By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
The Hatch chile smell is still in the air and the summer still has plenty of weekend left. Rio Rancho and its neighbors pack Aug. 14-16 with free concerts, local markets, community traditions and one of the biggest free family events of the year.
Friday: Two bands, one stage, one SNL alum
The BLOCK opens the weekend Friday with a double bill: the Jimmy Devney Band and Easy Sinners Band share the Main Stage at 7 p.m. at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE.
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Finesse Mitchell plays two nights at Quezada’s Comedy Club, with shows Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Mitchell is known for his characters Starrkeisha, 50 Cent and Morgan Freeman on SNL, and has since appeared on NBC’s Kenan, Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm, Netflix’s Is It Cake? and alongside Dave Chappelle and Jo Koy on stage. His latest special, “Slightly Offensive,” streams on 800 Pound Gorilla Media’s YouTube channel. Tickets at quezadas.holdmyticket.com.
Saturday: Markets, story time, jam bands and a garden preview
Two markets run Saturday morning. The Cabezon Shop Local Market sets up at Cabezon Park, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., free. The Los Ranchos Growers’ Market runs 8-11 a.m. at 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW in the Village of Los Ranchos, now in its 34th season, free.
Coronado Historic Site rangers return to the Martha Liebert Public Library in Bernalillo for the second Ranger Read and Learn session of the summer, running 10-11 a.m. at 124 Calle Malinche. This month’s story is “Coyote and the Sun” by Emmett Shkeme Garcia, followed by a constellation matching game and drawing activity. Free; ages 4-8.
Five Placitas artists open a new exhibition at the Placitas Community Library this weekend as a preview of the Sept. 13 Placitas Garden Tour. Linda Novy-Doll, Alex Athens, Tamara Harder, Kyle Hollingsworth and Christine Brunet Lecomte will show garden-themed work in the library’s Collin Meeting Room, 453 State Highway 165, through Sept. 20. Pieces are for sale at the library help desk during regular hours; 30 percent of sales benefit the library and the Garden Tour.
The NM Jam Band Fest takes over the Sid Cutter Pilot Pavilion at Balloon Fiesta Park Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., with three local jam bands and a solo act — including One More Silver Dollar — plus 60-plus artisan vendors, food and drinks. Free admission and free parking at 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE.
Baracutanga takes the BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday: Funday, history and jazz
Sunday is Funday celebrates its 21st year at Haynes Park, noon to 4 p.m. The Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club–run event grew from a few hundred neighbors in 2006 to more than 6,400 last year, with more than 150 vendor booths, pony rides, a mechanical bull, a rock wall, swimming, fun jumps, dancing and a kickball competition. Admission is $2; kids 12 and under get in free. Proceeds benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico, Boy Scout Troop 714, the RRHS Key Club, St. Felix Food Pantry and Storehouse West Inc. Free shuttles run from Intel, with buses also from Boys and Girls Club.
Up the Jemez, Jemez Historic Site marks Pueblo Independence Day Sunday with a 13-mile run at 7 a.m. from the Jemez Pueblo plaza up Highway 4 to the site, tracing the path Indigenous runners carried word of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors can watch traditional Pueblo-style dances, browse Native arts and crafts, grab food from vendors and tour Gisewa Pueblo. Admission is $7 for adults; free for children 16 and younger, tribal members, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families and museum members.
The Sandia Chill Concert Series returns Sunday at Placitas Homestead Village, 221 Hwy. 165, with Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Ryan Montaño headlining a soul, funk and jazz show benefiting Placitas Elementary School. Gates open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Tickets at CanyonBluesandJazz.org.
The Corrales Growers’ Market opens at 11 a.m. Sunday at Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., with local produce, honey, baked goods and artisan goods through Nov. 1.
The BLOCK closes the evening Sunday with Brain Sang Game at 4:30 p.m., Braingang Trivia hosted by The Hoff at 6 p.m. (18 and older) and a free outdoor screening of “The Neverending Story” at 7 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs; no outside food or drink.
What’s happening this weekend
Sunday is Funday — 21st Annual
When: Sunday, Aug. 16 | Noon–4 p.m.
Where: Haynes Park, Rio Rancho
Admission: $2; 12 and under free
Parking/Shuttle: Free shuttles from Intel; buses from Boys and Girls Club
Online: RioRanchoKiwanis.com
Pueblo Independence Day — Jemez Historic Site
When: Sunday, Aug. 16 | 7 a.m. run; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. site activities
Where: Jemez Historic Site, Jemez Springs
Admission: $7 adults; free for children 16 and under, tribal members, NM disabled veterans, NM foster families, museum members
Tickets: my.nmculture.org/56501/57093 | Info: nmhistoricsites.org/jemez
Finesse Mitchell — Quezada’s Comedy Club
When: Fri, Aug. 14 & Sat, Aug. 15 | 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: quezadas.holdmyticket.com
The BLOCK — Weekend lineup
Where: 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
- Fri, Aug. 14 | 7 p.m.: Jimmy Devney Band & Easy Sinners Band, Main Stage
- Sat, Aug. 15 | 7 p.m.: Baracutanga, Main Stage
- Sun, Aug. 16 | 4:30 p.m.: Brain Sang Game; 6 p.m.: Braingang Trivia (18+); 7 p.m.: “The Neverending Story” outdoor movie (free; no outside food or drink)
School Supply Drive — The BLOCK
Last day: Sunday, Aug. 16 | Benefiting St. Felix Pantry
Full needs list: theblocknm.com/events/school-supply-drive-aug-2-16
Cabezon Shop Local Market
When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Cabezon Park, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE
Admission: Free
Los Ranchos Growers’ Market
When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | 8–11 a.m.
Where: 6718 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Village of Los Ranchos
Admission: Free | Phone: 505-610-9591
Downtown Growers’ Market
When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | 8 a.m.–noon
Where: Robinson Park, 810 Copper Ave. NW, Albuquerque
Admission: Free
Ranger Read and Learn — Martha Liebert Library
When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | 10-11 a.m.
Where: 124 Calle Malinche, Bernalillo
Story: “Coyote and the Sun” by Emmett Shkeme Garcia
Admission: Free | Ages 4-8 | Phone: 505-867-1440
Placitas Garden Tour Exhibition
Where: Collin Meeting Room, Placitas Community Library, 453 State Hwy. 165, Placitas
When: Opens Saturday, Aug. 15 | Through Sept. 20
Hours: Tue. 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wed., Thu., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun. 1–4 p.m.
Garden Tour: Sunday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
NM Jam Band Fest
When: Saturday, Aug. 15 | Noon–6 p.m.
Where: Sid Cutter Pilot Pavilion, Balloon Fiesta Park, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
Admission: Free | Free parking
Sandia Chill Concert Series — Ryan Montaño
When: Sunday, Aug. 16 | Gates 6 p.m., Show 7 p.m.
Where: Placitas Homestead Village, 221 Hwy. 165, Placitas
Benefiting: Placitas Elementary School
Tickets: CanyonBluesandJazz.org
Corrales Growers’ Market
When: Sunday, Aug. 16 | 11 a.m.
Where: Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., Corrales
Admission: Free | Runs through Nov. 1 | Phone: 505-899-8900