Monday, October 19, 2026
Welcome to a quieter, golden week in Red River. Monday starts clear and cold, around 33 degrees early, then mostly sunny with a high near 60, a fine day for a Main Street stroll, a last look at fall color in the canyon, and an unhurried drive around the Enchanted Circle. After the bustle of Oktoberfest, town settles into the slower rhythm locals love in late October, with shops and restaurants open for visitors who prefer elbow room on the sidewalks and trails.
The weather turns midweek, so plan around it. Tuesday stays partly cloudy with a high near 58, Wednesday reaches about 62 before afternoon showers arrive, and Thursday brings scattered thunderstorms with a high near 59 and rain likely into Thursday night. Friday cools to about 54 with light rain early, then a rain and snow mix possible Friday night as lows fall near 32. The weekend recovers to partly cloudy skies, with highs near 51 Saturday and 52 Sunday, though snow showers are possible late Saturday. Pack layers and a rain shell, and expect wet pavement over Bobcat Pass on the wettest days. Drivers coming in from Kansas on Monday should also watch for storms in central Kansas, including areas along Interstate 70 near Hays and toward Great Bend and Wichita.
In Red River itself this is a between-festivals week, which makes it ideal for fishing the river, hiking lower trails while the weather holds early in the week, and browsing Main Street without festival crowds. The bigger gatherings are just over the ridge and just down the road this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, the 43rd Taos Mountain Balloon Rally fills the Taos sky with morning mass ascensions, live music Saturday evening, and a trick-or-treat balloon glow Saturday after dark. The same weekend, the Rio Grande Sky Fiesta brings balloons to Los Luceros on October 24 and 25, giving Enchanted Circle visitors two very different balloon mornings to choose from.
Regional news this week carries a long-term promise for mountain connectivity. On October 14, New Mexico signed its first federal broadband grant agreement, committing about 26.9 million dollars to Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, with more than 12 million dollars in matching funds, to build about 1,035 miles of fiber in northern counties including Taos County, with Red River, Eagle Nest, and Questa among the communities named. Officials target completion by 2030, with environmental review and permitting expected to take one to three years before construction, so this is groundwork, not a switch flipped this week, but it matters for remote work, telehealth, schools, and small businesses across the valley.
Looking ahead, keep two dates circled. The free Halloween Carnival returns to the Red River Conference Center on Saturday, October 31, from 5 to 7 in the evening, with donations at the door supporting ski days for local young people. And the countdown to winter is now measured in weeks: Red River Ski and Summer Area lists Opening Day as November 25, and season passes remain in the October 14 to December 10 pricing tier, with the Platinum Adult pass at 679 dollars and the Weekender Adult pass at 479 dollars. Enjoy the quiet gold of this week, dodge the Thursday rain, and we will see you out there.