Fan-favorite fried food and carnival rides have returned with the annual New Mexico State Fair. From ferris wheels, to The Super Himalaya, to The Sizzler, the carnival rides were out in full effect.
This year included many forms of entertainment, including PRCA rodeos, headline concerts, agricultural exhibitions, cultural celebrations and vendor marketplaces.
The state’s creativity was on full display as well; many vendors channeled their artistic abilities, and multiple caricature booths were placed throughout the fair as a way for artists to show fairgoers what they may look like on a canvas.
As the heat simmers down entering the fall season, the parade also acts as a great way to generate business for outdoor food vendors.
“It’s been fun,” food truck vendor Amber Aguilar said. “Lots of different people here, and different varieties of food. I’ve been working here for about 10 years with the owners. They’re wonderful.”
The fair also brings the community and families together, as it did for attendee Andrea Timmer.
“I have not been to the fair in several years, this is my first time coming with my husband and my daughter, so it’s been really fun coming now as a parent,” Timmer said. “We went and checked out the (Michael) Lujan (Jr.) Building, all the art merchants in that. Some cool art, ate some pickle pizza … you haven’t lived until you’ve had pickle pizza. It’s so good.”
Alex Joe is a freelance videographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
