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Celebrate the return of the iconic Tumbleweed Snowman with this tumbleweed photo gallery

AMAFCA’s James Moya prepares to install a large, metal button on a smiling Tumbleweed Snowman on Tuesday.

Chancey Bush/Journal

Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth Tucker Journal Staff Writer

Published November 28, 2023 - 5:21 p.m. Modified November 29, 2023 - 9:37 a.m.

For the 28th year, the Tumbleweed Snowman has showed up along Interstate 40 to watch over Albuquerque drivers.

The iconic snowman didn't even take a break during the pandemic, showing up wearing a mask sporting the acronym AMAFCA, which stands for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the organization that installs the fixture every year.

Located on the north side of I-40 — before the University exit when you are heading westbound — the snowman is hard to miss with an orange-painted ax-handle nose, workman's gloves for hands and part of a 55-gallon steel drum for a hat.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

As crews stood him up Tuesday morn, drivers playfully tooted their horns.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

A holiday fixture locals hold dear, he's been spreading cheer for 28 years.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

Built with care by flood-control crews, he wears a hat, a scarf and big smile, too.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

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Since first created in '95, he's grown in renown and literal size.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

Made of jumbo weeds found around town; that's to make sure he doesn't blow down.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

Some say tumbleweeds are nothing but pests, but he's the way to use them the best.

The tumbleweed snowman is here.

He'll be on I-40 waving to you – at least until early 2024.

~Former Journal Staff Writer Jessica Dyer

ABQ's iconic tumbleweed snowman is back with holiday cheer

Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority employees secure the Tumbleweed Snowman to its perch on Tuesday. The Snowman has been a pleasantly prickly presence during the Albuquerque Christmas season since 1995.

AMAFCA’s James Moya holds the orange-painted ax-handle nose of the Tumbleweed Snowman Tuesday during the assembly of the Albuquerque Christmas icon.

James Moya of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority puts a smile on the face of the Tumbleweed Snowman on Tuesday at the AMAFCA offices north of Interstate 40.

One of the Tumbleweed Snowman’s gloves during Tuesday’s assembly of the familiar holiday figure.

AMAFCA’s James Moya prepares to install a large, metal button on a smiling Tumbleweed Snowman on Tuesday.

Tumbleweeds spray-painted white are used to create AMAFCA's annual Snowman.

James Moya of AMAFCA uses a pitchfork Tuesday to place the head on the Tumbleweed Snowman.

AMAFCA's James Moya inserts a metal support pole through the center of the Tumbleweed Snowman on Tuesday.

A portion of a 55-gallon steel drum serves as the Tumbleweed Snowman’s hat.

A skid loader settles the Tumbleweed Snowman into his post north of Interstate 40 on Tuesday.

All put together, a cherry Tumbleweed Snowman greets motorists on I-40 Tuesday. Some drivers used their car horns to return the salute.

Tumbleweeds keep on rolling, and don't forget, the tumbleweed snowman of Albuquerque

The tumbleweed snowman is here

Quest leads to dedication — Volunteers gathered Saturday morning to help maintain and restore the historic fairview Cemetery. Many city founders and pioneers are buried in this cemetery. It's very old and one of the first in the city outside church grounds. Pictured from left to right are volunteers: Sara Sather, Gail Rubin and Janet Saiers helping burn tumbleweeds on the premises.

ABQ's iconic tumbleweed snowman masks up

TUMBLEWEEDS IN THE RIO GRANDE RIVER — Dry tumbleweeds fill up the banks of the Rio Grande

TUMBLEWEEDS IN THE RIO GRANDE RIVER — Tumbleweeds fill up the banks of the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque area.

windy condition create hazardous driving conditions — A car slows down to avoid tumbleweeds on the road around 5 o'clock in the afternoon along Atrisco Vista blvd on the westside. Snow plows had to be called in to remove the amount of tumbleweeds gathered on the road due to windy conditions.

A City of Albuquerque Municipal Development Department front loader pushes a wall of tumbleweeds along Atrisco Vista Blvd after two days of strong winds in New Mexico Thursday March 24, 2016.

The entrance to a residence at Ventana Ranch West is blocked by tumbleweeds after two days of strong winds in New Mexico. Thursday March 24, 2016.

Oscar Garcia, of ProLawn removes tumbleweeds at Ventana Ranch West after two days of strong winds in New Mexico Thursday March 24, 2016.

Albuquerque Firefighters Mervin Martinez,, left and Alejandro Romero,, mop up a tumbleweed fire on Atrisco Vista NW near Double Eagle Airport. Photographed on Tuesday March 29, 2016.

mkb041718d — Fighting the wind Daniel Romero drags a couple of tumbleweeds out of the work area inside the North Diversion channel while working on an AMAFCA project April 2018

tumbleweeds shut down entrance to KAFB — City workers continues to put tumbleweeds inside a trash truck Friday morning along Wyoming blvd near the entrance to Kirtland Air Force Base. In fact the problem of runaway tumbleweeds so big that if forced officials to shutdown the entrance to the base along the Wyoming entrance.

James Moya of AMAFCA adjusts the smile on the tumbleweed snowman, which was installed Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, 2015, in Interstate 40, just east of the University Blvd. exit, in Albuquerque, N.M. "It's the official start of the Christmas season," said Julie Chavez, who watched the install with her family. "We honk and wave every time we go by," Chavez said. The snowman, standing at about 13 feet, six inches, is made of three tumbleweeds found near the North Diversion Channel outfall near Tramway and Roy. "We have to do it. It's a tradition. We love to do it," said James Moya, who has been leading the crew who assemble the snowman.

A group of similarly-colored horses munch on tumbleweeds at West La Entrada and Loma Larga Friday, July 20, 2007.

em030311a — The Zia Road Rail Runner Station is a great spot for tumbleweeds but not train riders. Photo shot in Santa Fe, Thursday March 3, 2010.

TUMBLEWEEDS — Southwest Mesa resident Chris Garcia, is dwarfed by a pile of tumbleweed he raked from his backyard and along his fence on Thursday January 13, 2005, as a result of Tuesday night strong winds.

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