Low- to no-cost events for families Labor Day weekend
Aug. 31—Labor Day weekend starts on Friday for Albuquerque Public School kids — and for some, it runs through Tuesday making a five-day weekend for students.
If you are looking for ways to get your family out of the house this Labor Day weekend, here is a list of indoor and outdoor events and activities for all ages to enjoy.
Outdoors
Nature Niños New Mexico, which describes itself as a youth initiative of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, is organizing a free community hike at Elena Gallegos Nature Trail to explore local plants, animals, and insects
WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m.
WHERE: 7100 Tramway NE
COST: $2 for parking
RSVP: Reserve a spot on eventbrite.com
Explore the new Challenge Trail in the Sandia Mountains that takes users from the Doc Long Picnic Area to the Sandia Peak Ski Area. The Challenge Trail is now at the end of Bill Springs Trail. The trailhead is about 3/4 -mile from the Doc Long Picnic area. The full trail is about 10 miles with 3,300 feet of elevation gain.
WHERE: Challenge Trail 233 is most easily accessed from 10K Trailhead or Ellis Trailhead.
COST: $3 for parking
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge will host several events over the weekend:
Nature Tots! invites explorers ages 3 to 5 for story time, crafts, and a nature adventure with Park Rangers.
WHEN: Friday, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
WHERE: 7851 Second Street SW
COST: Free, no registration required
Conservation Carnivale is an interactive science circus teaching visitors about the local ecosystem.
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE: 7851 Second Street SW
COST: Free, no registration required
The Labor Day Car Show at Power Ford will have not only cars, but also food trucks, music, bounce houses, face painting and yard games. Power Ford estimates there will be more than 200 cars and trucks at the show.
WHEN: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday
WHERE: 1101 Montaño NE
COST: Free
Parks
When in doubt, don't overthink it. Albuquerque and the surrounding area have plenty of parks available for free.
Rio Rancho's A Park Above
boasts that it's "the first fully-inclusive and accessible playground in New Mexico," with all sorts of seriously accessible features (like a hill with an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp, outdoor musical instruments, adaptive swings and wheelchair swings, to name a few). The park is at 2441 A Park Above Court off of Westside Boulevard.
Tingley Beach
offers lakes, which are open year-round and have free catch-and-release fishing areas in multiple ponds. There is a children's pond available to kids 12 and under. Those over the age of 12 wishing to fish are required to have a New Mexico fishing license. The park is located at 1800 Tingley SW.
Indoors
The Historic Lobo Theater will be hosting the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Thursday and Friday.
WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, doors open and 6 and movie starts at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: 3013 Central NE
COST: Free
RSVP: Reserve your spot at eventbrite.com
At Sandia Acrobatic Gymnastics Academy, parents can bring children from walking to age 5 for open gym time during Preschool Open Gym.
WHEN: 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
COST: The cost is $5, or free for currently enrolled students under 6
WHERE: 3400 Candelaria NE.
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a low-cost activity for the whole family.
HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day but Tuesday.
COST:
$8 for adults
$7 for youth aged 13-17
$5 for children aged 3-12
toddlers 2 and under are free
WHERE: 1801 Mountain NW
Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque has interactive exhibits the whole family can enjoy. The museum will have a paper portrait silhouette cutting by artist Kevin Overhulser from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday.
HOURS: Monday-Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Monday: "Toddler Time": 9:00 a.m.-11:00a.m.
COST:
Explora Members: Free
Children (under age 1): Free
Children (ages 1-11): $7
Adults (ages 12-64): $11
Students or Military (with ID): $8
WHERE: 1701 Mountain Road NW
The second annual STEM Festival hosted by R4Creating will give kids ages 3 to 18 a chance to get hands-on experience with robots and educational STEAM Toy.
WHEN: 10 A.M.-1 P.M. Monday
COST: Free
WHERE: 4311 Sara SE, Rio Rancho
The Sandia Mountain Dulcimers will be bringing the Sweet Sound of History to listeners. A dulcimers is a string-instrument whose strings are struck by handheld hammers. Come experience a musical sampling from slow airs, to rousing Celtic jigs to traditional fiddle tunes.
WHEN: 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
COST: Free
WHERE: Rudolfo Anaya North Valley Library 7704 Second NW
