1 Feel the spirit of flamenco.

Starting Friday, Festival Flamenco de Alburquerque brings hundreds of flamenco artists from around the world to perform, teach classes, and collaborate in the Duke City. The eight-day event, hosted by the National Institute of Flamenco, represents the most innovative choreography and music flamenco has to offer. “The programming is almost double this year of what we would do in a normal year,” says Joaquín Encinas, artistic director of the institute. “All of the artists come to the festival with this incredible energy.” Catch performances at venues throughout Albuquerque, including the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the University of New Mexico, and Tablao Flamenco at Hotel Albuquerque.

Artillery demonstrations will be among the activities of Fort Union Days. Photograph courtesy of Fort Union National Monument.

2 Relive history at Fort Union.  

Take a trip back in time at Fort Union National Monument during Fort Union Days. The living history event features activities and demonstrations Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Experience the living history encampment with reproductions of historical clothing and tents, see artillery demonstrations, and take tours of the park.

Violet Rising takes the stage at the Turtleback Mountain Music Festival on Friday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Photograph courtesy of Violet Rising.

3 Get down in T or C.

Truth or Consequences is alive with the sound of music during the three-day Turtleback Mountain Music Festival. Eighteen bands, including Tejano country group Tudy Romero and the Silver Bullet Band and Santa Fe-based Blues Revue, perform on two stages. In addition to the great lineup of music, you can rent an off-road vehicle to hit the trails or a tube to float the Río Grande.

Expect Giddeon Brown to be among the artists at the Questa Art Market. Photograph courtesy of the Questa Art Market.

4 Go treasure hunting.

Cool off in the northern mountains with a visit to the Questa Art Market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Local makers and artisans sell fiber art, leather goods, antique collectibles, paintings, ceramics, and more. Can’t make it this weekend? No worries! The market is open at the Questa Farmers Market site every Saturday through the end of September.

5 Discover new voices.

Poetry and visual arts come together in the new Colors That Speak Words exhibit, opening Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and running through October 15, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. With four artists working in calligraphy, poetry, and writing, the exhibit is a unique collaboration and immersive experience.

“Colors That Speak Words is an exhibition related to motion, and how words can create movement,” says Paula Mirabal (Taos Pueblo), head curator at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Calligraphy artist Blythe Mariano (Diné) and painter Mallery Quetawki (Zuni) transformed a room at the center, adorning it with images of flowers and  pollinators like hummingbirds and bees, alongside Mariano’s freehand calligraphy. They worked with poet Chilán Mustain and writer Dr. Anthony Fleg to create the exhibit. “This exhibit is going to force you to take a pause and read the calligraphy,” Mirabal says. “The installation is really beautiful.”

Read more: For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.