The Southeast is calling. Roswell is a long day trip away, or you can hitch up your RV and make a few days of it at Wild Willy’s RV Park.
After you had fun at the Balloon Fiesta, we invite you to come down to the southeast of New Mexico and explore the town where legends were made — Roswell. It’s perfect timing because our Eastern New Mexico State Fair is in full swing until Oct. 10 — a true small-town USA fair. There will be live entertainment, food booths and rides. And, fitting Robert H. Goddard’s legacy, one competitive exhibit class is all about rocketry.
Speaking of flying objects, one place you can’t miss is the UFO Museum and Research Center downtown. Ever since 1947, when the alleged crash of a UFO outside of Roswell made the headlines, civilian and professional researchers and scientists have been studying the UFO phenomenon. When the government established the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force in 2020, those who are interested in the UAP/UFO phenomenon have had hope that the world would soon find the answer to “Are we alone in the cosmos?” You may find some of the answers in our museum.
Art and culture are deeply ingrained in Roswell. Maybe because of the natural beauty of the wide-open Pecos Valley and the endless skies, but Roswell has some of the most esteemed art programs in the world — known to art aficionados and artists around the world. The Roswell Artist-in-Residence program brings new and established artists to town for an entire year. They receive the “gift of time” to work as they wish at their free artist compound northeast of the city. Their exhibits take place at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art.
Those who love nature can’t miss a visit to Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is just outside Roswell. More than 100 species of dragonflies and damselflies are dancing in the air alongside more than 26,000 sandhill cranes during fall migration.
If you are staying a little longer, don’t miss our famous Roswell Jazz Festival from Oct. 21 to 25. This year’s guest of honor is the award-winning Italian jazz pianist Rossano Sportiello. Next to him, more than 30 internationally renowned musicians come to Roswell to perform each fall.
Christina E. Stock, Editor, Roswell Daily Record