Weird, Quirky Ways To Have Fun In New Mexico

If you're looking for something different to do with your vacation time this year, consider New Mexico - it's loaded with all kinds of weird festivals and events.

El Paso is practically a part of New Mexico and that, along with the fact that the land of enchantment isn't really that big, makes just about every part of it an easy road trip from the 915.

Hatch Chile Festival

The weird fun starts just past Las Cruces, about 83 miles from El Paso, in Hatch. Every Labor Day weekend, the chile capital of the world holds the Hatch Chile Festival. The Hatch population grows from 1,568 to 30,000 as people come from all over the USA and the world to enjoy chile themed events like cooking workshops, chile eating contests, a parade and more.

Roswell UFO Festival

Have some summer fun in Roswell during the Roswell UFO Festival. Celebrate the world famous UFO crash over the 4th of July weekend with a visit to the UFO museum, laser shows, costume contests, UFOlogist lectures, aerial performances and more. Don't forget to visit the UFO crash site.

Pirate and Viking Summer Bash

Pirates and Vikings don't have an especially huge presence in New Mexico history but they're celebrated big time in Edgewood. (I never heard of Edgewood, NM either.) The Pirate and Viking Summer Bash takes place in August. Keep your wits about you, Vikings and Pirates roaming the fest tend to stir up trouble.

Mardi Gras

Yes, Mardi Gras. New Orleans may have the real one but it also has huge crowds and huge prices. Part of the USA now and originally settled by Spain, for the week preceding Lent, the French control Red River, NM.

The Sangre de Cristo mountains go full Cajun during Mardi Gras in the Mountains with all the beads, costumes, music, parades and drinking you'll find in the Big Easy. Plus, you get to watch the burning of the Wild Tchoupitoulas. It's where laissez les bons temps rouler meets bienvenidos mi amigo.

Check out some other weird New Mexico 'fests here.