It’s a long weekend for many as Independence Day hits Monday. Here’s a look at some things going on in the neighborhood.
1.Americano Music Nights at Rust is Gold Coffee. Rust is gold is hosting the Americano Nights featuring local artists, with food and drinks, as well as drink specials. This is family friendly event runs 7-9 p.m. Friday.
2. Backyard Market at ABQ Collective features more than 35 vendors, live music and food trucks as well as the 14 businesses inside of the ABQ collective of local artisans and retailers. People will have tons of fun shopping this new Heights weekend market. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
3. Making Strides walking group is hosting a stroll through Montgomery Park on Comanche and Alvarado. The walk is about 3.5 miles long on a sandy path lining the arroyo and is a level one graded hike. Responsible dog owners are encouraged to come with pets on leash, and the route will stretch to Hahn Park and back on Sunday, starting at 9:30 a.m. Making strides is an 800-plus group of avid hikers which actively meets up several time a week at many different hiking locations, so if folks cannot make this event, there are a ton of other scheduled hikes here.
Citywide events
4. Jam out to country, reggae and New Mexican music before watching the city’s biggest fireworks display at Freedom Fourth at Balloon Fiesta Park from 3-10 p.m. Monday. The event is free, but parking is $10 per vehicle. Pre-pay by visiting premiumparking.com/P4702. Otherwise, be prepared to pay in cash. The city encourages visitors to use the Park & Ride bus service at Coronado or Cottonwood malls, with the service beginning at 3 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. Food, drinks and kids’ activities, including face painting, bounce houses and two rock walls, will be available for the all-ages event. Visit cabq.gov/artsculture/things-to-do/annual-events/freedom-4th for more information.
5. Saturday marks the final day to view “Mysterious Inner Worlds,” a solo exhibit featuring Anila Quayyum Agha, at the University of New Mexico Art Museum. It features four sculptures activated by light, including the large-scale light installation “Intersections” and the debut of the sculpture “Steel Garden (Red). The museum is pen from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. For more information on the exhibit, click here or call 505-277-4001.
6. Share your greatest wish at with the observance of Tanabata, a Japanese summer festival, at the Tanabata Wish-making Station in the Botanic Garden of ABQ BioPark July 1-7. The festival celebrates the meeting of the deities Hikoboshi and Orihime, two celestial lovers represented by the stars Altair and Vega, which are usually separated by the Milky Way. According to legend, they are only allowed to meet once per year, the seventh month of the lunisolar calendar. Traditionally, people write their wishes on colorful strips of paper (tanzaku papers) and affix them to bamboo branches. This weeklong station invites residents to the BioPark’s Japanese Garden to learn more about Tanabata and make your own wish strip. The BioPark is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, call 505-848-7172 or click here.
7. Celebrate Independence Day with the Albuquerque Isotopes as the team hosts the Sugarland Space Cowboys. Friday’s promotional giveaway is clear backpacks to the first 2,000 fans, while Saturday and Sunday’s game will be followed by fireworks. Saturday also features the Mariachis de Nuevo México and is Lowrider Night. Gates open early Saturday and Sunday, at 5 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. respectively. Game times are 7:05 p.m. Friday, 6:35 p.m. Saturday, and 6:05 p.m. Sunday. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the team’s website.