Community Events

Community Events

Field Institute of Taos strives to be involved in our community through both fundraising events and community outreach events. We love seeing lots of FITaos friends and families at our events so please mark your calendars and TELL YOUR FRIENDS! Come out and play with us!

New Belgium Brewing Scavenger Hunt – SATURDAY MARCH 23, 2024

A partnership with New Belgium Brewing and Taos Ski Valley, this event takes place on the mountain during ski season (March). Costumes, clues, snow and general silliness are on tap. $10 per person lets you participate in the scavenger hunt, have a chance at winning a pair of sweet, custom Fat Tire skis by Rocky Mountain Underground, and gives you a great party afterwards with adult beverages and plenty of swag. Teams of 1-4 people.  While not mandatory, costumes are encouraged (and earn you extra points). All proceeds go to Field Institute of Taos!

Spring Bike Swap – SUNDAY APRIL 28, 2024

A chance to find what you’ve been looking for or to sell those bikes and bike-related items that need a new home. Great deals! Let’s get those bikes out being ridden. A percentage of sales goes to support Team FITaos and Taos Composite (high school mountain bike team). More details coming soon! HERE.

July 4th Rubber Duck Race – THURSDAY JULY 4, 2024

Join the FITaos community in the Taos Ski Valley parade, followed by our Annual Field Institute of Taos July 4th Rubber Duck Race! We invite one and all to come up to Taos Ski Valley for the excitement of cheering on bunches of yellow duckies as they race down the creek after the Ski Valley Parade. Lots of great prizes and fun for everyone! In 2022, we sold over 800 duck sponsorships. $5 per duck/$20 for 5

Click here to see a short video about the duck race! 

Youth Nature Photo Exhibit – 2024 Date TBA

Family friendly event with plenty of activities at Field Institute of Taos Base Camp in El Prado (9 D. Ben Romero Road). Outdoor activities, video microscope viewing, Burma Shave contemplative walk, photo booth and much more.

A unique photo exhibit to help spread the word of our programs successes. Nature photos taken by the kids (ages 5-16) in our summer programs are mounted, on display and for sale. It’s truly amazing to see all these photos in one place and to experience nature through the eyes of the young ones. The children who took the photographs are always excited and proud to see what they created. Visit our photo exhibit Facebook event page HERE

Ride The Rift Free Community Mountain Bike Event and Be FIT Raffle – 2024 DATE TBA

Ride the Rift is a 6-hour FREE, community mountain bike event for all ages and abilities. Proceeds go to Taos Area High School Mountain Bike Team. Please join us to have some fun, ride your bike and support local youth. Ride as many or as few laps as you wish. Short and long lap courses available. FUN, FOOD, FREE! Activities throughout the event happening in the staging area. Del Norte Mountain Bike Alliance is a partner. Past sponsors have included Taos Land Trust, Gearing Up Bicycle Shop, Taos Cyclery, Northside at Taos Ski Valley, Taos Cow and many more.

Be FIT Raffle raises funds for our scholarship programs. 2022 raffle prizes included: Taos Ski Valley Season Pass 2022-2023; Quail Ridge Taos One Year Tennis and Swim Family Membership 2023; Family Season Pass at Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area; Half Day Guided Rock Climbing for 2 with Mountain Skills Guides and more. .. You do NOT need to be present to win! The drawing is held at our annual Ride the Rift community event in October.

www.RidetheRiftTaos.com Visit us on our Facebook Ride the Rift page

Festival of Trees 

In the past we participated in this fun event in early December where business sponsors team up with local nonprofit who benefit from the sale of decorated trees and wreaths. We had the pleasure of decorating two trees for the event with ornaments including upcycled bicycle parts, photos, punched tin lids, and more. Each of our trees also had many gift certificates from local businesses. Our tree sponsors in 2014 were Taos Cyclery, PPC Solar, Taos Mountain Energy Bars and Austin O’Connor. Gift certificate sponsors were: Amani Yoga, Angel Fire Resort, Blonde Bear Tavern, Boot Doctors, Cid’s Food Market, Cooking Studio Taos, Dala Balm, Doc Martin’s, Elevation Coffee, Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area, FX 18, the Harwood Museum, Koko, Northside at TSV, Northside health and Fitness Center, Sonjia’s Skin Salon, Station 3six1/Orlando’s, Taos Country Inn, Taos Cow, Taos Cyclery, Taos Diner and Market, Taos Snowshoe Adventures, Taos Tennis, Twirl Toystore and Playspace, and Willow Clinic.

Bicycle Rodeos – Spring and Fall (ongoing)

Each year we host bike rodeos for local schools. Some events take place on campus and others are off campus. These events help us share our love of bicycles and the outdoors with a broad spectrum of kids. We cover safety topics, practice skills and ride. Miles of smiles and lots of sound effects are to be found at our Team FITaos Bike Rodeos.

Join us at the Taos Eco Park on Sunday May 20th, 2018 from 10am-2pm for the mother of all bike rodeos! Hosted by the Town of Taos, the Taos Police Department and Field Institute of Taos, this is an event for all ages and is not to be missed.

Hill Climbs – Monthly May-September

Monthly grassroots bicycle events May-September. The vibe is always so much fun with all abilities and ages just doing their best to get up that hill to the Ski Valley as fast as they can. Times range from over an hour and a half to just under 30 minutes, depending on who shows up to ride. If you’re a hard core cyclist, this is a chance to get a hard, climbing interval in. If you’re a mellower rider, this is a chance to get in on the fun in a totally non-intimidating environment. “Time trial” means you start by yourself so you don’t have to worry about anyone else. Once folks finish, they tend to hang around at the top to cheer everyone on. Can’t beat the scenery. And did I mention the FREE pizza at Pizaño’s and great awards afterwards?

Family Snow Play Day – Sunday February 8, 2015

A fun, family event from 10am-2pm at Enchanted Forest XC Ski Area. Join us for a Snow Dash Relay,
search for clues in the Enchanted Forest Ski, play snow games and eat s’mores in the Base Area. Special pricing when you come for the event and mention FITaos. Trail pass and xc ski or snowshoe rentals, $5 each. Donations to FITaos encouraged. Fun for all ages and abilities! Reserve for a day of fun by calling EFXC (575) 754 6112