The City of Rio Rancho is excited to announce its inaugural Rio Rancho Fall Festival, which is a free family friendly event. This year, the festivities will take place at the new Campus Park at City Center and the Rio Rancho Events Center on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. “I am excited to celebrate the fall season at our great new event space at Campus Park, while we attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people carving pumpkins simultaneously,” said Mayor Gregg Hull. “I invite all citizens to come out and help us break the record and enjoy a fall afternoon with plenty to do for the entire family.” City Center will be decorated to celebrate the fall season and live music will be playing throughout the day in the Sky Room at Campus Park. This community event provides something for everyone: carnival games, pumpkin carving, food trucks, a beer garden, and trunk or treating. All ages are encouraged to wear and show off their Halloween costumes! There will also be a special appearance and pumpkin carving demonstration by Paul Dever of Dever Custom Creations. Dever specializes in realistic, 3D pumpkin carving and is the winner of 2019 Food Network’s ‘Outrageous Pumpkins Challenge’. Event Activities Schedule Throughout the day, there will be activities event attendees can participate in:
- 9:00am – 6:00pm: Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch
- 2:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m: Children’s Carnival
- 2:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m: Arts & Crafts Fair
- 2:00 p.m.—8:00 p.m: Live music in the Sky Room
- 3:00 p.m.—4:30 p.m: Pints and Paint
- 3:30 p.m.—4:00 p.m: Guinness World Records® Attempt for simultaneous pumpkin carving
- 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m: Cake Walk
- 6:30 p.m. – 7:30p.m.: Costume Contest
- 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m: Trunk or Treat in the Rio Rancho Events Center parking lot
**Start and end times are tentative and the schedule is subject to change. Guinness World Record In 2013, the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch and 1,060 Rio Rancho citizens set the record for the most people carving pumpkins simultaneously. This year, we hope to break that record with close to 2,000 pumpkins carved simultaneously. Participation in this activity is free and pumpkin carving supplies will be provided and available. Additional Information All event start times are subject to weather, and may be canceled due to such conditions as rain, wind, lightning, or public health orders. Admission is free. Parking and park seating space is available on a first come, first served basis. Blankets, umbrellas, and coolers are permitted. Food vendors will be on-site. No glass, outside alcoholic beverages, or individual grills will be allowed. Live music starts at 2:00 p.m. Visitors can access City Center via Unser Boulevard/King Boulevard and Paseo del Volcan/Broadmoor Boulevard. Campus Park Campus Park is a multipurpose, community outdoor gathering space that will be an activity hub in the City Center area, and a destination and gathering space for people taking part in city events, concert performances, and more. On a daily basis, the park will be a destination for college students, those working in City Center, and for residents. Phase 1 of Campus Park began spring 2020 and was completed in June 2021. For more information about this event, go to www.rrnm.gov or contact the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department at (505) 891-5015.