1 Celebrate Halloween

Espooky Mercado

Shop Halloween-themed goods made by local vendors at the second annual Espooky Mercado at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque. It happens alongside the Dark Red Film Festival, which screens horror films from around the world, on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. “All the handmade goods have spooky, fall, supernatural, or horror movie–themed content,” says Anna Lee DeSaulniers, event coordinator at the NHCC. “We’ve got candles, earrings, tote bags, cookies, resin art, tee shirts, and thermoses.” Find the market in the courtyard outside the center’s Bank of America Theater, which will showcase films from the scary movie fest. “It’s really fun to see all of the merchants,” DeSaulniers says. “They each bring their own communities to the event and everyone gets to share in the spooky season.”

Fort Stanton Historic Site

Hunting for candy at the historic site makes for a scary fun time. The Fort Stanton team sets a trick-or-treat path throughout the property, offering sweet treats and funny tricks along the way. It’s a great place to show off your costume and get your fill of Halloween bounty. Admission is free.

Enchanted Vine Barn

Pumpkin carving, a costume contest, trick-or-treating, live music, and an artisan market make All Hallows Eve a ghoulishly good time at Noisy Water’s Enchanted Vine Barn in Ruidoso. The party happens Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you can find a full lineup of events here.

Trick-or-Treat MainStreet

Suit up in your costume and head to Main Street in Artesia on Saturday, where a trick-or-treat event offers heaps of candy to attendees from 5 to 7 p.m. Food trucks, a costume contest, and local businesses participating make for a fun spooky Saturday.

Los Alamos Halloweekend

If you’re a Halloween lover, Los Alamos is the place to be. Halloweekend is a three-day event with so much happening from Friday to Sunday, you’re sure to be a zombie come Monday morning. On Friday, catch a carnival at the Los Alamos Teen Center from 7 to 10 p.m., sensory-friendly trick-or-treating at the PEEC-a-Boo at the Los Alamos Nature Center from 4 to 6 p.m., trick-or-treating on Mainstreet from 4 to 6 p.m., and science-focused Halloween activities at the Bradbury Science Museum from 4 to 6 p.m.

Saturday brings a pumpkin carving party at Fuller Lodge, a pumpkin glow where community members can enter their jack-o’-lanterns, a haunted trail at the Pueblo Canyon Inn, a ghost hunt presented by the Los Alamos Little Theater, and a Halloween Show at Sheriff’s Posse Lodge. On Sunday, bring the fam to the Los Alamos Co-Op Market to paint pumpkins to close out the witchy weekend.

 “We’ve been doing this for a long time,” says Jacquelyn Connolly, executive director at Los Alamos MainStreet & Creative District. “Not only can you come and get candy from over 70 local businesses, but you can see performances, go to the Bradbury Museum and participate in fun activities, see a scarecrow contest, visit the pumpkin glow on Saturday evening, hangout at Bathtub Row and carve a pumpkin, and there are some sensory friendly events that are great alternatives to trick-or-treating.” Find a full schedule here.

Ghouls on Parade

DJs, face painting, locally made goods, bounce houses, food trucks, and tons of candy make the Ghouls on Parade Festival in Albuquerque a spooktacular way to celebrate Halloween with the whole family. On Saturday evening, the party starts at 4 p.m. at Morningside Park, and at 6:45 p.m. costumed characters will parade east on Silver Avenue to Washington Street. Don’t miss a slew of ghouls and goblins making their way through town. It’s free to attend, get all the info here.

Boo-palooza

Games, vendors, and costumes aplenty at Orchard Park in downtown Farmington make for a monster mash of fun on Halloween proper, Thursday, October 31. Trick or treat for goodies on Mainstreet and enter the costume contest. The bash is on from 4 to 6 p.m.

Howl-O-Ween at Meow Wolf

The House of Eternal Return at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe makes the perfect setting for Halloween festivities, which include crafting your own trick-or-treat bag, a costume contest, and candy hunting throughout the otherworldy, interactive art installations. It’s open to all ages from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Don’t forget to buy tickets.

Experience "The Princess Bride" like never before at Popejoy Hall. Photograph courtesy of the New Mexico Philharmonic.

2 Experience The Princess Bride anew.

See the beloved 1987 film, The Princess Bride, with a fresh perspective during a screening-meets-concert at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque, when the New Mexico Philharmonic symphony orchestra plays the soundtrack live. The audience may experience the Rob Reiner film like it’s their first time. Get tickets here. Show starts at 8 p.m.

Witness the vibrant spectacle of the 41st annual Taos Mountain Balloon Rally this weekend, featuring mass ascensions, a Halloween-themed balloon glow, and lively local music. Photograph courtesy of the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally.

3 See balloon-filled skies in Taos.

Hot air balloons take to the Taos skies during the 41st annual Taos Mountain Balloon Rally this weekend. On Friday evening, attendees can boogie with the pilots at a dance party; Saturday and Sunday, mass ascensions make for morning spectacles; and on Saturday evening, a balloon glow meets Halloween for an unique experience. Catch musical performances from some favorite local groups throughout the weekend. Bring a warm coat and gloves; it will be norteño-style chilly.

Dive into the legacy of Fred Harvey at the 15th annual Fred Harvey History Weekend, featuring insightful lectures, tours, and a historic foodie dinner. Photograph by Tira Howard.

4 Learn Harvey history.

Fred Harvey’s legacy of hospitality is inextricably tied to New Mexico, where the entrepreneur helped create tourism buzz that continues today. Get to know more about his life during the 15th annual Fred Harvey History Weekend, which includes a series of lectures and tours that take attendees into Harvey’s world. The weekend includes talks by Harvey historians on topics like Navajo textiles, the Rough Riders and Teddy Roosevelt, and the Harvey family. A foodie dinner feeds history buffs dishes inspired by Harvey’s restaurants.

Don't miss Valerie Rangel's "Heroes/Villains" exhibition at Form & Concept in Santa Fe, featuring historic and fictional figures in vibrant papel picado art. Photograph courtesy of Form & Concept.

5 See Halloween characters in portrait.

Using the medium of papel picado, which creates bold and graphic forms with cut paper, Valerie Rangel expresses the nuance of character in her exhibition Heroes/Villains, on view in Santa Fe at Form & Concept through November 30. Works feature historic figures like Che Guevara, Einstein, and Marilyn Monroe alongside Frankenstein, the Joker, and Edward Scissorhands. Catch her in action next weekend during an artist demonstration on November 2, starting at 1 p.m.

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

PROMOTION

Harding County Ranch Rodeo

Giddy up to the Harding County Ranch Rodeo in Mosquero Saturday at 10:30 a.m., as four-man teams compete in wild cow milking, stray gathering, branding, and trailer loading. A special individual ranch bronc riding competition brings with it a $1000 prize to the winner. A trade show runs all day with dinner and awards at 5 p.m., family-friendly trick or treat at 6 p.m., and dance featuring 9 Eyes Band at 7 p.m.