Autumn in New Yorr….err, New Mexico! Yes, that’s it. Just like New York, Autum in New Mexico is an enchanting, magical experience not to be missed. Having spent a significant amount of my life in Southern California where the seasons are summer, summer, spring, summer, I had lost sight of the fact that other parts of the world/country have this crazy phenomenon called “seasons”. Yes, occasionally every time the stores started marketing autumn and winter clothes and it was still 110 degrees, I had vast recollections of this thing called weather and seasons but pretty much dismissed the notion since I was only experiencing what I now know can be related to perpetual hot flashes, except everyone experiences it the vast majority of the year – even men!
This is my first Autum in New Mexico and though we are less than a month into Autum here are my top recommendations to plan your trip here next year (2024 if you’re trying to figure out when next year is):
- Changing of the Guard – okay, maybe I’m being a little melodramatic, but the trees are a riot of orange, green, gold, yellow, red colors with the chamisa in full bloom and the piercing blue skies – hello lover! It’s gorgeous here. Aspens – we have them! Mountains, rivers, lakes – Roger that! Did I mention I haven’t seen a palm tree yet?
- Santa Fe Wine & Chile Festival – This is seriously one of the best wine and food festivals out there with many options to participate. You can do the more intimate special events to the all encompassing grand tasting. It’s truly a celebration you don’t want to miss.
- Studio Tours! New Mexico is an artist colony and studio tours start end of September and go through October. You can experience a new area every weekend. Taos, Santa Fe, Abiquiu, Galisteo, Placitas – something for everyone.
- The burning of Zozobra. Artist William Howard “Will” Shuster, Jr. created the first Zozobra in 1924 as the signature highlight of a private party for Los Cinco Pintores, a group of artists and writers who made their way to New Mexico in the 1920s. He was inspired by Easter Holy Week traditions in the Yaqui Indian communities of Arizona and Mexico, in which an effigy of Judas is led around the village on a donkey and ultimately set alight. Shuster and his friend, E. Dana Johnson, editor of the local newspaper, came up with the name Zozobra, which in Spanish means “anguish, anxiety, or gloom.” 2024 will be the 100th burning of Zozobra.
- Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque – admittedly I’m still trying to embrace this one – there was a lot of hot air in California, so I may have OD on that, but this is definitely an event that is celebrated for two full weekends. Those in the know claim this is the Balloon Fiesta to see, people travel from around the world every year to experience it.
- Enchanted Circle Drive – The Byway begins in Taos on NM 522, where you will find Taos Pueblo’s beautiful multi-story skyline. Head nine miles north of Taos on NM 522 to Arroyo Hondo. It grew out of an 1815 Spanish land grant, and was the home of the fabled New Buffalo commune. The next stop is Questa, situated among wonderful hiking and camping places, including Cabresto Lake, Mallette Canyon, and Midnight Meadows. Travel east on NM 38 from Questa toward Red River, settled by miners from Elizabethtown in the late 1800s. The mines petered out, and the town is now known for its beautiful, high alpine scenery, skiing, fishing, and switchback roads through old mining country. The route then runs through Bobcat Pass and descends into the high alpine Moreno Valley, bounded by some of the most spectacular peaks in New Mexico. The circle closes in Taos, entering town on tree-lined Kit Carson Road.
- Ristras! No, not the plastic Holiday decor you find at home improvement or hobby stores, but real fresh red chiles that are strung up and left in the sun to dry. The aroma of chiles drying is almost as intoxicating as fresh truffles. Ristras are just as essentials as pumpkins in New Mexico. Though ristras are also used for culinary purposes, they also represent good luck and good health – something all of us could use, and a tradition I have fully embraced! I know I’ll be writing a lot about chile since New Mexicans consume the most chile per capita than any other group in the United States – oh, and just to be clear, there’s only one way to consume it – Christmas style!
Well, that’s just a teaser about Autumn in New Mexico – more to come! Stay tuned!
