Festivals & Annual Events

Taos celebrates the arts -- visual, performing, culinary, musical, literary -- over and over, all year long. Artists, writers and musicians are heroes in Taos. Plan to visit Taos during one of its annual arts festivals. In addition, our various art villages regularly hold art walks and studio tours that give visitors a chance to see art-in-the-making. Click here to learn more about dates and times of Taos Pueblo ceremonials and feast days.

Also see:
Taos Pueblo Dances, Ceremonials, and Events and Picuris Pueblo Dances, Ceremonials, and Events

Print a PDF of 2012 Annual Events (5 pages; updated 3-28-2012)

Taos Winter Wine Festival
Every January
This event combines world class skiing with fine wines and great cuisine. The ten-day event includes seminars, wine tastings, wine dinners hosted by vintners paired with Taos chefs. Two Grand Tastings feature more than 75 different wines from 20 wineries and delectables from a dozen Taos and Taos Ski Valley restaurants. A silent auction of rare wines benefits the New Mexico Nature Conservancy.
505-776-2291 ext. 1427
taoswinterwinefest.com

Taos Shortz Film Fest
Every March or April
In its fifth year in 2012, Taos Shortz Film Festival is rapidly becoming an internationally known short film festival and has been buzzed as "the sundance for short films." Taos Shortz Film Fest continues to innovate by bringing outstanding global films to our funky artistic community. TSFF goal is to grow as a leader in presenting world class indie cinema to our community and to put Taos on the map as a world-wide cinematic destination!
taosshortz.com

Tri Taos (Triathlon Sprint)
April 14, 2012
First Town of Taos annual “Tri Taos” Triathalon Super Sprint on April 14, 2012.  Note: The Taos Aquatic Center as listed is the Town of Taos Youth & Family Center. This event will kick off Taos's spring tourism season early – special “April in Taos” promotions will occur, including the 1st anniversary events connected to the Town of Taos Eco Park.  Learn more at www.chasing3.com

Taos Fiber Marketplace
Apr 20 - 22, 2012
A gathering place that encourages learning and creativity in all the fiber arts forms by bringing together artisans, vendors and customers into an environment that stimulates and excites... it brings a broad array of vendors and artisans together to create a diversified fiber market. Learn more at taosfibermarketplace.com

Arts & Crafts Fairs
Throughout the year
In 2012, Blue Skies Production sponsors arts and crafts fairs in Kit Carson Park on June 9 and 10, September 8 and 9, and October 6 and 7 (Taos Plaza). Community Against Violence sponsors fairs in Taos Plaza on June 30 to July 2 and August 11 and 12. Both organizations bring in the best artisans in the area for truly first-class fairs.

Memorial Weekend Bike Rally (Motorcycles)
May 23 - 28, 2012
Motorcyclists from all over the nation converge on the area for this event which is centered in Red River. Learn more at www.redrivernewmex.com

Northern New Mexico Mother’s Day Concert
May – Mother’s Day Weekend (May 12 - 13, 2012)
DMC Broadcasting’s free Mothers’ Day Concert/Celebration, Filemon Sanchez Park, Taos. This event, sponsored by DMC’s four radio stations, Town of Taos, Taos County, and many other underwriters, features New Mexico's premier musicians, along with great food and fun for kids.

Taos School of Music
June through August (June 17 - August 5, 2012)
Founded in 1963, Taos School of Music is one of the oldest and most respected summer chamber music programs in the country. Its alumni have served as members of such award winning chamber groups as the Alexander, Borromeo, Brentano, Chester, Lark, and Muir quartets, the Eroica Trio, and Musicians from Marlboro. The faculty presents concerts throughout the summer and student concerts can be enjoyed for the unheard of price of $5 per ticket.
575-776-2388
taosschoolofmusic.com

Taos Solar Music Festival
Late June (June 30 - July 1, 2012)
Since 1999, Kit Carson Park has been the site of this three-day music festival and sustainable energy fair. 2012 dates are June 30 and July 1.
575-758-9191
solarmusicfest.com

Town of Taos Fireworks Show and Arroyo Seco Parade
July 4
4th of July weekend, a $30,000 professional fireworks show by Taos Volunteer Fire Department can be seen from throughout area. Earlier in the day, watch the Village of Arroyo Seco’s funky and fun annual 4th of July Parade with beyond-unique floats (car and horse drawn), live music, and world-class people watching.

Taos Pueblo Pow Wow
July 13 - 15, 2012
Members of Indian tribes throughout the country gather in Taos to compete in traditional dance competitions. Crafts booths and food vendors ring the pow wow circle during the three day event
taospueblopowwow.com

Fiestas de Taos
July 20 - 22, 2012
The annual Fiestas are so important to the people of Taos, New Mexico that they have four different names -- las Fiestas de Taos, las Fiestas de don Fernando de Taos, las Fiestas de Santiago y Santana and las Fiestas de la Gente. What are Fiestas? They are a tradition passed from generation to generation, a way of preserving the rich tri-culture that has developed in Taos over the last four centuries. It is a culture unique to Taos, encompassing both pueblo and plains Indians, Spanish explorers, conquistadores, French fur trappers and American mountain men.
fiestasdetaos.com

UNM Taos Summer Writers Conference
July
Draws attendees from all over the country. Learn more on UNM's website. The 2012 conference is July 15-22.

Taos Home and Garden Tour
First Saturday of August
Los Jardineros Garden Club of Taos sponsors a self-guided tour of a handful of Taos' most beautiful homes and garden. Learn more at the club's website.

Music from Angel Fire
August and September
International artists gather in the summer in the magnificent mountains of Northern New Mexico for 14 chamber music concerts featuring the great works of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary masters. Artists include Ida Kavafian, Artistic Director, violin; Anne-Marie McDermott, piano; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; and cellist Peter Wiley, among others, as well as rising stars with extraordinary talent who perform and traverse Northern New Mexico to provide information and inspiration in the schools during the Festival.
575.377.3233
888.377.3300
musicfromangelfire.org

Taos Fall Arts Festival
September-October (September 28 - October 7, 2012)
This festival is the oldest art festival in Taos, starting in 1974. It includes two major art shows – a juried exhibit titled Taos Selects includes a much anticiated "Distinguished Achievement Award Series." The other is Taos Open, as its name implies, an exhibit open to all artists working in Taos in all media. There are museum and gallery openings, a huge arts and crafts fair, and other events and concerts presented by local businesses. Each year a limited edition poster is printed to commemorate the arts festival. The 2012 festival runs from September 28 through October 7.
taosfallarts.com

Taos Storyteller Festival
Late October
A good storyteller can weave a tale that combines a spectrum of emotion and creates an image that returns months and years later. Being engaged with a fine storyteller is a work out for the soul; a bright mode of communication and connection in this quick throw away society. S.O.M.O.S. (Society of the Muse of the Southwest) has created an event that provides just this kind of outlet and opportunity. The two-day event offers an impressive lineup of tellers spinning their weave in concerts, children stories, tales of the weird, and in visits to our locals schools.
575-758-0081
877-758-7343
somostaos.org

Taos Wool Festival
First weekend in October (October 6 - 7, 2012)
Immerse yourself in the more than 400 years of wool tradition as New Mexico, Colorado and Texas breeders and fiber artists celebrate for Taos Wool Festival. Join us in Kit Carson Park for two days of family fun ~ a look at traditional and contemporary fiber artistry, an opportunity to get up close and personal with sheep, goats, rabbits, alpacas and llamas, and an invitation for kids to try their hand at a fiber project.
taoswoolfestival.org

Taos Mountain Balloon Rally
End of October
This invitational hot air balloon event features approximately 50 balloonists each year. The two-day event includes mass ascensions at dawn, balloon glows in the evening, a parade and a grand ball.
taosballoonrally.com

Taos Chamber Music Festival
October through May
Taos Chamber Music Group presents imaginative and inspirational programming at about a dozen concerts each year. The ensemble is dedicated to sharing with audiences a musical experience that is both intimate and powerful, and one that reflects the unique cultural diversity of its home in Taos. TCMG's repertoire spans the Baroque to the Contemporary, combining classical masterpieces with lesser-known works, including compositions by Latin American, Spanish, Native American, women and jazz composers.
taoschambermusicgroup.org

Yuletide in Taos
Thanksgiving through New Years Day
This community-wide celebration of the holiday traditions of Northern New Mexico includes arts and crafts fairs, the lighting of the farolitos around Taos Plaza and historic district, and ceremonies at Taos Pueblo. Taos Ski Valley celebrates with a beer festival, a torchlight parade and fireworks. Local museums and galleries host holiday exhibitions. Restaurants plan special holiday wine dinners.
taoschamber.com