One of the best ways to explore the Land of Enchantment is through its food and drinks. Better yet, discover it through food festivals where the state’s best chefs, food trucks, restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries, and food enthusiasts come together to enjoy delicious creations all in one place. The year 2023 is bringing an extensive lineup of annual food festivals to the table, some of which are kicking off for the first time.
Albuquerque Food festivals
National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show | Friday, March 3 – Sunday, March 5
It’s the hottest show on Earth! Browse 200 exhibitors with more than 1,000 different Scovie Award-winning hot and spicy products to taste and even take home. Enjoy samples as well as cooking and barbecue demonstrations. Watch the 505 Food Fights, a bracket-style culinary competition to support charity, where culinary professionals from all around New Mexico go head-to-head to create dishes curated with mystery ingredients. Best food wins!
Great New Mexico Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival | Saturday, March 25
Visit the Duke City and watch 30 of New Mexico’s most popular food truck chefs cook up delicious dishes of all kinds. There will be more than 50 national craft breweries to explore. Who knows? You might just find your new favorite beer. Bring the whole family out to enjoy the food, live music, lawn games, and more. 2023 Southwest Chocolate and
Coffee Fest | Saturday and Sunday, April 1 & 2
The nation’s largest festival dedicated to chocolate, coffee, and gourmet food is back for its 14th year. Enjoy more than 140 chocolatiers, coffee roasters, bakers, food and coffee trucks, candy makers, purveyors of gourmet foods, live music, and New Mexico’s finest breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Sign up for culinary demonstrations, seminars, and classes conducted by award-winning chefs, bakers, baristas, brewers, and candy makers.
2023 Brewers & Distillers Cup | Saturday, April 22
This fun-filled craft beer and spirits festival showcases a thrilling soccer tournament with local brewers versus distillers. You can enjoy food trucks, craft beer, cocktails, local artisans, a free kids zone, and live music all while cheering for the team you want to win.
Donut Fest | Sunday, April 30
This is the sweetest festival in the state. Enjoy a Sunday fun day of tasting classic and uniquely flavored donuts, coffee, and even beer. That’s right! Donuts and beer! You can also be a part of naming Albuquerque’s favorite donut. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Food + Travel Hospitality Fund.
New Mexico Wine Festival | Saturday, May 27 – Monday, May 29
Spend Memorial Day Weekend indulging in food and wine. Sample wines from the top wineries in the state and learn how to identify flavor notes and match them with the right foods. Seminars will be conducted by wine connoisseurs and expert chefs. Be sure to get tickets to the grand dinner, where you can experience a high-end meal with an outstanding wine pairing accompanied by some jazz music.
El Paso, Texas Food Festivals
Feria de Agave | Saturday, April 1
Celebrate fine agave spirits, food, and culture in the Sun City. There will be more than 30 agave spirits to try along with live music and more.
Wine & Chocolate Affair | February 2024 TBA
What better pair is there than wine and chocolate? Enjoy one night and one night only of sampling different wine and chocolate varieties. In 2023, visitors received a welcome chocolate sampler upon arrival and were escorted inside the chocolate, wine, and artisan rooms. The Decadent Chocolate Package came with a whole box of chocolates to kick off the night. There were also shopping opportunities at the mini market.
Farmington Food Festivals
Macaroni and Cheese Festival | Saturday, June 24
The annual Macaroni and Cheese Festival is back. Discover local chefs who put their unique spin on this popular comfort food! Enjoy a day full of cheesy goodness, wine, beer, live music, and so much more.
Hatch Food Festivals
Hatch Chile Festival | Friday – Sunday, September 1 – 3
The Chile Capital of the World’s annual Hatch Chile Festival is a must-attend if you love chile. Meet and purchase directly from local New Mexico chile farmers. There will be music and lots of fun to be had. You can stock up your freezer for all your chile-inspired recipes.
Las Cruces Food Festivals
St. Patty’s Day Radapalooza Concert | Friday, March 17
Rad Retrocade and PartyTenders are teaming up to host the inaugural Radapalooza to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The festival kicks off with Shane Profitt live in concert. Visit local vendors, food trucks, and beer gardens serving up green beer. Sláinte!
New Mexico Tamale Fest | Friday, May 5
The largest annual tamale sampling festival in the Land of Enchantment. Featuring traditional tamales from popular food trucks, Mexican beer gardens, a night mercado, music, games, and more. You may even find some unique tamale flavors.
Las Cruces Wine Festival | Saturday, May 27 – Monday, May 29
New Mexico Wine Growers Association hosts the 2023 Las Cruces Wine Festival. Enjoy live music by local Latin and Tejano bands alongside samples from wineries all over New Mexico complemented with cheese platters. Shop local vendors while you sip. You can even learn the intricacies of wine pairing at the educational sessions.
Tequila, Taco y Cerveza Fest | Saturday, July 15
The second annual Tequila, Taco y Cerveza Fest is here to spark your senses. Enjoy New Mexico-made tequila, delicious tacos from local taco trucks, ice cold beer, and lucha libre! Opt for a VIP ticket for extra perks.
Las Cruces Beer Festival | Saturday, August 12
Love a big, tall glass of ice-cold beer on a hot summer day? This is just the festival for you! Downtown’s Plaza de Las Cruces transforms into a beer-topia. This year’s festival will feature 240 local and regional breweries plus food trucks, vendors, and live music. Make your experience even more special with VIP tickets.
575 Cocktail Classic | Sunday, September 10
New Mexico’s largest cocktail competition and convention is back. Mixologists from all over New Mexico come together at the Amador Entertainment District to compete for the winner’s title. While you watch the competition, browse local distilleries and sample their spirits. There will be music, food, and lots of fun! VIP tickets get you extra perks.
Las Cruces Pizza Festival | Saturday, October 14
It’s a pizza party at the inaugural Las Cruces Pizza Festival, featuring unlimited pizza sampling from food trucks, beer gardens, regional wine, live music, vendors, and more.
RUIDOSO Food Festivals
Party in the Pines: 4th Annual Brewdoso Beer and Wine Festival | Saturday, June 17 – Sunday, June 18
It’s time to Party in the Pines! Escape the heat and enjoy a weekend of fun, music, food, local beer, and live music.
Vines in the Pines Wine Festival | February 2024 TBA
Enjoy local art, arts and crafts, food, boutique vendors, local beer, and, of course, wine! There will be more than a dozen wineries sampling their fine libations. Each ticket comes with a complimentary wine glass and unlimited sampling. Bottle sales are also available so you can take your favorite home. Santa Fe
SANTA FE Food Festivals
Pancakes on the Plaza | Tuesday, July 4
Celebrate independence and support the Rotary Club of Santa Fe by having breakfast on the plaza. In addition to pancakes, you can enjoy a car show, arts and crafts show, live music, and even a silent auction. The event raises money to support area youth programs.
Santa Fe Wine & Chile Festival | Wednesday, September 27 – Sunday, October 1
The five-day event celebrating the best Santa Fe has to offer with more than 60 participating restaurants and 90 winery partners is back for its 32nd year. Enjoy an impressive line-up of renowned wineries and food made by James Beard award-winning, classically trained, and self-taught chefs.
Red Chile Festival | 2024 TBA
When the chiles have turned from green to red, it’s time to celebrate. Experience an entire menu of red-chile goodness. The 2023 menu featured red chile pork tamales, red chile sauce, smoked beef chili, eggplant adovado, red chile scalloped potatoes, and vanilla ice cream with a red chile caramel sauce. Keep an eye out for the 2024 details because you won’t want to miss out.
Taos Food Festivals
Taos Winter Wine Festival | 2024 TBA
Spend four days celebrating and learning about wine and food. Local restaurants and more than 40 national wineries will be hosting wine tastings, seminars, dinners, and so much more. The weekend culminates with the Grand Tasting at Taos Valley Ski Resort where restaurants and wineries serve samples of their best food and wine.
As we all well know, plans can change. Be sure to double check dates and times closer to the food festivals before attending.
Story and photography by Olivia Belcher
Originally published in Neighbors magazine
Posted by Ruidoso.com