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Federal Government

Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Quarai Unit

Date: Every Friday through October 30, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Quarai Unit, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Quarai Unit every Friday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Gran Quivira Unit

Date: Every Saturday through October 24, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Gran Quivira Unit, 4030 Quivera Flats Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Gran Quivira Unit every Saturday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

Weekly Ranger-Led Guided Hike — Abó Unit

Date: Every Sunday through October 25, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers lead a free 45-minute guided hike at the Abó Unit every Sunday morning. No reservation is required. Bring water, a snack, sturdy shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

BARK in the Park Hike

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MDT – 12:00 PM MDT (educational presentation to follow)
Location: Quarai Unit, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, 122 Manzano Quarai Rd, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument and the Friends of the Mountainair Animal Shelter (FOMAS) invite visitors to bring their dogs for a ranger-led trail hike and earn BARK Ranger status. The program encourages participants to follow the B.A.R.K. principles: Bag waste, Always leash, Respect wildlife, and Know where to go. FOMAS partners will offer educational presentations on dog adoption. Bring lunch to enjoy at the picnic area during the presentation. For more information, contact the Mountainair Headquarters Visitor Center at (505) 847-2585.

Dark Skies, Bright Stars! — 2026 Dark Sky Program

Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM MDT
Location: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Abó Unit, 69 Ruins Road, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Park rangers and volunteers host a spectacular evening program as part of the 2026 Dark Sky Program series. Activities include ranger-led tours, telescope viewing, a dark sky photography workshop, and guided pueblo and mission programs. Admission is free. This is the monument's monthly Dark Sky Program, hosted May through October; the October session - the final for 2026 - is scheduled for October 9, 2026.

State Government

New Mexico State Fair Returns to Albuquerque September 10-20

WHAT: The 2026 New Mexico State Fair, an 11-day run of PRCA rodeo, concerts, livestock competition, carnival midway, and Route 66 heritage exhibits, celebrating "100 Years of Historic Route 66."

WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 2026, through Sunday, September 20, 2026. Gate hours had not been published as of this writing.

WHERE: Expo New Mexico, 300 San Pedro Drive NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108, roughly 60 miles west of Mountainair via US-60 and I-25.

For Torrance County residents, the State Fair is an annual fixture rather than a curiosity. Local 4-H and FFA members from Estancia, Moriarty, and Mountainair schools regularly show livestock and enter agriculture and creative arts categories at Expo New Mexico, and the fair remains one of the largest single gatherings of rural New Mexicans each year, drawing more than 500,000 visitors over its run.

Daily Schedule of Contests and Performances

Main Street Days (Villa Hispana/Main Street Courtyard), daily themes:

• Thursday, September 10, 2026: Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
• Friday, September 11, 2026: 9/11 Remembrance, Firefighters and Smokey Bear Day
• Saturday, September 12, 2026: Route 66 Parade Day and Classic Car Shows
• Sunday, September 13, 2026: Classic Car Shows
• Monday, September 14, 2026: Healthy Living and Senior Day; The Original Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, Agriculture Building Main Street courtyard, cook-off begins approximately 12:00 PM MDT, first burger judged approximately 12:20 PM MDT (times subject to change day-of)
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Military and Veterans Day
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Pathways to College and Careers Day; standalone Chevron PRCA Rodeo at Tingley Coliseum
• Thursday, September 17, 2026: NM True Day/Gathering of the Counties; Chevron PRCA Rodeo with Everclear concert, Tingley Coliseum
• Friday, September 18, 2026: Science, Technology, and Environment Appreciation Day; Chevron PRCA Rodeo with Tanya Tucker concert, Tingley Coliseum
• Saturday, September 19, 2026: Hot Rods and Custom Cars Show; Main Street at Night Car Show; Chevron PRCA Rodeo with The Warning concert, Tingley Coliseum
• Sunday, September 20, 2026: Classic Car Show, Corvairs of New Mexico; Chevron PRCA Rodeo Matinee, Tingley Coliseum

Tingley Coliseum Concert and Rodeo Lineup:

• Friday, September 11, 2026: Turnpike Troubadours with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls Rodeo
• Saturday, September 12, 2026: Ian Munsick with Chevron PRCA Xtreme Bulls Rodeo
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Chevron PRCA Standalone Rodeo
• Thursday, September 17, 2026: Everclear with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
• Friday, September 18, 2026: Tanya Tucker with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
• Saturday, September 19, 2026: The Warning with Chevron PRCA Rodeo
• Sunday, September 20, 2026: Chevron PRCA Rodeo Matinee

Every concert or rodeo ticket also includes general fair admission. The New Mexico State Fair advises purchasing tickets only through its official vendor, eTix, since it cannot guarantee tickets bought through other resellers.

Other named competitions on the 2026 calendar include Mutton Bustin', the Beef Jerky Showdown, horse and livestock shows, home arts, floriculture, and school and creative arts entries.

Admission

Per the fair's official Hours & Pricing page:

• On-site: Adult $20.00, Senior (65 and older) $15.00, Kids (6-12) $15.00, children 5 and under free.
• Online (discounted): Adult $15.00, Senior (65 and older) $10.00, Kids (6-12) $10.00, children 5 and under free.
• Once a visitor leaves the grounds, re-entry requires repurchasing a ticket.

Getting There from Torrance County

Parking: Gate 1 (Central Avenue) and Gate 8 (Louisiana Boulevard) both offer on-site parking at $10.00 Monday through Thursday and $20.00 Friday through Sunday. Gate 8 fills quickly. Handicap parking with a valid placard is best accessed at Gate 1; Gate 8 handicap access requires an inclined tunnel. Rideshare drop-off and pickup is designated at the gate off California Street and Domingo Road.

Park and Ride: Weekend-only shuttle service runs between Coronado Center mall and the fairgrounds on September 12-13 and September 19-20, 2026. Saturday service runs 10:00 AM to 9:45 PM MDT outbound and until 11:45 PM MDT return; Sunday service runs 10:00 AM to 8:45 PM MDT outbound and until 9:45 PM MDT return. Tickets run $10.50 to $25.50 and cover one round trip; children 5 and under ride free.

Public bus: ABQ RIDE routes 66, 157, 766, and 777 serve stops along Central Avenue near the fairgrounds, including Central at San Pedro and Central at Louisiana, both within an 8-minute walk of the gates.

Bike Valet: Secured bicycle parking is available at Gate 4 (San Pedro entrance, between Copper and Lomas), open during regular fair hours; riders receive a claim ticket for retrieval.

Mobility rentals: Scootaround offers scooter ($80/day), wheelchair ($30/day), and stroller rentals at booths near Gate 1 and Gate 8, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM MDT Sunday through Thursday and until 10:00 PM MDT Friday and Saturday.

Links

Full event details, concert ticket links, and the rodeo schedule are available on the New Mexico State Fair's official Tingley Entertainment page. The fair is overseen by the New Mexico State Fair Commission, a state government body.

Department of Veterans Services

18th Annual Military Honors Fall Training Conference and Competition

Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM MDT
Location: New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Boulevard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Details: Hosted by the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services, AARP, and the New Mexico National Guard.

4th Annual Veterans Meditation Retreat

Date: Friday, September 25, 2026, through Monday, September 28, 2026
Time: Contact organizers for details (see below)
Location: The Clyde Hotel, 330 Tijeras Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Details: A free, fully funded retreat introducing meditation techniques for Veterans, open to every Veteran regardless of discharge status, gender, race, or LGBTQI+/Two-Spirited identity. A support partner must accompany each attendee. Lodging, meals, and transportation to and from the retreat are covered by grants, sponsors, and individual donors. To apply, call (505) 982-4183, email info@lifetransition.com, or visit lifetransition.com/vmr.

Torrance County

EVYFC Board Meeting

Date: Monday, August 24, 2026Time: 4:00 PM MDT
Location: 205 S Ninth Street, Estancia, NM 87016, and virtually (contact EVYFC for details)
Details: Regular meeting of the Estancia Valley Youth & Family Council board, which oversees the Torrance County/Estancia Valley Juvenile Justice Continuum.

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Meeting

Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026Time: 9:00 AM MDT
Location: Virtual, via Zoom
Details: Regular meeting of the Torrance County Local Emergency Planning Committee, held monthly on the fourth Tuesday. Meeting ID 827 0183 2333, passcode 334791. Join at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82701832333?pwd=Vbbev5YyHCdunb9biKQWsFoFGt3yRB.1, or by phone at (719) 359-4580 or (253) 205-0468 (enter meeting ID and passcode when prompted).

Notice of Possible Quorum for the Board of County Commissioners

Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: EMWT Water Association Meeting, EMW Gas Association, 416 5th Street, Estancia NM, 87016
Details: See PDF notice at the Torrance County calendar website.

Torrance County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM MDT
Location: Torrance County Administrative Offices, 205 South 9th Street, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regularly scheduled administrative meeting of the Torrance County Board of County Commissioners. For questions, contact the County Manager's Office at (505) 544-4700.

Encino

Encino Village Council Monthly Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Encino Government Offices, 527 North Main St., Encino, NM 88321
Details: The council meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. For more information on Encino events, contact the Village Hall at (575) 584-2980.

Estancia

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: Monday, August 17, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM MDT
Location: Town Hall, 513 Williams Ave., Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regular meeting of the Town of Estancia Board of Trustees. Agenda posted on the Town Hall page prior to the meeting.

Town Offices and Library Closed for Labor Day

Date: Monday, September 7, 2026
Time: All day
Location: Town of Estancia offices and Estancia Public Library, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Town Hall and the Estancia Public Library will be closed in observance of Labor Day.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Time: 6:15 PM MDT
Location: Town Hall, 513 Williams Ave., Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regular meeting of the Town of Estancia Board of Trustees, shifted from the usual 1st Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. Agenda posted on the Town Hall page prior to the meeting.

Moriarty

Dig Into Summer Reading

Date: Ongoing through Monday, August 31, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM MDT
Location: Moriarty Community Library, 202 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: The community library's annual summer reading program. Participants who complete and turn in their reading logs earn two free scoops of ice cream courtesy of local sponsor Da' People's Choice.

Planning & Zoning Meeting

Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Municipal Courtroom, 201 Broadway Street South, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: Regular meeting of the Moriarty Planning & Zoning Commission. The agenda includes approval of July 31 special meeting minutes, a presentation from MRCOG on the final draft of the City of Moriarty Comprehensive Plan for a recommendation to City Council, and discussion of scheduling workshops to update the city's Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. The next regular meeting after this one is September 16, 2026.

Back to School Kickoff Dance

Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM MDT
Location: City Park, Moriarty, NM 87035
Details: A free, all-ages family event to kick off the new school year, featuring New Mexico award-winning band Black Pearl with DJ intermission by DJ Quico.

Mountainair

Town Council Meeting

Date: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month (August 18, 2026 and September 1, 2026)
Time: 6:00 PM MDT
Location: Mountainair Town Council Building, 107 1/2 North Roosevelt Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Regular meeting of the Mountainair Town Council. To join by phone, call 346-248-7799, enter access code 856-052-5813, and enter passcode 888-888.

2026 Mountainair Sunflower Festival

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MDT (vendor setup 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM; breakdown after 4:00 PM)
Location: Main Street, downtown Mountainair, NM 87036 (intersection of US 60 and NM 55)
Details: Free, family-friendly arts festival with 50-plus fine art vendors, food and beverage vendors, free live music, youth art and activities, a sunflower art raffle, a wine and beer garden, and a sunflower hat and costume contest. Town vendors are located on Main Street; Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) handles its own separate vendor registration. No vending is permitted on the Highway 60 sidewalks, and the section of Ripley Avenue between Highway 60 and Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic during festival hours.

Willard

Willard Village Council Monthly Meeting

Date: Second Monday of the month (September 14, 2026)
Time: 5:30 PM MDT
Location: Willard Village Hall, 720 Dunlavy Ave, Willard, NM 87063
Details: The council meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. For more information on Willard events, contact the Village Hall at (505) 384-2874.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Central Tri-County Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting

Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM MDT
Location: 2506 NM-333, Moriarty, NM 87035 (also known as 2506 Old Route 66)
Details: Regular monthly meeting of the Central Tri-County SWCD board, held on the 1st Thursday of each month.

Claunch-Pinto Soil and Water Conservation District Regular Board Meeting

Date: Friday, September 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM MDT
Location: Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Monthly meeting held on the 1st Friday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and currently available via Zoom. For Zoom access information, visit http://www.claunchpinto.org.

East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM MDT
Location: 715 S 5th St, Estancia, NM 87016
Details: Regular monthly meeting of the board of supervisors. The board meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Other Organizations

Mountainair Rotary Club Weekly Lunch Meeting

Date: Every Thursday
Time: 12:00 PM MDT
Location: Claunch-Pinto SWCD Conservation Center, 1206 NM-55, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Weekly meeting for community service planning and networking. Visitors are welcome and should bring their own lunch.

Roadrunner Food Bank Distribution

Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, and Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (Distribution is scheduled for every Tuesday, but verification is recommended.)
Time: 11:00 AM MDT
Location: Dr. Saul Community Center, 109 N Roosevelt Ave, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Roadrunner Food Bank

Mountainair Men's Support Group

Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Mountainair Multi-Purpose Building (in the Town Council complex), 107 ½ N Roosevelt Ave, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: Recurring weekly Christian men's support group meeting, per the Town's facility rental calendar. For more information, please contact Richard Torres, Jr. (“Wizard”) at (505) 357-9749.

2026 Mountainair Sunflower Festival

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MDT
Location: Manzano Mountain Arts Council, 101 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036 (corner of US Highway 60 and NM Highway 55) and throughout Monte Alto Plaza, 122 W Main St, Mountainair, NM 87036
Details: A free, family-friendly arts festival featuring more than 50 fine artists, 20-plus local vendors, live music, a beer and wine garden, a children's activities area, a sunflower hat and costume contest, a treasure sale, and an art raffle and silent auction. More information will be available as the date approaches.

The Mountainair Dispatch covers public affairs, community life, and local news across Torrance County, New Mexico. To submit an event for a future post, email todd@mountainairdispatch.com. There is no charge to list events.