Save the Date Oct 17, 2026 Corks & Shells Returns: Thrive's Wine and Pistachio Festival Grows in Year Two

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — When Thrive in Southern New Mexico launched the Corks & Shells Wine & Pistachio Festival last October, organizers called it a tradition in the making and promised it would return to Alameda Park on the third weekend of every October. They are keeping that promise. The second annual Corks & Shells Wine Festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and by most measures it will be bigger than the first.

Looking back: the 2025 debut

The inaugural festival on Oct. 18, 2025, was pitched as a celebration of the two crops that define the Tularosa Basin's agricultural identity — grapes and pistachios — wrapped around a fundraiser for Thrive, the Alamogordo nonprofit formerly known as the United Way of Otero County that channels support to regional agencies working on food insecurity, education, mental health and child advocacy.

Four regional producers poured at that first event: Heart of the Desert, Noisy Water Winery, Ruidoso Fine Wine & Art and Tularosa Vineyards. More than two dozen vendors set up in the park with handcrafted goods, fashion and local services, among them Alamogordo MainStreet, Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center and Southern NM Family Services. Acoustic group Yankee Lima, DJ Dale Rulbe and Dzak Sukarno handled the entertainment, and a "Witchy Pumpkin" paint-and-sip session gave attendees a creative break between tastings.

Advance tickets were $15, gate admission $20, with $5 designated driver tickets and free entry for guests under 21. In partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Alamogordo, Thrive ran a shoe drive for local youth alongside the festival, rewarding donors of new shoes with a pizza gift certificate. Executive Director Michelle Gill, who led the event, framed it as a way to raise both funds and awareness for families, seniors, underserved youth and those in need of rehabilitation services. At the time, Thrive reported having distributed more than $348,000 to regional agencies.

The wine tent has already sold out of vendor slots — the lineup for Oct. 17 is set.

What's different this year

The most visible change is the pour list. Six wineries are featured for 2026, up from four, and the roster reaches well beyond the basin: Rio Grande Winery, Noisy Water Winery & Cellars, Vintage United, Sheehan Winery, Black Range Vineyards of Hillsboro, and D.H. Lescombes Family Vineyards of Deming, whose brands include St. Clair, 6.3.1, Soleil Mimosa and Vines de los Muertos. Noisy Water is the lone returning name from the 2025 lineup. Wine vendor registration is listed as sold out on the event page.

Ticketing has also moved. Last year's tickets sold through Thrive's own website; this year the festival is using the RunSignup/TicketSignup platform, and pricing has been simplified to a single $20 general admission ticket, with a small processing fee added online. There is no separate advance discount or designated driver tier listed, and under-21 admission remains free — though organizers stress that every attendee, including children, must hold a ticket. Visit Alamogordo has come on as a partner.

Food trucks, pistachio growers, arts and crafts vendors and cottage bakers will fill out the grounds again, with live music through the afternoon. Taquero Rey is the first announced food truck and Enchanted Treasures 575 is among the confirmed craft vendors. Vendor registration for food trucks ($150) and arts, crafts and cottage bakers ($50) stays open through Sept. 30, so the vendor list will keep growing over the next two weeks.

More News from Alamogordo

• Judge Dismisses Recall Petition Against Commissioner Burnett, Finds No Legal Duty per Existing Charter Ordinances to Answer Constituents Burnett case dismissed but trouble may be ahead for Rardin and Pottillo…
• Volleyball Roundup: Lady Tigers Claim Bronze Bracket Title at Zia Classic Alamogordo Battles Through Two Five-Set Thrillers in Roswell