Sep. 28—For Liz King, the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival is a family affair.
King worked side-by-side with her mother, Ruth Gore, the event’s founder, starting in 2012. She took over as festival director in 2023, when Gore retired. She also feels a familial bond to the artists who sell at the fair.
“The Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festivals were a part of my childhood and a part of my upbringing, and the artists that are involved really feel like family to me,” King said. “I’m thrilled to be able to continue to offer the opportunity of the shows to the artists that participate.”
The Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival will host over 200 artists this year under a large white tent at Sandia Resort and Casino from Friday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 5, and Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 12.
Kristen Gruenberger has sold at the festival for over a decade and said it’s “a staple in Albuquerque this time of year.”
“The atmosphere that Rio Grande has established with this particular festival is one that is family-friendly,” Gruenberger said. “And not only supports fine arts, but really provides a home for crafters and artisans.”
The festival is in its 35th year, and King has seen it change over the years, moving from Paseo del Norte and Interstate 25 to Expo New Mexico, then to Sandia Resort and Casino, as the event has grown.
“The show has really evolved over the years in terms of the artists that participate from all over the country, as well as the legacy that it has here in the city,” King said.
Elizabeth Dryden, the 2025 featured artist, is traveling from Colorado to participate in the festival for the first time.
“I can’t wait to get over there and see it and be a part of the (Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta). I’ve always heard about the Balloon (Fiesta) …” Dryden said. “But I’ve never thought to do the art show, so I’m excited to be there this year.”
The October edition of the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival runs concurrently with Balloon Fiesta.
“It’s such a unique opportunity to reach a cross-section of locals from the state of New Mexico,” King said. “As well as this international cross-section of tourists who are coming through during the (Albuquerque) International Balloon Fiesta.”
Gruenberger said she makes a point to see the balloons in the morning when she is here for the festival.
“I feel joyful when I see them, and they’re bright colors,” Gruenberger said.
She is a clay artist who focuses on functional art pieces, but for the festival, she said she always makes sure to bring lots of hot air balloon pieces.
“It provides a takeaway for people that are coming from out of town,” Gruenberger said. “There’s certainly an object that brings joy and reminds them of the time that they have at Balloon Fiesta.”
Dryden said the festival provides tourists with an opportunity to meet both local and non-local artists.
“I think it’s just a great place for kind of like a melting pot, for someone to come and see a whole bunch of art at the same time,” Dryden said.
King said the festival connect artists and customers directly, which she believes needs to be a priority nowadays.
“We’re bombarded all of the time with commercial sales and chintzy items that are made in other countries,” King said
“To be able to shop directly from artists and craftsmen who are making the work with their own hands,” King said, “and take home something completely special and unique is just something so memorable and worthwhile.”
Gruenberger said the festival creates a sense of community and support for artists. In her years working at the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival she has found a lasting connection with customers.
“There’s actually a group of women … they always come to look for Halloween delights that I make just for them at the show, because I know they’ll be there,” Gruenberger said. “I always try to make something new for them, because they always show up with smiles.”
King said that some of the over 200 artists have been attending since the very beginning, while others, like Dryden, are new.
“We love seeing those newer artists being inspired by the talent and the success that these other artists have found over the years through art festivals,” King said. “And it’s so important to keep these art businesses going, and this is a great way to support them.”
Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.
