Thinking of Independence Day brings memories of fireworks. But often, when service members and families find themselves in a new place, they aren’t sure where to go, or what to do. But if you want to experience the biggest and longest fireworks display in New Mexico, then we’ve got you covered. Time to check out Inn of the Mountain Gods, about an hour from Holloman AFB and just over three from Kirtland.
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This gorgeous resort near Ruidoso, New Mexico has one of the best fireworks displays in the southwest. You may be able to grab reservations at this hotel or a nearby one, but if you can’t this year, then definitely put it on your list for next year.
Star-Spangled Celebration
This year the Star-Spangled Celebration begins at 3 PM. Enjoy free live entertainment, delicious food and the biggest and longest fireworks show in New Mexico. Concession will be available for purchase and an unlimited jumping balloon wristband is available for $10. The event ends at 10 PM.
Pro tip: By arriving early, you can find a great parking spot and then enjoy the festivities while finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks that begin at sunset.
Go Early, Stay Late
A few years ago, we showed up early and our friends showed up an hour later and the parking lot was completely full! They were one of the many cars parked along the side of the road leading up to the casino. We decided to tailgate and wait for the fireworks from their truck instead of heading toward the lake. When sunset hit, we moved out of the car so we could see the lake and watched the fireworks from there.
Because of the number of people who come to the fireworks event, there was quite a traffic jam getting out of the parking lot and off the street. So, we decided to hang out in the back of the pick-up truck and continue tailgating until the traffic to die down. Since the event doesn’t officially end until 10 PM, if you don’t need to leave quickly, I recommend staying around a little after the fireworks to avoid traffic. By the time we left to head home, there wasn’t any traffic.
Other Things to To
If you can make a long weekend of it, The Inn of the Mountain Gods also has summer shows throughout the season. The highlight being Sundays Under the Stars, weekly at 8 PM they show a free family-friendly movie out on the lawn. Don’t forget to bring your own blanket or lawn chair. Just makes sure to double check their website for a full schedule of movies.
We think this is the best place in New Mexico to view fireworks, do you agree? We’d love to hear about your favorite fireworks shows as well.
Written by: Amanda Huffman
