👋 Good morning, Albuquerque! Welcome, Duke City Parents.
If you missed the news last week, Growing Up ABQ is now Duke City Parents. Our focus is on building something bigger than a newsletter: a community where Albuquerque parents can find their people, discover their city, and build a true community.
And what better way to start than with a weekend packed with things to do?
Pirates and Vikings are taking over Edgewood, a traveling carnival just rolled into Cottonwood Mall, and the Isotopes are doing Sesame Street Day at Sunday's game. Oh, and Spirit Halloween opens at Coronado Mall on Saturday, so yes, it's officially fall (even though it isn’t).
There's also a mass accension, Lowrider Night at the ballpark, and enough markets to fill your fridge for the week.
Let's get into it.
THIS WEEK'S PICK
Pirate Viking Summer Festival
If your kids are into pirates, Vikings, swords, or just dressing up and running around outside, this one should be on your list. The Pirate Viking Summer Festival is back at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood this Saturday and Sunday, with live music, comedy, fire shows, sword fighting, axe throwing, gold panning, and plenty of people dressing as pirates. There are five stages running throughout the day, so there's always something going on.
The festival is now in its seventh year, but there's another reason to make the drive beyond just having a fun afternoon. It's held at Wildlife West, a nonprofit wildlife refuge that gives rescued New Mexico animals a second chance. Your ticket helps support the animals there, too. Kids 17 and under get in free with a paying adult, parking is free, and costumes are encouraged. So dust off that pirate costume.
When: Saturday & Sunday, August 22–23, 10 AM–6 PM
Where: Wildlife West Nature Park, Edgewood
Cost: 2-for-1 adult day passes are on sale online now — $15.91 per ticket (normally $27.24) — through August 21. Buy tickets here. Kids 17 and under are always free with a paying adult.
MORE THIS WEEKEND
Thursday–Sunday, August 20–23
Albuquerque Summer Carnival (Frazier Shows), Cottonwood Mall: Free admission and parking. Sat 3–11 PM, Sun 3–9 PM. Unlimited ride wristbands $30, valid 3–6 PM Sat/Sun only.
Friday, August 21
Isotopes E.R.A.'s Night + postgame fireworks (6:35pm, Rio Grande Credit Union Field): Pregame autograph session, fireworks after.
Read to the Dogs (Ernie Pyle Library): Free.
Saturday, August 22
Isotopes Lowrider Night + Mariachis de Nuevo México (6:35pm): Lowrider car show 5–5:45pm, bobblehead giveaway first 3,000 fans.
Spirit Halloween Coronado Mall Grand Opening (10am): Free.
Downtown Growers' Market (8am–12pm, Robinson Park): Free.
Family Story Time (Tony Hillerman Library): Free.
Old Town Plaza Live Music (1–3pm): Free.
NM Home Improvement & Design Show + Pistons for Patriots Car Show (Expo NM): $10 general admission, benefits a veteran nonprofit.
Sunday, August 23
Isotopes: Sesame Street Day (1:35pm): Themed promotions throughout the game.
Rail Yards Market (10am–2pm): Free.
Wheels Museum (10am–2pm, Rail Yards): Small transportation museum, pairs with the market.
Balloon Museum: Free Sunday Admission
Albuquerque Museum event (2–3pm): Included with admission.
TO DO
Kidical Mass ABQ
If your kids like riding bikes, this is a fun one to check out. Kidical Mass ABQ is hosting its fourth annual fundraiser at Canteen Brewhouse this Saturday, with a bike rodeo, bike swap, cargo bike show, bike-powered smoothie maker, and a raffle. You can stop by for a little while or hang out for the whole thing, and you don't have to already be part of Kidical Mass to join in.
My personal favorite part is the name, which is a nod to Mass Ascension. Instead of balloons, Kidical Mass gets families and kids riding together through the city. The local group has been doing family rides since 2022, creating a fun, supportive way for kids to build confidence on bikes while bringing Albuquerque's biking families together.
This year's fundraiser is at Canteen, so you can make an afternoon of it. They've been brewing in Albuquerque since 1994 and regularly host live music, trivia, and outdoor events.
When: Saturday, August 22, 12–2 PM
Where: Canteen Brewhouse, 2381 Aztec Rd NE
Cost: Free to attend
DUKE CITY EATS
The Bakehouse Off The Wheaten Path
This week we had to try out this incredible bakehouse located just off the wheaten path. If you just rolled your eyes at me, stick with me. If you're asking yourself, did you really order a piece of pizza and a cinnamon roll? The answer is yes, because the best test for a place that only does gluten-free food is, of course, pizza and a cinnamon roll.
Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. The pizza was extremely flavorful, and the cinnamon roll was moist, fresh, and packed full of flavor. Honestly, if I didn’t already know they were gluten-free, I would’ve never known.
There are so many options for the kids, too. They have donuts, cookies, brownies, cakes, pastries, and plenty of other baked goods. It is definitely the kind of place where your kid is going to have a hard time picking what they want.
The Bakehouse Off The Wheaten Path makes everything from scratch and keeps the entire menu 100% gluten-free, which is a pretty big deal for families dealing with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. They're not just making gluten-free versions of the usual stuff either. Everything is made with the goal of actually tasting good, whether you need to avoid gluten or not.
In their own words: "Made from scratch, crafted with care, they make celiac safe handmade baked goods you can trust. 100% gluten free, wholesome and full flavor."
If you've got a kid who loves a good donut or cinnamon roll, this is definitely worth adding to your list. And if you don't need to eat gluten-free, you should definitely still go. The pizza and cinnamon roll have my vote.
Where: 515 Wyoming Blvd NE
Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–3pm, closed Sunday
See you next Thursday.
Jasmine and Jacob
Duke City Parents