By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
October arrives in Sandoval County with Mickey Mouse on ice skates, hundreds of hot air balloons on the horizon and more going on in Bernalillo on a single Saturday than most towns manage in a month.
Friday: Vibrant Souls, glass magic and a man from Billions
The Placitas Community Library opens its DÃa de los Muertos exhibition “Vibrant Souls” with a reception Friday from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Collin Meeting Room, 453 State Highway 165. The show features art inspired by the tradition — lively skeletons, marigolds, colorful skulls and decorated altars — with pieces available for purchase and a percentage benefiting the library. The exhibition runs through Oct. 12.
Disney On Ice presents “Find Your Hero” opens its Rio Rancho run Friday at 7 p.m. at the Rio Rancho Events Center, 4100 Civic Centre. The show features Encanto, Moana, Stitch, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel and Beauty & the Beast. Tickets from $32 at Ticketmaster.
The High Desert Playboys take The BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. Friday at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE.
Dan Soder plays two nights at Quezada’s Comedy Club, with shows Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The SiriusXM Bonfire co-host and seven-season Billions veteran (you know him as Mafee) has a Netflix special incoming and more than 4 million YouTube views on his special “On the Road.” Tickets at quezadas.holdmyticket.com.
The Twice Read Tales book sale opens Friday at 9 a.m. at the Loma Colorado Main Library auditorium, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd. NE — thousands of used books, 9 a.m. to noon, free to attend.
Saturday: Bernalillo goes all in
Bernalillo stacks its Saturday from morning to night with the Mountain West Fall Fest, anchored by the Sandoval County 5th Annual Car Show at Loretto Park, 237 S Camino del Pueblo. The car show runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m., with pre-registration at $30 and day-of at $35. DJ Delight provides music; Tomboy Tako parks the food truck. The festival itself is free and runs 1-8 p.m. with a kids area, food, vendors, beer and live music — Brandon Saiz performs 4-5:30 p.m. and Micheal Rascon follows 6-7:30 p.m. The first 200 through the gate get a free Route 66 mug and apple cider. The whole day celebrates 100 years of Route 66.
The Placitas Chamber of Commerce hosts its 9th Annual Chili Cook-Off Saturday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at La Puerta Real Estate, 1 Ridge Court in Placitas. Tasting and voting runs on cash; all proceeds go to 4-H Bullsnakes. Raffle prizes on-site.
Disney On Ice runs three Saturday showtimes at the Events Center: 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Afternoon shows fill fastest.
The Cabezon Shop Local Market runs Saturday at Cabezon Park, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — local makers, crafts and food trucks. Free admission.
The book sale continues Saturday 9 a.m.-noon at Loma Colorado Main Library.
Hicks Philly Fowler takes The BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Worth the early wake-up: The Balloon Fiesta opens
The 54th ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta opens its first weekend Saturday and Sunday at Balloon Fiesta Park, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, with mass ascensions at 7 a.m. both days. Gates open at 4:30 a.m. Admission is $20 per person; free for kids 12 and under. Parking is $20 per vehicle. Leave early.
Sunday: Pueblo weaving, stained glass and Casper
Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo hosts a free artist demonstration Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Louie Garcia, a Tiwa and Piro Pueblo fiber artist who has revived traditional weaving techniques largely lost in many Pueblo communities. Garcia learned the basics from his grandfather and deepened his knowledge through years of studying historic textiles in museums, private collections and archaeology sites. Admission is free for New Mexico residents on First Sunday; included with regular admission for non-residents. The site is at 485 Kuaua Road, Bernalillo.
Wild Hearts Gallery in Placitas hosts a First Sunday ARTscrawl presentation by stained glass artists Nancy and Jon Couch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at 221-B State Highway 165. The Couches have been making Water Prisms — stained glass pieces that cast rainbows in New Mexico light — since the 1980s. Their “Glass Magic” exhibition, featuring windows, lamps, ornaments and prisms, runs at the gallery through Nov. 1.
Disney On Ice closes its Rio Rancho run Sunday with shows at noon and 4 p.m. The Balloon Fiesta’s Sunday mass ascension runs at 7 a.m.
The BLOCK closes the weekend Sunday with Cars & Coffee at 11 a.m., Braingang Trivia at 5 p.m. and a free outdoor screening of “Casper” at 7 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs; no outside food or drink.
The Corrales Growers’ Market opens at 11 a.m. Sunday at Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd. — one of the final weeks before the market closes Nov. 1.
What’s happening this weekend
Disney On Ice presents “Find Your Hero”
When: Fri, Oct. 2 | 7 p.m.; Sat, Oct. 3 | 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.; Sun, Oct. 4 | Noon, 4 p.m.
Where: Rio Rancho Events Center, 4100 Civic Centre, Rio Rancho
Tickets: From $32 | Ticketmaster | rioranchoeventscenter.com
54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
When: Opens Sat-Sun, Oct. 3-4 | Mass Ascension 7 a.m. both days | Gates open 4:30 a.m.
Where: Balloon Fiesta Park, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
Admission: $20 per person; 12 and under free | Parking: $20
Info: balloonfiesta.com
Dan Soder — Quezada’s Comedy Club
When: Fri, Oct. 2 & Sat, Oct. 3 | 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: quezadas.holdmyticket.com
The BLOCK — Weekend lineup
Where: 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
- Fri, Oct. 2 | 7 p.m.: High Desert Playboys, Main Stage
- Sat, Oct. 3 | 7 p.m.: Hicks Philly Fowler, Main Stage
- Sun, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.: Cars & Coffee (SECU); 5 p.m.: Braingang Trivia; 7 p.m.: “Casper” outdoor movie (free; no outside food or drink)
Mountain West Fall Fest & Sandoval County Car Show — Bernalillo
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | Car Show 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; Fall Fest 1–8 p.m.
Where: Loretto Park, Bernalillo
Car Show: Pre-reg $30; day-of $35 | Contact: Theresa Carrillo, 505-803-7046
Fall Fest: Free | Info: 505-771-7133
Live music: Brandon Saiz 4–5:30 p.m.; Micheal Rascon 6–7:30 p.m.
Placitas Chili Cook-Off — 9th Annual
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | 12:30–2:30 p.m.
Where: La Puerta Real Estate, 1 Ridge Court, Placitas
Admission: Free (voting by cash) | Proceeds: 4-H Bullsnakes
Twice Read Tales Book Sale
When: Fri, Oct. 2 & Sat, Oct. 3 | 9 a.m.–noon
Where: Loma Colorado Main Library Auditorium, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd. NE
Admission: Free
Cabezon Shop Local Market
When: Saturday, Oct. 3 | 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Where: Cabezon Park, 2307 Cabezon Blvd. SE
Admission: Free
“Vibrant Souls” DÃa de los Muertos Exhibition — Placitas Community Library
Reception: Friday, Oct. 2 | 5–6:30 p.m. | Through Oct. 12
Where: Collin Meeting Room, Placitas Community Library, 453 State Hwy. 165
Louie Garcia — Pueblo Weaving Demonstration
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Coronado Historic Site, 485 Kuaua Road, Bernalillo
Admission: Free for NM residents (First Sunday); included with regular admission for others
Info: 505-946-7149 | nmhistoricsites.org/coronado
Wild Hearts Gallery — “Glass Magic” ARTscrawl Presentation
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: 221-B State Highway 165, Placitas
Exhibition runs through Nov. 1 | wildheartsgallery.com
Corrales Growers’ Market
When: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.
Where: Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., Corrales
Admission: Free | Final weeks — market closes Nov. 1