Friday, October 23, 2026
Friday is starting cool and damp in Red River, with a partly cloudy morning near 42 degrees, no weather alerts in effect, and afternoon showers on the way to a high near 57. Rain is likely tonight, with a low near 38, so pack the waterproof layers if you are arriving today and plan on a cozy Main Street evening. Sunset comes at 6:14 PM, and the late-season color still hanging on in the canyon should look rich in the wet light between showers.
Saturday is the wettest day of the weekend, with thunderstorms expected, a high near 52, and rain very likely through the day before showers taper off at night with a low near 35. Sunday turns colder still, with afternoon showers, a high near 49, and a low near 29, before Monday clears to sunshine and a high near 52. Roads around the Enchanted Circle and over Bobcat Pass will be wet at times, and our shared morning radar showed rain along Interstate 25 through southern Colorado and the Front Range, plus storms west and southwest of Taos, so give yourself extra time on the drive in and take slick corners easy.
The headline events are just down the road in Taos, where the 43rd Taos Mountain Balloon Rally runs Saturday and Sunday, October 24-25, on Albright Street behind the Taos County Courthouse. The rally is free, with mass ascensions around sunrise both mornings, live music Saturday from 5 to 8 PM, and a trick-or-treat balloon glow after dark on Saturday, all weather permitting, so check the morning forecast before you set the alarm. Also on October 24-25, the Rio Grande Sky Fiesta brings balloons to Los Luceros Historic Site at Alcalde, an easy day trip down the Rio Grande gorge.
In town, this is a good weekend for the unhurried pleasures: a hot breakfast on Main Street, browsing the shops between showers, and a short stroll on the in-town paths or along the river when the rain lets up, in layers and waterproof footwear. Red River Ski and Summer Area remains closed between seasons, with no lifts or trails open, and its projected opening day is November 26, so this weekend is about fall in the valley rather than turns on the mountain. Trails will be muddy after the rain, so let them drain before heading for the high country.
Looking ahead, Red River's free Halloween Carnival is set for Friday, October 31, from 5 to 7 PM at the Red River Conference Center, a favorite family night on the fall calendar. If the balloon launches are weathered out, the weekend still delivers exactly what late October here does best: wood smoke, wet aspens, warm dining rooms, and a quiet mountain town easing toward ski season. Come prepared for rain, drive carefully, and enjoy it.