winery, Noisy Water Winery, and D.H. Lescombes Family Vineyards, and pair their pours with buttery pistachios. After snacking, grab a meal at local food trucks. Then shop arts, crafts, and cottage-baker vendors; get creative with paint-and-sip sessions; and listen to live music from the Doso Dirtbags, Chris Baker, Rhiannon Lace, and Dale Young. Proceeds from the event go to local nonprofits. “When people come to our events, they are helping us support other local nonprofits who do really hard things,” says French. “That is the driving force behind the festival.” View ticket options at letsthrivenm.org.

2 Witness a homecoming. 

Eight historic Pojoaque Pueblo pots that spent 123 years away are returning with the opening of Gi Kay: Nambí Ówingeh Gi Weh Pówá (Resilience: We Are Home) on Friday at the Poeh Cultural Center and Museum, in Pojoaque. In 1903, a photograph was taken of then-Governor of Pojoaque Pueblo Antonio Tapia Montoya, tribal members, and visiting anthropologist and collector George H. Pepper, with 12 clay pots Pepper collected from the pueblo. Over time, the pueblo community tracked down some of the pieces, including several held by the American Museum of Natural History, in New York, and the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology, in Berkeley, California. Now, eight of the 12 pots have been returned to the Pueblo of Pojoaque, their rightful home. 

The exhibition opens at 10 a.m. with an educational and fun day featuring food, traditional dancing, and demonstrations. Although the locations of the other four pots remain unknown, the return of eight vessels speaks to the resilience of the Pueblo of Pojoaque and the importance of maintaining tradition and culture.

3 Take in some nightlife.  

Experience the desert from a new perspective during Nightlife of the Desert at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in Las Cruces on Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Explore the nature park’s captivating views of the mountains and the Jornada Basin after dark while keeping an eye out for nocturnal animals. Family-friendly activities include making bat masks, viewing the night sky through a telescope, walking along the park’s trails, and collecting trading cards for the game Endless Forms. This event is free, but donations to support the nature park and the Asombro Institute’s science education programs are welcome. 

4 Grab some popcorn.

Way Out West Film Fest, Albuquerque

Spend your weekend taking in queer cinema at the Way Out West Film Fest at the Guild Cinema in Albuquerque. Running through Sunday, the 10-day festival features more than 70 films from around the world highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices. Individual tickets are available for each screening, along with six-movie and full-festival passes. For the full schedule and ticket information, visit wayoutwestfilmfest.com.

Santa Fe International Film Festival 

New Mexico is regarded as one of the most favorable states for film production. With its diverse landscapes, favorable film incentives, and established production infrastructure, New Mexico has served as the setting for countless movies and television shows. Catch some of the industry’s latest work at the 18th annual Santa Fe International Film Festival at venues throughout downtown Santa Fe and the Railyard District. Every year, the festival screens a variety of projects, including competition films, shorts, television episodes, and films made in New Mexico. The five-day festival opens on Wednesday and includes dozens of screenings, including Clarissa, Minotaur, Sender, and Iron Boy. Over the course of the entire festival, more than 300 hours of programming bring audiences together to laugh, cry, and see the world from a new perspective. On Saturday, don’t miss pioneering Black woman action star Pam Grier receiving the fest’s lifetime achievement award. For ticket information, visit santafe.film.

Albuquerque Chinese American Film Festival 

This Saturday, grab a seat and experience Chinese and Asian American stories at the 10th annual Albuquerque Chinese American Film Festival at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque. From 9 a.m to 5 p.m., explore films tied to the theme “The Stories that Shape Us.” Throughout the day, catch films including Paper Daughter, Warren King: King of Cardboard, and Chinese Merchants of Albuquerque. Tickets are free at cabq.gov.

New Mexico Fly Fishing Film Festival, Farmington 

Keep your knowledge of reels, pocket water, and fly-tying handy for the New Mexico Fly Fishing Film Festival at Totah Theater in Farmington. On Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m., experience short films about fly fishing and conservation in the Southwest and beyond, including locally made films exploring the unique environments and species of the Land of Enchantment. The festival includes a raffle and silent auction with prizes, including a two-night stay at the Soaring Eagle Lodge. All proceeds go to Trout Unlimited’s work in New Mexico. View the full schedule and ticket information at myeventscenter.com.  

5 Embrace the peculiar.  

Explore the wonderfully weird world of Peculiar Curiosities: Oddity and Tattoo Expo at the Clovis Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday. Begin your descent into the uncanny at 10 a.m., when you can browse a hand-selected lineup of vendors showcasing oddities, art, and one-of-a-kind creations. Visitors can also take home a more permanent souvenir from one of the event’s tattoo or piercing artists. The expo runs until 7 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, so make your way to Clovis Civic Center to embrace all that is peculiar.