Break free from that busy schedule to have some fun this weekend! Check out some of these events taking place around the far Northeast Heights Thursday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 28:
1. The city of Albuquerque, the Los Angeles Sparks and DreamBIG are partnering together to host a middle school basketball tournament. A welcoming ceremony takes place Thursday, Aug. 25 at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center starting at 6:30 p.m. Tournament games at NDB begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, and continue Saturday, Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Games will also be played at the Fieldhouse and Albuquerque High School, with the finals scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 27, at Albuquerque High.
2. Friday, Aug. 26, is National Women’s Equality Day. Celebrate the day at North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center with a senior lunch and movie in the center’s social hall from noon to 1:30 p.m. Stay to jam out and boogie down at the community dance night from 6-8 p.m. The events are members only. Membership fees are $20 a year. To learn more about fees and benefits, visit cabq.gov/seniors/membership-benefits.
3. Guitarist and singer Michael Rascón will play live music at Sandia Resort & Casino’s Tlur Pa Lounge Friday, Aug. 26 and Saturday, Aug. 27 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. There is no cover charge, but the casino offers lodging and dining options. For more information, visit sandiacasino.com/event/michael-rascon.
4. Get muddy at Muddy Dash Albuquerque. Teams will race, crawl and slip through a mud-filled course Saturday, Aug. 27, at Balloon Fiesta Park. The free registration fee is now available until 11:59 p.m. PST Friday, Aug. 26. Parking and other fees still apply, but spectators are free. To register and for more information, visit muddydash.com/locations/albuquerque.
5. Root for the home team Friday, Aug. 26, when the La Cueva varsity football team takes on Cleveland High School at Wilson Stadium. The game begins at 7 p.m. with tickets $5 for adults and $3 for students with ID. Tickets and seating are limited, but the game is also scheduled to be streamed live on the NFHS Network. Cheer on La Cueva boys and girls soccer teams during the Metro Championships at the APS Soccer Complex on the west side. The La Cueva boys and girls varsity soccer teams take on Volcano Vista Saturday, Aug. 27, with the girls game starting at 11:14 a.m. on Field 4 and the boys game at 1:30 p.m. on Field 2.
6. Head down to the Local 480 Training Center at 8340 Washington Place NE on Sunday, Aug. 28, to meet the people behind the scenes during the IATSE Local 480 Film & TV Expo. Watch how films get made up close, sample technical skills behind the scenes, meet casting directors or enroll in a movie school to start your career in the industry. The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit local480.com/2022-film-and-tv-expo.
Citywide events
7. Head over to Balloon Fiesta Park Friday for a family-friendly movie night. Movie Mania: The Sky’s the Limit features three movies playing simultaneously on the launch field. In anticipation of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, all the movies are related to space and sky: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Spaceballs,” and “UP.” The park opens at 6 p.m. for this free event with the movies starting at dusk. Seating is first-come, first-served. Moviegoers can bring blankets, lawn chairs and personal door or drink items, but no alcohol, glass, sharp or dangerous items or pets — other than service animals — will be allowed.
8. If you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet, this is the weekend to do it. The Animal Welfare Department has more than 800 pets in need of a home and is hosting an adoption event Saturday and Sunday. During the event, the adoption fee will be waived, and all adoptions include a spay or neuter, microchip, required vaccinations and one free initial vet visit. Dogs will also receive one free training class. The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Eastside Animal Shelter (8920 Lomas Blvd. NE) and the Westside Animal Shelter (11800 Sunset Gardens SW), and the Everyday Adoption Center inside PetSmart at 350 Eubank Blvd. NE. To view animals available for adoption, visit www.cabq.gov/pets.
9. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship comes to Rio Rancho this weekend. Saturday’s headline fight at the Rio Rancho Events Center is a flyweight world championship bout between the current champion, Christine “Misfit” Free and the undefeated contender, No. 2 Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling. The fight will also be broadcast globally via the new BKFC app. Fights start at 7 p.m. For more information or tickets, visit https://www.rioranchoeventscenter.com/event/bare-knuckle-fighting-championship/
