By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
The Balloon Fiesta enters its final stretch this weekend as Rio Rancho and Sandoval County serve up a proper fall weekend — pumpkins, stained glass, fire extinguisher demos, a live turkey and a comedian who played Sabrina’s aunt for nine seasons.
Friday: The Fiesta continues and Hilda Spellman comes to Quezada’s
The 54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta enters its final three days this weekend at Balloon Fiesta Park, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE. Friday is Kids’ Day, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, with the Special Shape Rodeo launching at 7 a.m. and the Special Shape Glowdeo lighting up the evening at 6:30 p.m., followed by Team Fastrax Skydiving, a Drone Light Show and Afterglow Fireworks through 8 p.m.
The Animated Jukebox takes The BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. Friday at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE.
Caroline Rhea plays two nights at Quezada’s Comedy Club, 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd., Bernalillo, with shows Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Best known as Hilda Spellman on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Rhea has also headlined specials on Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime, voiced Linda Flynn Fletcher on Phineas and Ferb, and currently stars in Disney Channel’s Sydney to the Max and hosts Caroline and Friends on the Game Show Network — now in its second season. This marks her 30th year in stand-up. Tickets from $42 at quezadas.holdmyticket.com.
Saturday: Fire demos, glass, a soil talk, a Placitas market and the Balloon Fiesta’s biggest night
The PREP Alliance and Sandoval County Fire & Rescue host a free community event at Fire Station #41, 463 NM Hwy 165 in Placitas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday — a drop-in day where visitors of all ages can practice using a real fire extinguisher, tour the fire engines, meet the firefighters who serve Placitas and pick up handouts on defensible space and emergency preparedness. More at PREPalliance.org.
The Placitas Seller’s Market returns Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Homestead Village, 221 NM Hwy 165 — its second-to-last date of the 2026 season, which runs the 2nd and 4th Saturdays through Oct. 24.
Wild Hearts Gallery hosts the artists’ reception for Nancy and Jon Couch’s “Glass Magic” stained glass exhibition Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at 221-B State Highway 165, Placitas, with fellowship and refreshments. The exhibition runs through Nov. 1.
Sandoval Extension Master Gardeners host “Night of the Living Soil” — a gardening talk with Cait Rottler — Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Jemez Springs Library, 30 Jemez Springs Plaza. The program is part of NMSU’s Gardening with the Masters series. Contact Sandoval County Extension at 505-867-2582 for accessibility accommodations.
The BLOCK hosts a Balloon Night Light Class at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Top of THE BLOCK Bar — register online at theblocknm.com. Back in the Saddle follows on the Main Stage at 7 p.m.
Saturday — ExxonMobil Day at the Balloon Fiesta — is the finale in everything but name: The Krispy Kreme Morning Glow rolls at 6:30 a.m., the ExxonMobil Mass Ascension launches at 7 a.m., and the evening runs from the Night Magic Glow at 6:30 p.m. through the Music Fiesta concert lineup — Nathaniel Krantz at 4 p.m., Dasha at 5:30 p.m. and Russell Dickerson at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks close the night at 9:15 p.m. Music Fiesta requires a separate ticket on top of general admission.
The pumpkin patch is open
The Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch is open daily through Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the upper SW parking lot of the Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Cir. NE. Dozens of activities are included with admission. Paint Ball and Petting Zoo cost extra. No cash; cards, Apple Pay, Venmo and Google Pay accepted.
Sunday: All Hallows in Bernalillo, a farewell ascension and Monster House at The BLOCK
Sunday’s Farewell Mass Ascension begins at 7 a.m. at Balloon Fiesta Park — the final send-off for the 54th Fiesta, with no evening events. Gates open at 4:30 a.m.
Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo throws its first All Hallows Fest Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 485 Kuaua Road. Visitors can paint pumpkins, make masks, play corn darts and cornhole for prizes, visit with Tim the Turkey, and check out a Day of the Dead ofrenda. Local vendors sell arts and crafts, and hot chocolate and s’mores are served fireside at the outdoor adobe horno. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for kids 16 and under; free for FCJHS and MNMF members. Tickets at my.nmculture.org/56492/61504.
The BLOCK closes the weekend Sunday with Gonzalo on the Main Stage at 2 p.m., Braingang Trivia at 5 p.m. and a free outdoor screening of “Monster House” 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 its final Sundays before the season ends Nov. 1.
What’s happening this weekend
54th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta — Final Weekend
Where: Balloon Fiesta Park, 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque
Admission: $20 per person; 12 and under free | Parking: $20 | Gates: 4:30 a.m.
*Music Fiesta requires a separate ticket in addition to general admission.
Info: balloonfiesta.com
Friday, Oct. 9 — Kids’ Day (Chick-fil-A)
- 6 a.m.: Dawn Patrol
- 7 a.m.: Special Shape Rodeo & Balloon Launch
- 6:30 p.m.: Special Shape Glowdeo
- 7:30 p.m.: Team Fastrax Skydiving
- 7:45 p.m.: Drone Light Show
- 8 p.m.: Afterglow Fireworks
Saturday, Oct. 10 — ExxonMobil Day
- 6 a.m.: Dawn Patrol; 6:30 a.m.: Morning Glow; 7 a.m.: Mass Ascension
- 4 p.m.: Music Fiesta — Nathaniel Krantz*
- 5:30 p.m.: Music Fiesta — Dasha*
- 6:30 p.m.: Night Magic Glow & RC Balloon Exhibition
- 7:30 p.m.: Music Fiesta — Russell Dickerson*
- 9 p.m.: Drone Light Show; 9:15 p.m.: Afterglow Fireworks
Sunday, Oct. 11 — Final Day
- 6 a.m.: Dawn Patrol; 6:30 a.m.: Morning Glow; 7 a.m.: Farewell Mass Ascension
Caroline Rhea — Quezada’s Comedy Club
When: Fri, Oct. 9 & Sat, Oct. 10 | 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
Where: 54 Jemez Canyon Dam Rd., Bernalillo (Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel)
Tickets: From $42 | quezadas.holdmyticket.com
Galloping Goat Pumpkin Patch
When: Daily through Oct. 31 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Upper SW parking lot, Rio Rancho Events Center, 3001 Civic Center Cir. NE
Admission: $11.99-$13.99 + tax | Season pass: $29.99 | No cash
Fire Extinguisher Community Event — PREP Alliance
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (drop in)
Where: Fire Station #41, 463 NM Hwy 165, Placitas
Admission: Free | Info: PREPalliance.org
Placitas Seller’s Market
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 | 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: Homestead Village, 221 NM Hwy 165, Placitas
Admission: Free
Wild Hearts Gallery — “Glass Magic” Artists’ Reception
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 | 1-3 p.m.
Where: 221-B State Highway 165, Placitas
Exhibition through Nov. 1 | wildheartsgallery.com
Gardening with the Masters: “Night of the Living Soil”
When: Saturday, Oct. 10 | 11 a.m.
Where: Jemez Springs Library, 30 Jemez Springs Plaza, Jemez Springs
Info: 505-867-2582
The BLOCK — Weekend lineup
Where: 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
- Fri, Oct. 9 | 7 p.m.: Animated Jukebox, Main Stage
- Sat, Oct. 10 | 4 p.m.: Balloon Night Light Class, Top of THE BLOCK Bar (register: theblocknm.com); 7 p.m.: Back in the Saddle, Main Stage
- Sun, Oct. 11 | 2 p.m.: Gonzalo; 5 p.m.: Braingang Trivia; 7 p.m.: “Monster House” outdoor movie (free; no outside food or drink)
All Hallows Fest — Coronado Historic Site
When: Sunday, Oct. 11 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: Coronado Historic Site, 485 Kuaua Road, Bernalillo
Admission: $10 adults; $5 ages 16 and under; free for FCJHS/MNMF members
Tickets: my.nmculture.org/56492/61504
Corrales Growers’ Market
When: Sunday, Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.
Where: Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., Corrales
Admission: Free | Final weeks — closes Nov. 1