Just as the Mora Valley Mills ground grain into flour to supply Fort Union in the early 1900s, so too did agricultural production flourish in nearby Wagon Mound, New Mexico—except there, the crop of choice was pinto beans. In 1909, local resident Higinio Gonzales and other growers cleaned, washed, and cooked up a massive pot of beans to share.
Today, the festival celebrates that rich heritage and connection to the past, standing as one of the oldest annual events in New Mexico.
Over Labor Day weekend, attendees can enjoy music, dancing, and rodeos. Best of all, on Monday, September 7, 2026, at noon, a huge pot of free, slow-cooked beans served with savory beef will be on the menu. The musical lineup features Wild Country on Friday, Gonzalo on Saturday, Jonathan Castillo y Profundo on Sunday, and Jonathan Chavez on Monday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Nothing beats a delicious meal of beans and beef paired with live music and an afternoon of dancing.