Carlsbad is Open and Ready to Celebrate Park and Recreation Month

July is Park and Recreation Month and Carlsbad, New Mexico, is known for its outdoor spaces. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Lincoln National Forest, Brantley Lake State Park, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, and Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area enrich the excellent quality of life enjoyed by residents and create a vacation destination for visitors. They are also major economic drivers. Now that New Mexico is opening up from pandemic restrictions, programming is once again in full swing: Carlsbad is open and ready to be enjoyed. 

“Carlsbad is the gateway to two national parks and home to two state parks and the Pecos River, making this an excellent location to visit or live,” said Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway. “Now that we’ve mostly moved past the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all very excited about returning all of our community activities to the agenda and adding even more. We’re so thrilled to have our water park open and our Saturday summer concert series is going strong. Our recent Independence Day celebration was a wonderful weekend for both visitors and residents.”

The Carlsbad MainStreet Project is a key component of the lively downtown atmosphere and programming. “As the State is re-opening we are excited for all that this summer holds in the Downtown District!” said Ashly Key, Executive Director, Carlsbad MainStreet Project. “We are seeing more traffic in our Downtown, and our community is ready to come together. We see many great things in the future as we continue to grow Downtown Carlsbad as the heart of our community. We continue to support our homegrown businesses and will build events to bring our community to our Downtown.”

“We have built a Third Thursday event which includes our Downtown merchants, farmers, makers, artists, musicians, food trucks, and community organizations,” Key continued. Additionally, the Downtown Farmers and Makers Market is held every Thursday evening in Downtown Carlsbad. 

“Our vision for Third Thursday was to make it a ‘one stop shop’ in Carlsbad,” said Key. “We include our Farmers and Makers Market, but also have it as a place to support our local merchants, and for organizations to inform our community about their mission in order to find people who would like to get involved. This has also been a place for local artists, musicians, and food truck owners to showcase their talents. We have enjoyed having our community together again.”  

During every day of the week, the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area is ready for fun. “The Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area consists of more than 125 acres along the Pecos River in Carlsbad,” explained Mayor Janway. “This beautiful area is home to numerous playgrounds, walking trails, a boat dock, swimming area, kayaking, fishing, our municipal golf course, and the Carlsbad Water Park. It’s a popular spot for our residents and visiting guests, and is one of the reasons Carlsbad recently topped Expedia’s list of most scenic cities in the Southwest. Over the past year, the City of Carlsbad has added sand volleyball courts, pickleball courts, two new gazebos, shade structures, and artwork to the area. We are committed to showing off and expanding our outstanding oasis in the desert, and our Parks and Recreation Department plays an important role in maintaining this treasure.”

But summer is not the only time for celebration in Carlsbad. “We are excited to announce The Fireman Combat Challenge will be held Downtown the first weekend in October,” said Key. “The Fall Festival is in the works for the end of October, and the Electric Light Parade is set for November. Watch for many great things happening Downtown in 2021!” 

Recreation details and event schedules can be found on Explore Carlsbad, NM and Carlsbad MainStreet. Follow Carlsbad Mainstreet on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Carlsbad Department of Development

Thinking of moving to Carlsbad where you can play as hard as you work? Carlsbad Department of Development (CDOD) can help with your housing search, business expansion, or start up needs. Explore our website to research all about Carlsbad’s work environment, recreation, and quality of life. Follow CDOC on Facebook and LinkedIn.