If you Google Red River, New Mexico, on the Internet, 417,000 information sites will appear in .15 seconds. Not bad for town that has a population of less than 500 permanent residents. Of course, on the 4th of July there are a few more (4000 to 7000). Try Memorial Day, when by State Police estimates, there are 15,000 to 20,000+ folks in town.While Red River City was platted and founded in 1895, the town of Red River was not incorporated until 1971, when there were even fewer people living here year round than there are today! If you want to get technical, Red River might be a small village or even a hamlet.
To be or not to be: that’s not the question in Red River.
Transformed from mining camp to tourist destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, Red River has many things to offer travelers. For instance the month of June will see the Classic Car Show and the 5th Annual Art and Wine Festival, followed by the annual 4th of July Parade and the Hot Chili Days/Cool Mountain Nights Chili Cook-off and Music Festival featuring Larry Joe Taylor and friends. There’s even a rumor that faux Cajun crooner Fritti Fonteneau may be hosting a special “Mardi Gras in July” celebration, complete with Zydeco music and some fried alligator and gumbo.
The Red River Community House, which has been the heart and soul of summer folk since 1942, will be buzzing this summer with a variety of activities designed for all ages. Most of the activities and events are free.
Yet, despite all the special things on tap, no one can argue that Red River’s #1 attraction in the summer is... cool air. That’s right: cool air. Average Summer Temperature: 75°F day/38°F night. When it’s 191 degrees in the Panhandle of Oklahoma and Texas, or the plains of western Kansas and the deserts of New Mexico, Red River visitors are buying sweaters and wondering if they should have packed a jacket. The locals, by the way, will be wearing T-shirts and sandals.