Spotlight: West Central Route 66 Visitor Center Re-Opens
The Route 66 Visitor Center is now officially open! The modern building, located just east of I-40 and Atrisco Vista Boulevard, sits right on the Mother Road with a clear view of Albuquerque and the Sandia Mountains. In time for more Route 66 Centennial events coming up this summer, the center serves as a rest-stop for visitors; a gallery; an event space that can be booked for talks, meetings, and more; and a gathering place for everyone. Currently on exhibit at the center: Centennial Roots, an art show featuring the work of three local photographers, Gabriela Campos, Jessica “Jessree” Roybal, and Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli. According to the website, “Their work encapsulates a century of lived experience, revealing how travel, migration, and exchange have shaped a distinctly New Mexican identity. Centennial Roots honors this growth, celebrating Route 66 not only as a road, but as a living archive of New Mexico’s cultural landscape.”
The center will also host musical events every Saturday this month. For example, on Saturday, May 9, listen to Little Ralph Paiz, Tripple X with Luis Smoothie Soto, and Red Wine Band with David Nunez. On Saturday, May 23, the set shifts to Blues with Chris Dracup & Funk of The West followed by Hillary Smith & Chill House. Food trucks will be at the events. For more information, visit the center’s website.
The Route 66 Visitors Center is at 12300 Central SW and is currently open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Spotlight: Route 66 Remixed
Route 66 Remixed reimagines Albuquerque’s 18-mile stretch of the Mother Road through bold public art, murals, sculptures, and immersive AR experiences. Created for the Route 66 Centennial in partnership with Meow Wolf and Refract Studio, the project features 20 installations by 19 artists and a poet, each reflecting the stories, people, and culture that shape the city. Explore the full creative route and plan your journey at Route66Remixed.com.
5 Things To Do in May
Get Out & About
April showers bring May flowers, along with festivals and markets. In addition to specific events we’ve highlighted, here’s a round-up of just a few festivals happening this month:
The Multicultural Arts Festival happening on Saturday, May 2
The Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival happening the weekend of May 2
The Flor de Mayo Folk Art Festival happening on Sunday, May 3
Mother’s Day in Old Town happening on Sunday, May 10
The country music festival Boots in the Park happening the weekend of May 15
The New Mexico Wine Festival happening the weekend of May 23
The International Fest happening on Saturday, May 30.
Find more information about farmers’ markets in Albuquerque.
Give it a Whirl
The Albuquerque Turkish Festival happens this Saturday, May 2, from 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM at the Raindrop Foundation Turkish Cultural Center (7901 Mountain Rd NE). The Raindrop Foundation is a national organization with a chapter in Albuquerque, which promotes and celebrates Turkish culture. Open to everyone, entry is free to this outdoor event; a variety of Turkish food and drinks will be available for purchase, along with art, crafts, and more. Watch a variety of traditional performances, including dances by Whirling Dervishes throughout the day. For a full event schedule and additional festival details, visit the organization’s Facebook page or find them on Instagram.
Don’t Slobber on Mom
Moms can love even the hairiest face. On Saturday, May 9, celebrate dog moms and moms who have human children too with Tails, Trails and Treats: Mother’s Day Edition. Hikers and their dogs will meet at the base of the Sandia Peak Tram (30 Tramway Rd NE) and explore the area from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. The event is free and welcoming to non-moms too! There will be free treats for dogs and dog moms can receive a special Mother’s Day gift at entry, while supplies last.
Zouk Out
Celebrate the 2026 Caribbean Spring Festival on Friday, May 29 at the South Broadway Cultural Center (1025 Broadway Blvd SE). Featuring live performances by Binghi Blaze and the Zile KENEP Band, the festival highlights reggae as well as zouk, which is a fast-paced, percussion- and horn-heavy form of music popularized in the 1980s in Guadeloupe and Martinique. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the festival goes until 10:00 PM. Tickets start at $17.
Cheer for a Revival
Back in 1985, a local nonprofit called Women in Movement in New Mexico started WIMINFEST, an annual three-day celebration of queer culture and women’s music and art. In 2005, organizers took a break—and now, the festival is back! Returning in its new version to the KiMo Theatre on Saturday, May 30, QueerJoyFest aims to honor and uplift the LGBTQIA2S+ community. From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, enjoy performances from musicians and comedians such as Joy Clark, Marga Gomez, and Kristy Lee. Then, head to the afterparty (9:00 PM to 1:00 AM) at the El Rey Theater at 622 Central Ave SW. Tickets to QueerJoyFest start at $20 and include admission to the afterparty. Tickets just for the afterparty are $10.
Bonus: Take Action
The exhibit Nuclear Past, Present, and Future: Art in Action debuted last month at the National Hispanic Cultural Center with a lively event attended by survivors, activists, artists, community leaders, and others. For a quieter, more reflective experience, visit the show, which was organized in collaboration between the NHCC and the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, now until January 24, 2027. Visit NHCC.org for museum hours, ticket prices, and additional details.
