What's happening in ABQ June 17-23: Father's Day, Juneteenth, Pride and more

Jun. 15—We are halfway through June, so let's keep on enjoying the summer. The back-to-school sales and commercials are right around the corner.

1 The Great New Mexico Beer Festival

Come out to Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday, June 18, from noon-6 p.m. to celebrate summer and beer. Tickets start at $5 for designated drivers and $10 for Pay-As-You-Go festival tickets, which include a commemorative beer glass and full access to lawn games, music, movies, popcorn, games and activities.

This event features the largest gathering of New Mexico breweries, including 30+ breweries sampling and selling over 120 different beers. Folks can enjoy the live music, and games such as mini-golf, a video arcade, movies, food trucks and an artisan market.

Each ticket directly supports New Mexico breweries.

Tasting tickets are $40 to sample any 16 beers of choice, and one full beer in your commemorative glass.

Visit greatnewmexicobeerfestival.com.

2 Juneteenth Freedom Day

Celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, June 17, at the Freedom Day Event at Campus Park in Rio Rancho.

The NAACP Rio Rancho Northwest Mesa Branch will join the city in hosting Rio Rancho's inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Campus Park at City Center.

This event is free and features food, activities, live music and a beer garden.

There will also be vendors and community services booths on hand for event attendees to buy goods and receive information about health care and other community and social services.

This event could be canceled due to conditions like rain, wind, lightning or public health orders.

Parking and park seating space is available on a first come, first served basis.

Blankets, umbrellas, and coolers are permitted, while glass, outside alcoholic beverages and individual grills will not be allowed.

Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, to ensure freedom of all enslaved people.

Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed 2 1/2 years prior, Black people were still being held as slaves in Texas.

For more information about this event, please visit rrnm.gov/juneteenth.

3 Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

Patrons can see this special collection of the artist's renowned ceiling from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel reproduced in a way that allows viewers to get face-to-face with the art. Through 34 reproductions, this presentation includes pieces like "The Creation of Adam" and "The Last Judgment."

Tickets are $20.20 for adults and $14.40 for children (4-12).

Tickets can be purchased at feverup.com.

4 Solar Fiesta

From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, June 24, the New Mexico Solar Energy Association hosts the Solar Fiesta at Cornell Mall on the University of New Mexico campus.

This free, family-oriented event occurs in partnership with the American Solar Energy Society's national, weeklong Solar 2022 Conference at UNM, and will include exhibits and a "Solar 101" workshop, as well as hands-on activities for kids with Explora! and other organizations.

Children can also partake in a live taping of a special episode of "The Children's Hour" with Katie Stone. Participants will also be able to register to vote, learn about solar jobs, and talk to electric truck and car owners. More information can be found at ases.org/events/solar-fiesta.

5 Free Father's Day Event

Fathers New Mexico and Explora! announce a free Father's Day event to honor all fathers and their families. The event runs noon-4 p.m. at Tiguex Park, 1800 Mountain Road NW, on Sunday, June 19. According to organizers, the event is fun for the whole family and activities, food and music will be available. A Band Named Sue and Los Domingueros, as well as DJs, will provide music. There will also be activities for all ages conducted by Explora!

The event is being put on by Fathers New Mexico.

6 Duke City Gladiators vs. Arizona Rattlers

The Duke City Gladiators are at home in Rio Rancho on Saturday, June 18, against the Arizona Rattlers. The last time the two teams met, the Rattlers won 43-21 on April 2. Kickoff is at 6:05 p.m.

Tickets start at $12, plus fees at ticketmaster.com.

7 Pride Bar Crawl

Get your tickets now for the Fifth Annual Pride Crawl. Check-in time is 4-6 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Sidewinders Bar and Grill, and the after party is 10 p.m. to midnight.

Single tickets are $25 while group tickets are $20 and must involve a minimum group of four. Locations will also include Albuquerque Social Club, Boese Brothers Brewery, Bourbon & Boots, Damacios Bar & Tapas, Red Door Brewing Co., Thirsty Eye Brewing Co. and Effex.

The event includes a "choose-your-own-adventure" crawl where there is one check-in location, along with four or more additional bars, and then an after party spot. After checking in, you can go to any participating venues you like and can stay as little or as long as you'd like. More information can be found at app.discotech.me/events/37190327-pride-bar-crawl-albuquerque-at-effex.

Got an event we should know about? Reach out to Ivan Leonard at ileonard@abqjournal.com