Mountainair Jubilee 2026

Fireworks

The Mountainair Jubilee wandered far from July 4, pushing the fireworks to Friday, July 24, 2026. The event was a celebratory counterpoint to the town's mourning of the recent passing of Mayor Pro Tem Gayle Jones and the appointment of her husband, Wayne, to complete her term on the town council. (The appointment still needed formal Town Council approval at the next regular meeting.)

The fireworks display, held at the municipal airport under the management of Mountainair Fire, was a safe, family-friendly event. Attendees tailgated from their trucks while children played catch with a football and king of the mountain on sand dunes. A vendor sold t-shirts and inflatable toys.

Parade

The Jubilee parade kicked off on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Local pilots, including Harv Martens and four others, flew overhead. Children — and a few adults — snatched up candy tossed from parade vehicles. Reunions of neighbors and friends, who were normally busy with work, were held. Groups of first responders, including Mountainair Police, Mountainair Fire, and the US Forest Service (which has been busy with wildfires caused by lightning lately), joined classic cars and a rig from Central New Mexico Electrical Cooperative, along with others, in the parade.

Chavez Memorial Park

At Chavez Memorial Park, vendors sold crafts and food, while a group of men competed in a root beer chugging contest. Three bouncy houses entertained children while families connected in the shade of a tent.

Concert

The evening's concert by the ranchera/cumbia/norteño band Sangre Joven was threatened by the weather. During soundcheck, rain fell, and Mayor Peter Nieto watched the sky with concern. Nonetheless, music echoed through the streets of Mountainair by the end of the night. People danced in the square in front of the Dr. Saul Community Center, drawing the Jubilee to a close.

The Sunflower Festival

For those looking for more festivities, Mountainair's next big gathering is already on the calendar. The Sunflower Festival returns Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10:00 AM MDT to 4:00 PM MDT, spreading a free, family-friendly arts festival across Monte Alto Plaza and the Manzano Mountain Art Council building on East Broadway. Monte Alto Plaza will host more than 50 juried arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, a sunflower hat and costume contest, youth art activities, and a chance to meet a herd of mini donkeys, with four bands, Second 2 Last Band, Honky Tonk Jukebox, Jeremy Sanchez Band, and DB Gomez and the Bosque Boys, keeping the plaza moving through the afternoon. At the Art Council building, a 21-and-over wine garden featuring Chavez Wines, a fiber art show titled "Threads: The Art of Fiber," a youth art exhibit, and a new silent auction round out the day, with more live music on the back patio. New this year is a Treasure Sale one block east of the Art Council at East Mountain Oasis. The festival is free and sponsored by the Manzano Mountain Art Council, the Town of Mountainair, and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, with funding from New Mexico Arts and the New Mexico Music Commission.