Albuquerque Festivals

Explore 6 festivals in Albuquerque — from the State Fair to hidden gem events you've never heard of.

Albuquerque is a festival town. Sure, Balloon Fiesta gets the postcards, but the rest of the year is packed with things that make you love this place. The New Mexico State Fair in September? Giant fried everything and midway games. The Lavender Festival in Los Ranchos? Smells like heaven and you'll leave with soap for your mom. Wine festivals at the fairgrounds or up in Bernalillo? Yes, please. And the Green Chile Festival — that's practically a religious holiday here. The problem is finding them all without digging through twenty websites. That's where we come in. We track every festival that's worth your Saturday afternoon, from the big ones (Visit Albuquerque has the official calendar) to the quirky ones like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's pre-event parties. We also keep an eye on the New Mexico Tourism Department's events page for statewide stuff that lands in ABQ. No more scrolling through Facebook event pages. Just pick a festival, grab your sunscreen, and go.

Not all festivals are created equal. The ones we list are the ones actual locals attend — not corporate bloated events. We cross-reference with Visit Albuquerque’s year-round calendar, the official New Mexico State Fair website, and local community center boards (Bernalillo County Parks runs a ton of free ones). If it’s on our list, it’s been vetted. And if you're looking for something specific like a tamale festival or a beer fest, we’ve got you. Just filter by month or type.