👋 Good morning, Albuquerque! If you're wondering what to do with the kids this weekend, we've already done the searching for you. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that your children will still ask, "Are we there yet?" before you've even left the neighborhood.
This week: Nob Hill transforms into one giant Route 66 street festival, we've got a free Kids Day where every child leaves with their own geode, a local rescue specializing in puppy yoga (yes, really), and one of our family's favorite bakeries that's worth adding to your weekend.
THE EVENT
Route 66 Summerfest
Central Ave in Nob Hill shuts down for a full mile, and it turns into exactly the kind of chaos your kids will love and you'll be grateful is someone else's job to clean up. Check out the Kids' Zone: a 25-foot climbing wall, giant inflatables, and face painting keep little ones busy while you actually get to stand still for a minute. Four stages of live music run the length of Central, with Grammy winner Ozomatli headlining the Main Stage, plus a lineup of local acts pulling from reggae, blues-rock, and everything in between.
Come hungry and ready to take a trip down memory lane. Route 66 Summerfest brings together some of Albuquerque’s favorite local eats, including Duke City Melt’s, green chile cheeseburgers, chile relleno egg rolls, Route 66 donuts, and plenty more. Beyond the food, more than 100 classic cars will line the street, showcasing the different eras of vehicles that traveled the road over the decades. It’s a night full of great food, cool rides, and a little Route 66 nostalgia for the whole family.
A few things worth knowing before you go: Central Ave closes from midnight Friday through 3am Sunday, so plan your route accordingly. It's July in Albuquerque, so bring water, sunscreen if you're arriving before sunset, and comfortable shoes for a mile of pavement.
Parking fills up fast. There's a free Park & Ride from the lot at Lomas and University, with shuttles running until 10:30pm.
When: Saturday, July 18, 5–10pm
Where: Central Ave, Nob Hill (Girard Blvd to Washington St)
Cost: Free
MORE THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, July 18
Family Art Workshop: Sculpting Stories (1–2:30pm, Albuquerque Museum): Hands-on clay and mixed-media sculpture session for families, included with general admission.
STEAM Night: Route 66 (5:30–7:30pm, Balloon Museum): Hands-on science and history activities tied to the Route 66 Centennial, included with admission.
Los Ranchos Art Market Summer Celebration (8am–12pm, 6718 Rio Grande NW): Over thirty juried artisans, food trucks, lavender products, and a Wildlife Rescue raptor demo. Free.
Isotopes vs. Sacramento River Cats (6:35pm, Isotopes Park): Home stand continues all weekend. Promotion: Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico Night
Sunday, July 19
A Night at the Farm Family Festival (3–9pm, Los Ranchos Agri-Nature Center): Live music all evening from a lineup of local bands, put on by the Village of Los Ranchos.
Arts Day at the Rail Yards Market (10am–2pm, Rail Yards Market, Barelas): A community stitching lounge, a flamenco performance at noon, plus the market's usual 200+ farm, food, and art vendors. Free, EBT/SNAP/WIC welcome.
Isotopes vs. Sacramento River Cats (6:05pm, Isotopes Park): Home stand continues all weekend. Promotion: Looney Tunes Night
SHOUTOUT
Faithful Critters: Regularly hosts puppy yoga with adoptable rescue pups at different breweries and across ABQ. Their events fill up quickly, so follow them and grab a spot when the next one is announced.
TO DO
Mama's Minerals Free Kids Day
This is a new one for us, but it sounds like exactly the kind of Saturday morning kids love.
Let them become little rock hunters for the morning at Mama’s Minerals, where they can pan for minerals, hunt for fossils, paint rocks, make discoveries, and leave with a free geode of their own. Everything at this event is free (while supplies last), which makes it an easy win for families looking for something fun on a budget.
Activities include:
🪨 Mineral Panning
🎣 Fossil & Mineral Fishing
🎨 Rock Painting
🔍 Guess the Mineral & Win
🦴 Fossil Prospecting
✨ Temporary Tattoos & Face Painting
🌊 Oobleck Demonstration
💎 Free Geode for Every Kid
Mama’s Minerals has been an Albuquerque staple since 1985, when owner Laura Randolph started selling crystals, gemstones, and geodes at arts and crafts fairs around the Southwest. Today, they continue sharing their love of rocks, minerals, and fossils with the community through events, classes, and educational programs for local students.
📅 When: Saturday, July 18 | 9 AM–1 PM
📍 Where: Avanyu Plaza
2500 12th St NW, Suite F
Albuquerque, NM 87104
DUKE CITY EATS
Flying Roadrunner Bakery
One of our family’s favorite weekend stops for coffee and pastries is Flying Roadrunner Bakery. There’s something special about walking into a local bakery, grabbing a warm pastry, and taking a few minutes to enjoy a slower morning together.
Flying Roadrunner’s story is one of those that makes our community special. What started with a Thanksgiving pumpkin pie that didn’t go quite as planned turned into a passion for perfecting the craft of baking. Over time, that passion grew into a bakery known for handmade French pastries with a New Mexican twist.
Their cinnamon rolls have become a family favorite. Soft, perfectly baked, and the kind of treat that makes you want to savor every bite.
Flying Roadrunner Bakery recently moved into a new location, marking an exciting new chapter. After building a loyal following, they now have a space of their own where families can stop in, enjoy a pastry, and experience what makes this bakery so special.
📍 Flying Roadrunner Bakery
10420 Fourth St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87114
🕒 Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 8 AM–3 PM
If you're looking for a new weekend tradition, add this one to your list. Grab a coffee, pick out a pastry, and support a local business that helps make our city such a great place to raise a family. They also accept online orders!
⭐ Parent Pick of the Week
Know a spot every ABQ family should have on their list?
Hit reply and send us your Parent Pick of the Week. Tell us what makes it special.
🌳 A park your kids love
🍕 A restaurant
🥾 A trail worth the drive
💧 A splash pad or summer favorite
🎨 A hidden gem
We will feature your pick and even give you a shoutout if you would like!
The best finds in this city don't come from ads. They come from parents within our community.
See you next Thursday.
Jasmine and Jacob
Growing Up ABQ