Weekend in Alamogordo: Things to Do Nov. 13 to 15, 2026

This weekend in Alamogordo, November 13 to 15, 2026, Saturday is the big day: a free public star party at the Space Museum, the Defender Dash color run in the morning, a nerdy charity toy drive at the fairgrounds and the first ever Bowls of Hope soup lunch. Add the Saturday farmers market, free holiday craft workshops and a ranger led sunset walk at White Sands every evening, and there is something for everyone. Here is everything I could confirm, organized by day.

What is happening in Alamogordo this weekend?

Times and prices come from each host's own page or listing. Things can change, so check with the host before you go.

What is happening on Friday, November 13?

Friday is an easy start to the weekend. The Toy Train Depot in Alameda Park is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Toy Train Depot guide has the ride and museum details.

The Otero Arts Members' Exhibition is open Thursday through Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 29, with more than 40 pieces by 29 member artists. Otero Arts also lists Rebel Performing Arts' musical revue "Sugar, We're Goin' Emo" Friday through Sunday, so check the Otero Arts events page for show times and tickets.

Then head out to White Sands for the 4 p.m. Sunset Stroll (more on that below).

What is happening on Saturday, November 14?

Start early at the farmers market in the Otero County Fairgrounds parking lot, 8 a.m. to noon. The New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association lists it every Saturday year round, and if you are going late you can call market director Jim Money at (575) 430-2081 to check before you go. My farmers market guide has more.

Runners and walkers, the Defender Dash starts at 8 a.m. at the Jim R. Griggs Sports Complex. It is a fundraiser for Imago Dei Academy, with a 10K at 8 a.m. ($40), a 5K at 8:15 a.m. ($30) and a Color Fun Run at 9 a.m. ($20). Watching is free, and the color run looks like a blast for families.

At the ArtSpace, Otero Arts' free holiday workshops make beaded items and cards, with a kids' session at 10 a.m. and an adults' session at 1 p.m.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Nerdy Charity Fundraiser fills the Otero County Fairgrounds with tabletop games, video games, miniature painting, vendors and photos with Santa and some favorite characters. Your ticket in is a new, unwrapped toy worth $10 or more, and the toys go to local foster kids. Read more in Debbie's post on Holloman Air Force Gaming and the Nerdy Fundraiser.

At noon, the first Bowls of Hope lunch from 100% Otero and Alamogordo Public Schools opens in the Alamogordo High School cafeteria until 3 p.m. For a $30 donation you pick a handmade bowl to keep and get soup, bread, dessert and a drink, and the money supports two local food pantries. The Bowls of Hope post has all the details.

From 1 to 2 p.m., Oliver Lee Memorial State Park hosts a family friendly talk on the reptiles and amphibians of the Tularosa Basin. The talk is free, and the regular park entrance fee applies.

Up the mountain, the Cloudcroft Art Society's Holiday Art Show is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Red Brick Schoolhouse, according to the Mountain Monthly November issue. The same issue lists the VFW Post 11999 spaghetti dinner and fundraiser at the Cloudcroft Senior Center from 4 to 7 p.m., with proceeds for local veterans programs.

In the evening, Love INC of Otero County's Casino and Murder Mystery Night starts at 6 p.m. at Desert Lakes Golf Course. Tickets are $40 in advance, 2 for $75, or $50 at the door.

And for a free night out, the New Mexico Museum of Space History hosts a Public Star Party from 7 to 9 p.m., starting with a constellation show in the planetarium and moving out to the telescopes. Debbie's star party post explains where to park.

Cheering on the Tigers? The Alamogordo High School football team plays its state quarterfinal on the road at Los Lunas at 1 p.m. Saturday.

What is happening on Sunday, November 15?

Sunday starts with the Gordo Poetry open reading from 10 a.m. to noon at the Otero ArtSpace, listed on the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce calendar. It is free and open to all ages, so bring your own poem or a favorite poet's.

In the afternoon, the Toy Train Depot opens at noon, and the James Sewell Ice Rink in Cloudcroft has two hour public skating sessions every day.

What are the free things to do this weekend?

• The Public Star Party at the Space Museum, Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Otero Arts holiday workshops, Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• Browsing the Saturday farmers market
• Watching the Defender Dash runners on Saturday morning
• The Otero Arts Members' Exhibition, 1 to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday
• Gordo Poetry on Sunday morning
• The White Sands Sunset Stroll, Friday through Sunday at 4 p.m., about 8 miles in on Dunes Drive (you still need a park entrance pass). The Sunset Stroll guide explains where to meet.

If you have base access, the 49th Force Support Squadron's calendar also lists activities at Holloman this weekend for ID card holders.

What does this weekend mean if you are moving to Alamogordo?

A weekend like this one is a nice snapshot of life here: a star party and a color run on the same day, neighbors raising money for food pantries and foster kids, and the mountains only a short drive away. If you are thinking about a move, Debbie's Moving to Alamogordo guide is a great place to start, and last weekend's events are in the Weekend in Alamogordo post for November 6 to 8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Event details come from each host's own website or listing, the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce calendar, the New Mexico Farmers' Marketing Association, KZZX and the Mountain Monthly November 2026 issue, as of November 12, 2026.