Spotlight: Balloon Fiesta
The 2025 ExxonMobil Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place this year from Saturday morning, Oct. 4, through Sunday morning, Oct. 12—and 11 new special shape balloons are coming! Among them: an alien in a spaceship, Dracula, Geronimo, a ghost, and a pirate, complete with an eye patch and one wooden leg. Catch the Special Shapes Glowdeo on the nights of Oct. 9 and 10, and on almost every other night, head to Balloon Fiesta Park for spectacular skydiving, drone, and fireworks shows. This year’s Kids’ Day will be on Friday, Oct. 10, with goodie bags available for free starting at 4:30 AM. Advance tickets start at $13; children under 5 are free. For a full schedule, park-and-ride information, and other details, visit the Balloon Fiesta official website.
5 Things To Do in October
Bulk up on Baklava
The Albuquerque Grecian Festival celebrates 50 years this October! Head to the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church at 308 High Street SE 87102 (just south of the Albuquerque Press Club) and go hungry. Souvláki, gyros, spanakópita, a variety of pastries, and more will be available for purchase. Shop jewelry and crafts, listen to
traditional music, and watch authentic dance performances. The festival takes place on Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM, then again on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Tickets are $5 for general admission, $2 for seniors over 62. Kids under 11, along with veterans, active duty military, police, fire, and EMT personnel, are free!
Rock, Reincarnated
Starting Friday, Oct. 3 at 6:00 PM, your favorite bands get zombified as local groups take them over. Night of the Living Cover Bands spans eight monstrous nights with the final night on Saturday, Oct. 25. Before your very eyes, Slow Alchemy becomes the Backstreet Boys, A Minute Past 9 becomes Lady Gaga, Stac-Age turns into The Ramones, Ray J & The Moonshiners become Buddy Holly, and many more. In fact, more than 100 acts in all will perform! All shows are at the Launchpad and are for the 21 and older crowd. Single-night tickets are $12, while the festival pass is $67.50. Costumes encouraged.
Honor Indigenous Culture
Don’t miss the Indigenous Heritage Celebration happening Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Open Space Visitors Center. From 1:00 to 8:00 PM, this family-friendly event will feature storytelling, crafts, dancing, and live music. The Albuquerque band Lindy Vision, made up of sisters Dorothy and Natasha Cuylear, will perform; their latest album, Perpetual Discontent, came out this year in April. Free! Separately, Indigenous Peoples’ Day lands this year on Monday, Oct. 13.
Hug a Pumpkin
The Gutiérrez-Hubbell House Alliance hosts this year’s Fall Farm Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM. This free, family-friendly event features live music from Los Jaraneros del Valle and Duo Metamorfos, traditional dancers from Isleta Pueblo, and circus acts from Conservation Carnivale. The historic community space, which includes a museum and farm, is located at 6029 Isleta Blvd NW, south of Rio Bravo.
Day of the Tread
Get your bike and face paint ready for this year’s Day of the Tread, a “Day of the Dead/Halloween themed bicycling event for cyclists of all ages and skill levels.” On Saturday, Oct. 25, participants can choose from 8-, 17-, 31-, 50-, or 73-mile routes that alternate between paved road and gravel. On Sunday, Oct. 26, participants can enjoy the 4K Fun Walk. Both days’ events end at Sawmill Market, which will feature live music and specials just for the occasion. Day of the Tread benefits Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation and its Treadsetters Adaptive Cycling Group program. Costumes and decorations are highly encouraged!
