Editing Belen, New Mexico (section)

==Culture==
===Annual festivals and other events===
Belen is home to a number of annual cultural events, including the St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rallye on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Summer.Ludwig |date=2023-02-07 |title=37th Annual St. Patrick's Day Balloon Rallye |url=https://www.belen-nm.gov/37th-annual-st-patricks-day-balloon-rallye/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=City of Belen |language=en-US}}</ref> the All-American Fourth of July<ref>{{Cite web |last=Summer.Ludwig |date=2022-06-17 |title=The All-American Celebration! |url=https://www.belen-nm.gov/the-all-american-celebration/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=City of Belen |language=en-US}}</ref> around July 4, Rio Abajo Days on the last Saturday in September, and the Miracle on Main Street Festival and Electric Light Parade on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

The Hispano Matanza, held annually in Belen on the last Saturday in January, is considered the world's largest matanza,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Worlds Largest Matanza {{!}} Hispano Chamber of Valencia County |url=https://www.hispanochambervc.org/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=hispanochambervc |language=en}}</ref> a Spanish-style barbecue that can trace its origin back to the [[conquistador]]s. This New Mexico matanza tradition, hosted by the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County, involves slaughtering and cooking 45 pigs, then serving the free food, such as [[chicharrones]], to more than 10,000 patrons. All of the proceeds are given as scholarships to local college students.

The Our Lady of Belen Fiestas, held annually in Belen during one weekend in mid-August, is an event that has been around for more than 230 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editor |first=Julia M. Dendinger {{!}} News-Bulletin Assistant |date=2023-08-17 |title=Annual Our Lady of Belen Fiestas to be held this weekend |url=https://news-bulletin.com/annual-our-lady-of-belen-fiestas-to-be-held-this-weekend/ |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Valencia County News-Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref> The fiestas, or parties, draw thousands of people from across the state and country to Belen for religious observance, and to celebrate with a carnival. The fiestas is held around the time Valencia County's green chile is ready for harvest, making its way as garnishing the "Fiesta Burger."

Follow the Star is an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and pays homage to the Christian heritage of Belen (Spanish for Bethlehem), held each December. The journey begins at Second St. and Becker Ave. in Belen's historic downtown and proceeds to Sixth St. and Becker Ave., culminating in the lighting of the Star of Bethlehem on Belen's water tower. Along the path the Christmas story is told with live characters and music by sponsoring churches.

===Museums===
[[File:Belen harveyhouse.jpg|thumb|right|Harvey House Museum]]
Belen has the only [[Fred Harvey Company#Notable Fred Harvey Hotels|Harvey House]] Museum in New Mexico. The Santa Fe railroad arrived in Belen in 1880, when Belen was a small farming community. For the next 25 years, there was little train traffic through Belen, because the main rail line went west from Albuquerque. In 1908, the railroad opened a new line that avoided the steep grades over Raton Pass. This new line was the Belen cut-off, and it routed many more trains through Belen. Shortly after the new development, Belen began to bustle.

Rail passengers who stopped in Belen needed a place to dine, so in 1910 the railroad built a Harvey House restaurant adjacent to the railroad tracks. It was the 86th restaurant in the chain operated by Fred Harvey. It contained a large lunchroom, a more formal dining room, a newsstand, kitchen facilities, a bakery, and sleeping rooms upstairs for the Harvey Girls who served the meals.

That Harvey House is extant today. It houses memorabilia pertaining to the Harvey House and the Santa Fe Railway, as well as exhibits on early local businesses and residents in Belen.

The Belen Harvey House is the official railroad museum of the State of New Mexico and is a branch of the Belen Public Library.

===Parks and outdoor attractions===
Belen has nine parks and is home to the Valencia County Fairgrounds.

The Valencia County Fairgrounds is situated along the I-25 Bypass on the north side of Belen. The fairgrounds include two rodeo areas and the Sheriff's Posse, a restaurant and a dance hall. Every August, the fairgrounds host the Valencia County Fair, coupled with the fair parade down Main Street.

Eagle Park is located near I-25 and Belen High School. It is Belen's multipurpose park, including several soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, and an outdoor basketball court. Eagle Park also has a community center with a weight room, indoor basketball court and several meeting rooms.

Historic Anna Becker Park, located in downtown Belen was named after the wife of Belen's most influential businessman, John Becker. It was once a pond where residents ice skated in the winter.<ref name = "mcdonald" /> The park includes a sand volleyball pit, basketball court, and historic gazebo.

Doodlebug Park features a restored [[Doodlebug (railcar)|Doodlebug]] rail car. The Doodlebug is known in Belen for shuttling Belen residents to [[Albuquerque]] in the early 20th century. The Doodlebug at Doodlebug Park was restored by the production crew from the movie [[The Last Stand (2013 film)|The Last Stand]], which was filmed near the park, at the request of [[Lionsgate Films|Lions Gate]] and [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], who starred in the film.

Belen also has Sen. Willie M. Chavez State Park, next to the Rio Grande along Highway 309. The park has walking trails and picnic grounds. During special events it is open for camping. It is the site of Belen's annual [[ham radio]] operator event, as well as a fishing derby that takes place at the [[acequia]], or irrigation canal, that runs through the park.

Other parks include El Corazon de Belen Garden Park, Jose Gallegos Park, Rosedale Park, Ross Park, and Welcome Park.

===Media===
The ''[[Valencia County News-Bulletin]]'' is a weekly news publication covering all of Valencia County.

[[KBNM-LP]] is a radio station in Belen, playing oldies and other music throughout Valencia County.

[[Hub City News]] is an online news source covering all of Valencia County. Its primary focus is Belen and Belen-related stories.