1. A concert by Ja Rule and Ashanti takes the stage at Sandia Resort & Casino at 8 p.m. June 17. Sandia is offering a package deal that includes one king or queen room for the night, two premium tickets to the concert, one $50 gift card, and two fast passes to skip the lines. The package is $649 plus tax. For more information, call 505-798-3930.
2. A Father’s Day cookout is scheduled for 3-5:30 p.m. June 17 at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center. The cookout will take place in the social hall and will be followed by family movie night from 6-8 p.m. Members are encouraged to wear pajamas and to bring sleeping bags and blankets for the showing of “Lilo and Stitch.” Membership at NDB Multigenerational Center is $20 annually. Call 505-764-6475 for more information.
3. Read to the Dogs takes place at Cherry Hills Library from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, June 18. Read to the Dogs gives children the opportunity to read to registered therapy dogs in a relaxed atmosphere without fear of judgement. Read to the Dogs will be followed by a presentation by Jan Wilson, who will discuss advanced directives and end of life options from 2-3:30 p.m. Registration is required for the end of life presentation. Visit abqlibrary.org/cherryhills or call 505-857-8321 for more information.
Citywide events
4. Albuquerque is celebrating the newest federal holiday, Juneteenth, Saturday and Sunday at Civic Plaza. The event is intended to look at the uniqueness and resourcefulness of Blacks while educating and focusing on how to change the narrative about Black history, people and stereotypes. Hours are noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 3-8 p.m. Sunday. For a full lineup and tickets, click here.
5. The Great New Mexico Beer Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Balloon Fiesta Park. The event is the largest gathering of New Mexico breweries with samples and sales of more than 120 craft beers. There will also be live music, movies, silent disco, an arcade, lawn games, an artisan market, food trucks and educational opportunities with sessions at the Beer and Brew U. with Southwest Grape & Grain. Those wanting to get an early start can attend the Brewers Conference and Competition, which also features a keynote presentation and breakout sessions, on Friday. Must be 21 or older to attend to attend any of the events. A full schedule of events and tickets can be found here.
6. Make the weekend a sweet celebration with the opening of Chocolate: The Exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. The exhibit, which opens Friday and runs through March 12, will trace the evolution of chocolate, learn the biology of cacao under a life-sized tree, barter for seeds at and Aztec market and follow cacao across the Atlantic as it grows into a global commodity.
7. It’s the final weekend to catch the Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at the Immersive Pavilion at Sawmill District, 1820 Bellman Ave. NW. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.to 9 p.m. Sunday, the closing day of the exhibition. More than 300 artworks are on display, occupying more than 30,000 square feet, making it the largest immersive experience in the country. Works are displayed using cutting-edge projection technology and an original score that breathes new life into the pieces. The experience takes approximately one hour to explore, so final entry will be one hour before close. For more information or tickets, click here.