- October comes early in Rio Rancho this weekend as the Chamber of Commerce presents Oktoberfest. The free event is 2-9 p.m. Saturday at Country Club Plaza. There will be local vendors, music, games, food and, of course, beer. Kids are free, and it’s $5 for adults.
- It’s homecoming weekend for Volcano Vista High School. The football team plays Eldorado at 7 p.m. Friday at Community Stadium. The homecoming dance is 7-11 p.m. Saturday. The VVHS boys soccer team plays Rio Rancho at the APS Soccer Complex at 11 a.m. Saturday. The girls soccer team plays at 3 p.m. Friday at Rio Rancho. Volcano Vista’s volleyball team plays 2 p.m. Saturday at Valley.
- The Land of Enchantment Fly-in is Saturday at Double Eagle Airport. The local Experimental Aircraft Association hosts the annual event, which features more than 75 aircrafts to view, games for children and a hangar full of vendors representing the aviation industry. The free event runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be several food trucks on site.
Citywide events
4. Hispanic Heritage Month is in full swing in Albuquerque. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, a variety of events and activities are planned to celebrate the city’s Hispanic roots and culture. Events this weekend includes the free Heart of Corrales Fiesta Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Casa San Ysidro will host a variety of music, heritage craft demonstrations and more. Additionally, !Cine Magnifico! And ¡Glbalquerque!: ¡NYICFF Kid Flicks! Will run Saturday at the National Hispanic Culture Center. This free community event celebrates the best Spanish-language short films from around the globe. For more information or a full schedule of events for the month, visit https://nmhhc.com.
5. The New Mexico Prickly Pear Festival returns for its fourth year Saturday and Sunday at Gutiérrex-Hubbel House Alliance, 6029 Isleta Blvd. SW. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, with Saturday a day for cooks, eaters and anyone with a taste and interest in prickly pears. The day also includes a vendor market, cooking and beverage demonstrations, live music, art games, a round table discussion, live podcast recording and more. Sunday is dedicated to talks and workshops with farmers, ranchers and gardeners on how and why to incorporate native, arid adapted plants like prickly pear into their systems. Tickets are $10 general admission and $6 for students and children. For more information, visit https://nmpricklypearfest.com.
6. Celebrate Aki Matsuri (the Japanese Fall Festival) with the New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at New Mexico Veterans Memorial Park, 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE. The event features Japanese cultural exhibits, vendor fair, musical demonstrations, Japanese art, Japanese food, sushi, beer and sake booth and more. There will also be a cosplay contest this year. Admission is $7 with kids 12 and under free with a parent or guardian. For tickets, visit https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/394253.
7. Join representatives from Albuquerque Fire Rescue from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for various cleanups throughout the city with Imagine ABQ. Volunteers are encouraged to start where they’re planted, such as your neighborhood or business, and work your way a block out. For more information on the day, visit https://www.imagineabq.com.
Bonus: Unite Against Cancer with the Lobo Cancer Challenge Saturday and University Stadium. Registration is closed, but donations can be made to support challengers by visiting clicking here. A full schedule of events is also available on the website.
