Boo at the Zoo, Harvest Fest + 22 More Things To Do (Oct 23–25)

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If you're skipping Boo at the Zoo, or want to squeeze in some extra fall fun before or after your zoo visit, Winrock has you covered. Saturday brings a free fall festival during the day, followed by a balloon glow and live music that evening.

Winrock Park is going full fall with a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, around 150 vendors, and kids' activities from The Little Gym and the Natural History Museum. There's also arts and crafts, live music, and food trucks, so you can easily spend a couple of hours here.

Live music lineup:

When: Saturday, Oct 24, 10 AM–2 PM
Where: Winrock Park, 2100 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque
Cost: FREE! RSVP is encouraged but not required.
Good to know: Free parking is available around Winrock. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs if you want to stick around for the music. Leashed dogs are welcome, too.

THEN STAY FOR THE AFTERGLOW

Not ready to call it a day after the festival? Winrock is keeping things going Saturday night with a balloon glow, live music, and a night market.

The Harvest Fest Afterglow includes the Barks & Bangers benefit concert, headlined by Ten02, plus local performers, food trucks, and drinks from The Boathouse. The Globitos balloon glow runs from 6:30–8:30 PM, giving you a chance to see the balloons light up after sunset.

A heads-up for parents: this one leans more toward a concert atmosphere than the daytime family event. Expect louder music and crowds near the stage, so plan around little ears and bedtimes.

When: Saturday, Oct 24, 5–10 PM (balloon glow 6:30–8:30 PM)
Where: Winrock Park, 2100 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque
Cost: FREE general admission! A $20 donation to the Wiggly Butts Foundation gets you access to a VIP meet-and-greet with Ten02.
Good to know: Food trucks will be at The Campground, and The Boathouse bar will be open. Outside alcohol isn't allowed. Dogs are welcome on leashes, but organizers recommend leaving them at home for the evening. Between the concert volume, crowds, and balloon glow, it could be a lot for them.

Get your costumes and candy bags ready! The ABQ BioPark Zoo is turning into a Halloween party this Saturday.

The Trick-or-Treat Trail winds through Central Parq, with vendor booths handing out candy. Zoo staff get in on the Halloween fun, decorating different areas with spooky themes and animal-inspired displays.

There's lots to do between candy stops, too:

A few things to know before you go:

Tickets: Timed tickets must be purchased online. There are no walk-ups, and regular zoo admission isn't available that day. As of this writing, only the 3 PM arrival time is left. Those could go quickly, so grab your tickets below.

Costume rules: Leave toy weapons, anything sharp or pointed, and full-face masks at home. Glass containers and pets aren't allowed, either.

Parking: Want to skip the parking hassle? There's a free Park & Ride from the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage (328 Marquette Ave NW). Buses run 9 AM–5 PM, boarding on Marquette Ave between 4th and 5th in front of City Hall. The last bus back leaves the zoo at 5:30 PM from 10th and Stover.

Weather: Saturday's forecast now calls for a 60% chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms, so bring rain gear and keep an eye on the forecast before outdoor plans.

When: Saturday, Oct 24, 9 AM–5 PM (timed entry)
Where: ABQ BioPark Zoo, 903 10th St SW
Cost: Adults $15 · Kids 3–12 $10 · Ages 2 and under free. BioPark members pay the same.
Good to know: It's a fundraiser for the New Mexico BioPark Society, presented by After Hours Pediatrics. Tickets are non-refundable. Got old batteries around the house? Bring them for the recycling drive.

MORE THIS WEEKEND

Trunk-or-treating this weekend? We rounded up the best ones around ABQ in our latest Instagram video, including a few this week and next. Watch the reel on @dukecityparents

FRIDAY, OCT 23

Botanic Garden Story Time
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, 2601 Central Ave NW
10:30 AM · Included with garden admission (adults $12, kids 3–12 $7 for NM residents, 2 and under free)

Fall Festival at Manzano Mesa
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth St SE
5–8 PM · FREE
City-run trunk-or-treat and games. There's also a haunted house, which the city bills as the spookier option and posts no age guidance for.

Free Haunted House: The Trails Have Eyes
Joan Jones Community Center, 3828 Rincon Rd NW
7–9 PM (line opens at 6, last entry at 9) · FREE
About a 40-minute guided tour. The city calls it family-friendly and it's wheelchair accessible. Kids 12 and under must be with an adult.

NM Ice Wolves vs. Grand Junction River Hawks
Outpost Ice Arenas, 9530 Tramway Blvd NE
6:30 PM · $18 bleacher, $31 stadium chair
Same time and prices for Saturday's home game.

SATURDAY, OCT 24

Pamoja 5K & Wellness Festival
5401 Eastern Ave SE
5K 8 AM · 1-Mile Walk 8:45 AM · Kids K 9:15 AM · FREE
Bib and T-shirt included. Race-day registration is 7–8 AM.

Elena Gallegos Foothills Wild Hike
Elena Cottonwood Springs Trailhead, 7100 Tramway Blvd NE
8:30–10:30 AM · FREE hike
The trailhead charges a per-vehicle parking fee.

Pueblo Pottery Fall Family Day
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, 500 University Blvd NE
10 AM–12 PM · FREE
Hands-on pottery with Pueblo potters

Day of the Tread: Treadfest
Sawmill Market, 1909 Bellamah Ave NW
From 10 AM, costume contest winners announced at 11 AM · Entry price not posted yet
Benefits the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation. Rides require registration, and fees aren't posted.

Trunk or Treat at Tower Pond Park
Tower Pond Park, Tower Rd SW
12–5 PM · Price not posted
One of the trunk-or-treats in our reel. Check the organizer's page for details before you head out.

Trunk or Treat at Coldwell Banker Legacy
Coldwell Banker Legacy, Cottonwood Office, 10300 Cottonwood Park NW
1–3 PM · FREE
Costumes encouraged, lots of candy, and a chance to win a $100 gift card to Ex Novo Brewing

Rio Rancho Fall Festival
Campus Park, 2516 King Blvd NE, Rio Rancho
2–8 PM · FREE
Pumpkin carving 2–6, cakewalk 2–5, costume contest 5–6, trunk-or-treat 6–8

Monster Mash Trunk or Treat
Alamosa Community Center, 6900 Gonzales Rd SW
4–7 PM · FREE
Car show, carnival games, haunted house, and cake bingo. Non-perishable food donations welcome.

Girl Scouts Spooktacular Trunks & Treats
Girl Scout Service Center, 4000 Jefferson Plaza NE
4–7 PM · FREE
Billed as "spooky but not scary," and open to the whole community

Trunks & Treats at Westgate Community Center
10001 De Vargas Rd SW
5–8 PM · FREE
City-run

Los Lunas Halloween Trunk or Treat & Balloon Glow
Los Lunas Sports Complex, 1600 NM-314, Los Lunas (about 30 minutes south)
5–9 PM (trunk-or-treat starts at 5, balloons go up at dark) · Admission not posted
Also a cake walk (bring cash) and a dance recital at the gazebo. The movie Coco follows the balloon glow.

Movie Night in Netherwood Park: Coco
Netherwood Park, 2613 Morrow Rd NE
Evening (the organizer lists 6–9 PM) · Free popcorn while supplies last
Face painting and a food truck. Bring chairs and blankets. Admission isn't posted on the organizer's page.

UNM Homecoming vs. North Dakota State
University Stadium, 1111 University Blvd SE
Tailgate from 5 PM (free, registration required) · Kickoff 8 PM · Ticket prices are on UNM's site
A late night for little ones

SUNDAY, OCT 25

Corrales Growers' Market
500 Jones Rd, Corrales
9 AM–12 PM · FREE
Second-to-last market of the season. The final one is Nov 1.

Sugar Skull Fun Run + Muerto Market
Tingley Drive between Central Ave and 8th St, near Tingley Beach
5K 9 AM · 1-mile Strut & Stroll 10 AM
5K (ages 12+) $50 · 5K (ages 6–11) $30 · 1-mile (ages 6+) $25 · Ages 5 and under free
Strollers and pets are welcome on the 1-mile. Prices are as listed on RunSignup, and fees may be extra.

Día de los Muertos Community Celebration of Life (22nd Annual)
Farm & Table / La Parada, 8917 4th St NW
10 AM–4 PM · FREE
Pet blessing at 11, free sugar skull workshop 12–4 (free minis for the first 100), live music 12–3, 40+ artisans, and food trucks

Rail Yards Market: Season Finale
777 1st St SW
10 AM–2 PM · FREE
Last market of the season, with a pumpkin contest

UNM Men's Basketball Exhibition vs. Arizona State
The Pit
2 PM · From $15 plus fees

Brad and Sabrina Jones got the idea for Frozen Fix on a trip to San Antonio. They noticed there weren't many unique local treat shops, came home with an idea, and turned it into a business. They opened Frozen Fix in late July in a former shoe store on Eubank in the Northeast Heights.

The best part? Every flavor is made by hand by the Jones family, and the lineup is always changing. Banana pudding, German chocolate cake, and lemon meringue pie have been early favorites. They've also experimented with flavors like mango chipotle, raspberry habanero, cookie butter, and sour blueberry.

Fall flavors to try: Pumpkin spice latte, tuxedo, and cinnamon roll.

We're also big fans of the sizes because it works for everyone, from the littlest kids who just want a few bites to the adults who want to try a little of everything. You can grab a mini scoop, go for a triple, or order a flight of four mini scoops to sample a few flavors. There's a size for every age and every appetite.

Sabrina told the Albuquerque Journal that she hopes Frozen Fix will be "a place for families to come and linger." Sounds like a pretty sweet addition to the neighborhood.

Where: 4301 Eubank Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 (near Montgomery and Eubank)

Cost:

Good to know: Flavors rotate, so the case may look a little different from the list above. Some dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, too. Ask what's on hand if you have dietary needs to work around.

🧸 Toys "R" Us is back at ABQ Uptown. It opened last week at 2240 Louisiana Blvd NE in the old Eddie Bauer space. It's smaller than the old Winrock store, but it's permanent, not a holiday pop-up.

🏫 APS school transfer window opens Monday, Oct. 26. Want your child at a school outside your neighborhood boundary next year? Apply through ParentVUE by Nov. 30. Decisions come Dec. 8. Details

📝 APS budget survey closes Thursday night. It takes about five minutes and asks what the district should prioritize next year, from class sizes and buses to sports and mental-health support. Take the survey

🏛️ APS right-sizing meeting: Thursday at 6 PM. The district is discussing declining enrollment and possible school consolidations and boundary changes at Del Norte High School. More meetings are Oct. 27 at Eldorado and Oct. 29 at Highland.

⚽ i9 Sports late-fall clinics: sign up by Friday, Oct. 23. Three-week flag football, soccer, and multi-sport clinics start Nov. 7 at Grant Middle School. Guaranteed placement ends Friday.

⚠️ Check your nursery: three baby-product safety alerts. The CPSC recalled Papablic convertible bedside sleepers and ONTHEWEI baby bath seats, both with full refunds offered. It also issued a stop-use warning for bblüv Grow high chairs. No fix is available, so don't use or resell them. All were sold on Amazon.

🍼 Free diapers in Rio Rancho. St. Felix Pantry provides registered families with 50 diapers and wipes per child each month. The next pantry is Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 AM–noon at 4020 Barbara Loop SE. Bring a New Mexico ID and proof of your child's birthdate. Details

If you know another Albuquerque parent who would enjoy Duke City Parents, we'd love your help spreading the word.

Just forward this email to them, or copy the link below and send it their way. Every new parent who joins helps us build a bigger community here in ABQ.

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