Aspenfest celebrates the gold of fall with a parade and festivities
Car show and chili-cookoff are hot items for a cool fall day
- Vendors will be selling at Wingfield Park
One of the favorite events in Ruidoso for locals and visitors, the annual Aspenfest is set for Oct. 7-8, with a parade, hot chili and cool cars.
Always staged by the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce the first weekend in October, the annual fall celebration entices those seeking cool crisp mornings, aspens changing to gold and all the excitement of a full-blown festival at multiple sites.
The parade under the theme of “Hocus Pocus” this year begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, at the intersection with Mechem Drive and heads down Sudderth Drive through midtown to end at the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce office. Entries include floats, bands, horses, cycles, pets, clowns and vehicles.
Part of the crowd then will migrate to Wingfield Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., where they can shop for handmade items and crafts, and sip beer and other spirits. The charge is $5 for general admission, or $15 to include beer/wine tasting and a complimentary wine glass.
The 2017 New Mexico State Open Chili Cook-off is set for public tasting at noon, Oct. 7, at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track & Casino. Tasting cups will be available for a donation and the organizers will be looking for people willing to act as judges during the event.
The Chile Society Pod Chili Cook-off is at noon Sunday at the same site for members only.
The Rod Run & Car Show will feature more than 200 hot rods and classic cars from 8 am. to 4 p.m., Oct. 7, at the Inn of the Mountain Gods on the Mescalero Apache Reservation that adjoins the village. Admission is free.