Five Things to Do This Weekend

1 Celebrate Mom.

Mother’s Day at the Zoo

See adorable animals at the Abq BioPark Zoo and learn how they raise their young during a special Mother’s Day celebration that includes live music at five locations throughout the park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Hear flamenco from D’Santi, Southwestern funk by Dos Gatos, rockabilly songs by the Cumberlands, folk tunes by Watermelon Mountain Jug Band, and more. The zoo’s restaurants will serve special dishes, including Buffalo chicken waffle fries and churro sundaes, plus a Bloody Mary bar for adults.

Northern New Mexico Music Festival

Three days of live music comes to Red River with rock, pop, New Mexican, and country performances celebrating moms everywhere. The Northern New Mexico Music Festival starts at the Red River Conference Center Friday at 4 p.m and continues Saturday and Sunday at Brandenburg Park from noon to 6 p.m. Catch headliners Darren Cordova Y Calor and Al Hurricane Jr., in addition to tons of other acts. The festival includes a 21- and-over dance at the conference center on Saturday night with performances by Candace Vargas, Sim Balkey, and Darren Cordova. 

Mother’s Day Tea

Song and sustenance make for a sweet moment at the Fort Stanton Historic Site’s Mother’s Day Tea on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the historic site hosts opera performances in the chapel and informal teatimes in the commanding officers’ quarters.

Mother’s Day Market

Toast Mom and buy her the perfect gift (that was the plan all along, right?) at Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.’s Mother’s Day Market on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.. Find handmade goods by vendors including Quw’utsun’ Made skincare, Earth Sky Floral, Picnic Catering, Rowan and Wren Flowers, and many more.

Mother’s Day in Old Town

Americana and folk singers Levi Dean and the Mesa Rats, Ballet Folklórico Fiesta Mexicana, and Cuban salsa performers Son Como Son take the gazebo stage on the Plaza in Old Town on Sunday. There will be face painters, a climbing wall, booths from Old Town merchants like the Lapis Room and Lillie’s Handmade Soaps, and delicious snacks like roasted corn and cheeseburgers. Mother’s Day in Old Town runs from 1 to 5 p.m.

2 Step back in time.

Spend the day experiencing New Mexican traditions at Casa San Ysidro in Corrales during the annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try bread baked in a horno, see blacksmithing demonstrations, learn about local folk art, see weavers in action, and watch a performance by the Acoma Pueblo Enchanted Dancers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the public to come out and experience New Mexico’s traditions and heritage,” says Aaron Gardner, site manager at Casa San Ysidro. “Artists from around the state come to demonstrate their crafts and talk about the cultural significance and history.”

Heritage Day also includes live musical performances by Recycleman and Luis Campos. Plus: Corrales MainStreet is hosting ¡Viva Corrales! on Saturday as well, so there will be plenty to enjoy in the area.

3 Follow the Santa Fe Trail.

The Pecos National Historical Park celebrates the opening of the newly revamped Trading Post on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. with refreshments on the porch and family-friendly, hands-on activities.

Originally opened in 1858 by Polish immigrant Martin Kozlowski, this storied trading post was the last stop on the Santa Fe Trail before travelers faced months without a place to resupply. Eventually, the ranch was purchased by E.E. “Buddy” Fogelson and his wife Greer Garson, who entertained Hollywood stars visiting the West on their property for years. When the property was acquired by the National Park Service in 1990, the trading post became an office until it needed rebuilding.

Now, the trading post gets reborn with exhibits on pioneer life on the Santa Fe Trail, rodeo promoter Tex Austin and his dude ranch, Garson’s presence at the park, and more.

4 Watch acequias flow.

The new documentary film produced by the University of New Mexico’s Center for Regional Studies showcases the beauty and importance of acequia culture. Filmed in New Mexico by award-winning director Aracely Chapa, Acequias: The Legacy Lives On highlights the deep connection acequias form to community and tradition. Attend free screenings of the film at the 300-seat Peñasco Community Center on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3:30 or 5 p.m.

5 Bite into the mycroverse.

Dive into an alternate reality where mushrooms are the main character in Wise Fool New Mexico’s ReUnite: Welcome to the Mycroverse, a new and original performance by the wildly creative company. Its first full production since the pandemic, ReUnite explores themes of colonization, Indigenous ways of life, and nuclear colonialism in New Mexico.

Creative director Christina Castro wrote and directed the show with current Santa Fe events in mind, including the ending of Entrada reenactments, the removal of the obelisk on the Santa Fe Plaza, and the effects the Zoom boom has had on locals. “It’s metaphorical,” Castro says. “I was thinking about how to tell these stories in a way that is accessible and interesting and unique. I’ve been interested in mycelium and how they are the oldest ancestors in the world, how they take death and decay and make new life.”

With mushrooms as her inspiration, the circus characters fight a battle of good versus evil through aerial skills and acrobatic techniques. The 120-minute show includes Indigenous-designed sets, costumes, music, and some Indigenous performers. “Ultimately, we’re all connected,” Castro says. “The only way we can return to harmony is rematriation. How do we teach the wider American diaspora that we’re nothing without our Earth?” ReUnite debuts this weekend with performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

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