HELLO, NEW MEXICO!

In trying to conserve gas this summer, many families are looking at staycations, vacations in your own state or county.  We are looking at various states in the West, and putting together calendars of exciting events that would be great destinations for staycations.  Today's focus is on New Mexico. 

June and July offer several annual fiestas that would be well worth the trip.  In late May or early June, Santa Fe holds the Taste of Santa Fe, where visitors can sample the recipes of Santa Fe's best chefs.  The first full weekend in June is the Aztec Fiesta Days, celebrating the arrival of summer with parades, games , food, crafts, and a carnival.  June 13th is San Antonio Feast Day, with corn dances at many of the pueblos.  The Rodeo de Santa Fe is a 4 day event towards the end of June, that attracts hundreds of cowpokes from all over the Southwest.  The third or fourth weekend in June is also the time for the Rodeo de Taos, with local and regional participants.  Late June, attend the Taos Solar Music Festival and celebrate the summer solstice.    That last full weekend is also the time for the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair, a 43 year old tradition in Albuquerque.

In July, head to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, where artisans from all over the world display and sell their works from textiles to basketry.  The Santa Fe Opera, a world class organization, offers opera in an indoor-outdoor theater through the summer.  The second weekend in July, Taos holds the Taos Pueblo Pow Wow.  The Fiesta de Santiago y Santa Ana is held the third weekend in July in Taos.  July 1 -4, check out the Apache Maidens' Puberty Rites in Mescalero, which concludes with a rodeo and the dance of the mountain spirits.  In Lincoln, the last weekend in July or the first weekend in August, have some old time fun at the Old Lincoln Days and Billy the Kid Pageant.  There's a fiddling contest, re-enactments, and living history demonstrations.  Finally, in late July or early August near Gallup is the Intertribal Indian Ceremonial, where 30 tribes from the US and Mexico participate in rodeos, parades, dances, athletic competitions, and arts and crafts at Red Rock State Park.

With so much going on, it should be easy to have an amazing summer investigating the wonders of New Mexico!  If you know of anything else that would make a great vacation event in the Land of Enchantment, please feel free to comment!  I have just listed a very few events to help you plan your calendar.  Remember all of the parks, historical sites,  and natural beauties of this state, including the fascinating cultural differences you can learn about in the pueblos (ALWAYS carefully following their rules concerning privacy!)  Pack up the kids, pick a site, and discover NEW MEXICO!