4 Best Performing Arts Venues in Southwestern New Mexico, New Mexico

The Fountain Theatre, which still has its original 1870s facade and vintage murals from the 1910s and 1920s inside, was bought in 1905 by the prominent Fountain family, who began showing movies here in 1912. Now under the aegis of the Mesilla Valley Film Society, the oldest continuously operating theater in New Mexico presents independent films, amateur theater, and some chamber music concerts.

The famed Hatch Chile Fest celebrates 40 years in 2012. Show that you're not a chile rube and mingle with aficionados who know their Nu Mex 6-4s (an heirloom variety regenerated from 1960s seeds) from their Big Jims (a medium-hot chile, cultivated locally). Between tastes (don't worry, some varieties are no hotter than a standard bell pepper), check out the Chile Festival Parade, play some horseshoes, or sign up for the Chile Toss contest.

Although there are arts festivals in spring and fall, the biggest event of the year in Magdalena is the Magdalena Old Timers Reunion, held for three days in early July. The festival, which draws about 5,000 and has the biggest parade in New Mexico after the state fair's, began quietly 30 years ago. With the end of cattle drives and the shutdown of the rail spur in the early 1970s, cowboys began returning at the same time each year to greet each other and reminisce. Over the past three decades, the reunion has grown into an event-packed weekend including both kids' and adult rodeos, Western swing dances on Friday and Saturday nights, a fiddling contest, a barbecue dinner, and an authentic chuck-wagon cook-off. The parade takes place Saturday morning, and the crowned reunion queen must be at least 60 years old. Most events are held at the Magdalena Fairgrounds, and admission is free.

A rare two-story adobe theater, the Rio Grande was restored and refurbished inside and out in 2005. This 1926 vintage movie house now functions as performing-arts space. Note the spritely colored blue-and-green bas-relief trim on the brick-, tile-, and stucco Italian Renaissance facade; the classically incised tin ceiling; and the bright-red neon sign. With 422 seats—including a balcony—it's just the right size for the film series, spoken word, and live music events it currently hosts.