1 See art take over Taos. 

From sunset to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, the walls, courtyards, and doorways in downtown Taos transform into canvases for works of art during PASEO 2025. Since 2014, the PASEO Project organization has brought art to the outdoors in Taos, with public installations and performances that offer the unique experiences outside traditional museums and galleries. 

This year’s festival theme is Thresholds, and the lineup includes installation art, projections, and performances.

“We’re really excited to be back in the streets all over the historic district,” says Matt Thomas, executive director at the PASEO Project. Artists from Taos, New Mexico, and all over the world created the more than 20 pieces in this year’s festival. “The art is very context responsive,” says Thomas. “We incorporate local architecture and courtyards. You will come across interactive installations. The artists are asked to have some way we can take part in the work, so it’s really fun for the whole family.” The free festival stretches from Kit Carson Park to the Taos Plaza, and on many streets in between.

Celebrate Mexico's Independence Day in Mesilla with mariachi, ballet folklórico, and traditional Mexican cuisine on the historic plaza. Photograph courtesy of Norm Dettlaff/Visit Las Cruces.

2 Mark Mexico’s independence. 

Celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day, Diez y Sies de Septiembre, on the plaza in Mesilla. On Saturday and Sunday, the historic town hosts a bash featuring mariachi music, ballet folklórico, and traditional Mexican eats. The festivities open with a parade on Avenida de Mesilla at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by an address from the mayor.

Jets, T-6s, Formula 1s, and STOL drag racers hit the skies in Roswell for thrilling head-to-head air races all weekend.

3 Catch them if you can. 

Prepare to “ooh” and “aah” at the National Championship Air Races and Air Show in Roswell this weekend when airplanes in five classes take to the skies. See jets, T-6, Formula 1, and biplanes in pylon races—where aircrafts fly around poles—and STOL drag races, where two planes race head-to-head. Flying between 50 and 250 feet above the ground, some planes can reach speeds of more than 500 mph. The action takes off at the Roswell Air Center with races on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting as early as 8:30 a.m.

Indie bands play against the stunning desert a backdrop of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú, creating a one-of-a-kind music experience.

4 Listen to music in an iconic setting. 

Seeing some of the world’s best indie bands perform at Ghost Ranch creates a dreamlike experience at Blossoms & Bones Music Festival, in Abiquíu. This year, the roster of artists includes Santigold, Hermanos Gutiérrez, and Lucy Dacus, who perform against a backdrop right out of your favorite Georgia O’Keeffe painting. Get your tickets at ghostranchmusicfest.com.    

Santa Rosa kicks off the Route 66 centennial countdown with a car show, sunflower festival, and family-friendly activities at the Blue Hole Convention Center. Photograph by Christina Selby

5 Start the party in Santa Rosa. 

The Mother Road turns 100 in 2026, and New Mexico has all kinds of events planned to mark the historic centennial. Santa Rosa gets things revved up with the Route 66 Car Show, at Park Lake, on Friday and Saturday, and the Pecos Sunflower Festival on Saturday and Sunday. The dual events feature a beer garden, flower show, yoga, a cornhole tournament, a farmers’ market, treasure hunt, and more at the Blue Hole Convention Center and Pavillion.

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