Autumn in Albuquerque

Autumn is such a special season, I recently wrote about the aspects of fall that I adore. Throughout the fall season, my hometown is gorgeous with the golden leaves of cottonwoods and the crisp blue sky. Here in Albuquerque we have several local traditions and events that make this an even more amazing time of the year. Here are my top five reasons to visit Albuquerque in the fall:

The Balloon Fiesta

Typically held in early October, The International Balloon Fiesta is a huge event to celebrate the gathering of over 500 hot air balloons. This festival runs for nine days and features a variety of special events. It’s no wonder that the balloon fiesta is the most photographed event in the world; the colorful balloons crowding the blue desert sky is a beautiful sight to behold.

McCall's Pumpkin Patch
Not exactly located within Albuquerque city limits, but a quick drive East from the city, McCall’s Pumpkin Patch is a hub of all things autumn. Not just a pick your own pumpkin patch, McCall’s also offers hayrides, a corn maze, and petting zoo. At night, it becomes McCall’s Haunted Farm, with a terrifying corn maze and a “haunted” barn.

Green Chile Harvesting
Autumn finds the air of New Mexico sweet with the unique, smoky aroma of roasting chile peppers. Hatch chile peppers are harvested from late August through September. The chiles are a staple of New Mexican cuisine, and their harvesting and roasting only contributes to the amazing fall season.

New Mexico State Fair
The state fair is a harbinger of autumn, as the first event to welcome in the season. The fried foods, fun rides, and cultural expos are a quintessential autumn tradition here in New Mexico. Albuquerque has hosted the state fair since 1938, so it is embedded in the local culture as a long standing event.

Festival of the Cranes

Again not technically in Albuquerque, but a short drive from the city’s borders, Bosque Del Apache, a nature reserve along the Rio Grande, annually hosts this festival celebrating the elegant sandhill crane. Each year the winter migration pattern of these wading birds brings them in droves to the lovely bosque. Bird watchers, photographers, and nature lovers alike flock to this event to experience the birds and the workshops, tours and events for this festival.