The 37th annual Cambalache harvest celebration is set to take place on Sunday, Oct. 5, bringing the community together for a day of celebration, music, and the traditional burning of the Cucui. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Questa Farmers Market-Visitor Center site.

The word cambalache comes from a traditional harvest festival where people would bring in their harvests and trade with each other celebrating the end of summer. In Questa, the 37th annual celebration combines this tradition with another, the burning of the Cucui, burning worries away.

The event will be a fun day for the whole family where you can visit farmers market booths, shop local vendors, and visit with neighbors. Live music will be playing throughout the event with the following line up:

11 – 11:45 a.m. Marty Martinez
12 – 12:45 p.m. Marlo
1 – 1:45 p.m. Lorenzo Martin Martinez & group
2 – 2:45 p.m. Isaiah Ortega
3 – 3:45 p.m. Chris & Rodney
4 – 4:45 p.m. The Rael Market Gang
5 – 5:45 p.m. Los Blue Healers

One of the highlights of the Cambalache will be the popular Enriquetta (Quetta) Vigil Frito-Pie-Eating Contest, held at 2 p.m. It is held in memory of Quetta, its first winner. Contestants will have two minutes to eat as many frito pies as they can and there will be categories for both adults and kids and prizes will be awarded for each group.

The day will culminate with the traditional burning of the Cucui (a scarecrow looking figure, made of old clothes and straw) around 5:30 p.m. This year, the Cucui was built by children from the Vida del Norte Coalition’s after-school program. The Cucui holds a box where people can write down their worries and sorrows—their “penas” and onlookers can watch it burn, sending their penas and smoke over the Sangre de Cristo Valley.

The Cambalache is free to attend, and everyone is invited to come and be a part of this special local tradition.