Friday, August 28th, 2026
2026 Valencia County Fair – 6am-12am – Valencia County Fairgrounds – We’re proud to bring our community together each year to celebrate tradition, agriculture, and good old-fashioned fun. From livestock shows and indoor exhibits, live music, and mouthwatering fair food—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong fairgoer, we can’t wait to make new memories with you at this year’s fair! 2026 Schedule of Events
Fall 2026 Youth Volleyball Late Registration – Late Registration through August 29th – Belen Rec Center – Registration is now open for Youth Volleyball through the City of Belen Parks & Recreation Department! This is a great opportunity for kids to learn teamwork, build skills, and have fun on the court. [More Info]
Tome Gallery Pottery Show – 11am-5pm – Tome Art Gallery – Put your gardening gear on and come visit the Tome Gallery’s “All Around the Garden” Pottery show!!! The show opens on July 26th through September 5th! The opening and activities are August 8th from 9:30am – 4pm. It’ll be fun!!
Call Out for Artists – Through Sept. 11th – Belen Art League – The Belen Art League is holding its Fall Art Show open to all artists. The show is from Sept 12-26. To receive an entry form, email the BAL at belenartleague1@gmail.com or pick one up from the gallery at 509 Becker Ave., Belen.
Sevilleta Lecture Series – 12:30-2:30pm – Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge – Amigos de la Sevilleta presents Sevilleta Nature Connection & Confections; A free Lecture Series, at Sevilleta NWR Visitor Center 40 Refuge Road, San Acacia, (Exit 169 on I-25). Christiane Wiese, PhD, senior biologist with Turner Endangered Species Fund and Bolson Tortoise Project Lead at Ladder and Armendaris Ranches, and Vance Wolf, a USFWS biologist for Bolson Tortoise and Samuel Vassallo, a Sevilleta NWR biologist will present “Bolson Tortoise Basics: ‘La Tortuga Grande’ of the Chihuahuan Desert” from 12:30-2:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 28. This lecture focuses on what has been learned during two decades of studying Bolson Tortoises about the biology and the ecology of this valuable member of a healthy desert ecosystem and on the future plans for the species.
Belen Farmers’ Market – 4:30-7pm – The 2026 Belen Farmer’s Market opens June 12, 2026 through October 30 2026.
Market day and time: Friday 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM Location: Anna Becker Park.
Cornhole Tournament – 6pm – Valencia County Fairgrounds – Grab your bags, bring your game, and let’s see who takes home the cash! $25 per person entrance fee.
Summer Nights – Dancing on the Patio – 7-10pm – Fat Sat’s Bar and Grill – Join DJ Brandon every Friday night dancing on the patio at Fat Sat’s!
Saturday, August 29th, 2026
2026 Valencia County Fair – 6am – 12am – Valencia County Fairgrounds – We’re proud to bring our community together each year to celebrate tradition, agriculture, and good old-fashioned fun. From livestock shows and indoor exhibits, live music, and mouthwatering fair food—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong fairgoer, we can’t wait to make new memories with you at this year’s fair! 2026 Schedule of Events
Fall 2026 Youth Volleyball Late Registration – Late Registration through August 29th – Belen Rec Center – Registration is now open for Youth Volleyball through the City of Belen Parks & Recreation Department! This is a great opportunity for kids to learn teamwork, build skills, and have fun on the court. [More Info]
Tomé Farmers Market – 9am-12pm – Tomé Dominguez Community Center – The Tomé Farmers Market is held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday until October at the Tomé Dominguez Community Center and Museum, 2933 N.M. 47 in Tomé.
Socorro Toy Train Show – 9am-3pm – Socorro Convention Center – The Southwest Model Railroad Museum in Belen is participating in the 2026 Socorro Toy Train Show, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Socorro Convention Center, 1220 N.M. 60. Sponsors of the show are the Socorro Train Gang model railroad club, the Rio Grande Chapter of the Train Collectors Association and the City of Socorro. For more information, contact the Train Gang at kc5ntw@sdc.org.
Valencia County Fair Parade – 10-11am – Belen Parade Route – Happy Birthday America! Enjoy this patriotic parade celebrating our country’s birthday! Horse groups, high school bands, JROTC, beautiful floats and more!! Youth groups participate for free! For more information, rhona@valenciacountychamber.com 2026 Fair Parade Registration Form
Valencia County Fair 2nd Annual Armwrestling Championship – 10am-1pm – Valencia County Fairgrounds – Table’s ready. Are you? Saturday Aug. 29th, 2026 10am – 1pm Weigh In/Registration: Friday, August 28, 2026 6-8pm Double Elimination Tournament
- Men’s Right and Left
- Open & Amature
- 154, 176
- 198, 220
- 242 & 243+
- Ladies, Kids, and Teens Divisions Entry Fee: $15 per arm
Tome Gallery Pottery Show – 11am-5pm – Tome Art Gallery – Put your gardening gear on and come visit the Tome Gallery’s “All Around the Garden” Pottery show!!! The show opens on July 26th through September 5th! The opening and activities are August 8th from 9:30am – 4pm. It’ll be fun!!
Call Out for Artists – Through Sept. 11th – Belen Art League – The Belen Art League is holding its Fall Art Show open to all artists. The show is from Sept 12-26. To receive an entry form, email the BAL at belenartleague1@gmail.com or pick one up from the gallery at 509 Becker Ave., Belen.
Valencia County Fair 2026 Salsa Contest – 2-4pm – Valencia County Fairgrounds – Think your salsa has what it takes? Enter the Valencia County Fair Salsa Contest on Saturday, August 29 at the Valencia County Fairgrounds, 14 I-25 Bypass, Belen, NM 87002. Entries are due at 2:00 PM, with judging beginning at 3:00 PM. Categories include Red Salsa, Green Salsa, and Pico de Gallo, and entry is FREE. Contestants may enter one homemade salsa in each category and should bring at least 16 ounces for judging and sampling. Fairgoers can sample the entries from 3:00–4:00 PM and participate in the People’s Choice Award by contributing $1 to their favorite salsa. Winners will be announced after 4:00 PM. For more information, visit www.valenciafair.com or contact Jana at 505-363-5516.
Cleats & Confidence – 5-6pm – Anna Becker Park – Register here! https://forms.gle/KF2L1ZikhkFLJogd9 Calling all girls! Ages 5 and up 
Join us for a FREE Cleats & Confidence Flag Football Clinic on Saturday, August 29 from 5:00-6:00 PM at Anna Becker Park in Belen!
No experience needed. Come learn new skills, build confidence, make friends, and have fun!
• Free pizza for registered participants after the clinic at the Dough Daddy’s Delights Block Party.
– Scan the QR code on the flyer or click the link to register. https://forms.gle/KF2L1ZikhkFLJogd9 We can’t wait to see you there! 
Valencia County Fair Youth Livestock Sale – 6pm – Valencia County Fairgrounds – We are excited to welcome our buyers, sponsors, families, and community members to this year’s Valencia County Fair Youth Livestock Sale! This year marks an exciting new chapter for the Valencia County Fair as our first year in partnership with Valencia County. This parnership has given us the opportunity to make changes that put even more support directly into the hands of our youth. [More Info]
Sugar Show and Fat Sat’s – 7-11pm – Fat Sat’s Bar & Grill – Join us Saturday, August 29th from 7-11pm as we welcome the band Sugar Show to Fat Sat’s!
Sunday, August 30th, 2026
2026 Valencia County Fair – 11-1pm – Valencia County Fairgrounds – We’re proud to bring our community together each year to celebrate tradition, agriculture, and good old-fashioned fun. From livestock shows and indoor exhibits, live music, and mouthwatering fair food—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong fairgoer, we can’t wait to make new memories with you at this year’s fair! 2026 Schedule of Events
Historic Tomé Jail and Casita Open to the Public – 11am-3pm – The town of Tomé Land Grant invites the public to visit the historic jail and casita at the Tomé Church Plaza, 18 Church Loop. Visitors are welcomed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.
