NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Check out community events around New Mexico from October 17 to 23.

Albuquerque

• October 17-19 Way OUT West Film Fest – The 23rd annual Way OUT West Film Fest spotlights films from and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Screenings will be held at the Guild Cinema, and a full schedule of films is available online.
• October 18 Movies at the Rail Yards Market: Hocus Pocus – Join the Rail Yards Market every Saturday evening for Movies at the Market, an outdoor event featuring all local vendors, food trucks, family fun, and a beloved film under the stars. Each Saturday brings a new movie and a new experience, with this week’s movie being “Hocus Pocus.” This event is from 4 to 8 p.m.
• October 18 2025 ABQ Headbangers Market – Get ready, Albuquerque; the original market of darker themed art, crafts, and heavy music is returning to FUSION ABQ. This market is a celebration of a culture, where crushing riffs and alternative art find a home, a welcoming space for anyone drawn to darker expressions of creativity, and the thunderous beats and heavy tones of guitar-driven music that is often misunderstood by many, but provides pure energy, therapy, and community to those who love it. The market is from 3 to 10 p.m.
• October 18 Espooky Homegirls Mercado – Espooky season has arrived. El Chante: Casa de Cultura LLC is bringing together local creators for a market full of eerie-sistible art, jewelry, clothing, crafts, and more. Come in costume and enjoy trick-or-treating for the kids and music from DJ Ghost Baby. The market is from 9 a.m. to noon.
• October 18 Rio Grande Food Project’s 10th Annual Hike to End Hunger – Join Rio Grande Food Project for a fun morning at Pat Hurley Park’s Lower Loop. Enjoy a heart-healthy walk in the sunshine with lawn games, amazing partner organizations, food trucks, face painting, paletas, and Albuquerque’s own Headphone Dance Party. The trail is stroller and dog-friendly. The hike starts along the park’s lower loop area with a gradual incline up to the park’s upper loop area, with one of the best views of the city. The hike starts at 9:30 a.m.
• October 18 Halloween Spooktacular – Halloween Spooktacular is a free, family-friendly Halloween festival hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico. This all-ages event has something for everyone, including indoor trick or treating, a haunted house, a climbing wall, food, games, a trunk or treat car show, and more. Admission is free and costumes are encouraged. This event is from 4 to 6 p.m.
• October 18-19 Albuquerque Chinese American Film Festival – This year’s festival takes place at the South Broadway Cultural Center. Admission is free, and free lunch is served to the first 100 registrants. This year’s lineup of films includes Hollywood features such as “Karate Kid: Legends” and “Mulan” to independent documentaries such as “Ten Times Better” and “Builders of the Silicon Dream.” The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
• October 19 Lowrider Car Show – The Ballers Choice hosts a lowrider car show like no other at the Overtime Sports Bar & Grill. This event is from 1 to 5 p.m.
• October 19 Duke City Marathon – The Duke City Marathon has been New Mexico’s longest-running and premier fitness event since 1984. Join one of the Top 25 Marathons in the world and one of the most scenic courses for a Boston Marathon qualifier. There are seven races to choose from. This event is from 6:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 21 MasterChef All-Stars Live! – Get tickets online to a taping of MasterChef All-Stars Live at the Kiva Auditorium featuring past contestants. The show starts at 7 p.m.

New Mexico

• October 18 Los Alamos Oktoberfest – Welcome to the Pajarito Mountain Oktoberfest. Experience the tastes of the seasons with beer, food, bands, and lots of fun. This event starts at noon.
• October 18 Los Lunas Fall Craft Fair – Come to First Los Lunas to finish Christmas shopping early and all in one place. Kids can enjoy the nearby playground while parents shop. This event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• October 18 7th Annual Burning of the Bull – One of the most spectacular events in Otero County, this celebration will have fireworks, food, beer, music, dancing, and children’s activities. This event is from 6 to 11:30 p.m.
• October 18 2nd Annual Village of Los Lunas Oktoberfest – Enjoy a fun, free, family event where children will be busy with fun arts and crafts. Beer and wine tastings, along with a souvenir beer glass, will be available for $20. Browse through lots of outstanding food and artisan vendors while listening to live music. This event is from noon to 6 p.m.
• October 18 Rio Rancho Fall Festival – Get those costumes ready and celebrate fall with the City of Rio Rancho and The Rio Rancho Events Center at this year’s annual Fall Festival at Campus Park. There will be live music, a costume contest, pumpkin carving, Food Truck Alley, Children’s Cakewalk, and the ever-popular Trunk or Treat. This year will also be the kick-off of the new Autumn Artisan’s Market. This event is from 2 to 8 p.m.
• October 18 Mountain Halloween Carnival – Join Los Alamos for Mountain Elementary’s annual Halloween Carnival. Enjoy a huge haunted house, lots of carnival games, bounce houses, face painting, food vendors, prizes, and more. All proceeds go to Mountain PTA, which funds teacher grants, teacher supply funds, staff appreciation, field trips, clubs, and all of the other things that make Mountain awesome. This event is from 3 to 6 p.m.
• October 18 Las Cruces Oktoberfest – Join Las Cruces for the third annual Oktoberfest – a day celebrating imported cars and community. Enjoy a showcase of Volkswagen and import vehicles, a swap meet (all makes and models welcome), and a giveaway with cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100. It’s a great opportunity to admire unique vehicles, find parts, and connect with fellow car enthusiasts. This event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• October 18 Farmington Annual Craft Fair – Enjoy local vendors, food, and a bake sale. There is a $2 entry fee, or entry is free with a non-perishable food item. This event is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• October 18 Las Cruces Fall Fest – Join Las Cruces for a family evening of free games, food, entertainment, and so much more at this year’s Fall Fest from 4 to 7 p.m. Registration is not required.
• October 19 Family Halloween Fest – Santa Fe Botanical Garden hosts a fun and festive afternoon of Halloween-themed crafts, activities, and face painting. Registration is required, and tickets can be purchased online. Costumes are encouraged. This event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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• News: New Mexicans’ SNAP benefits could be delayed if government shutdown continues
• Business: Well-known restaurant in Nob Hill announces closure
• Trending: Water levels rise statewide helping with irrigation and drought in New Mexico

Albuquerque Notices

🔶ABQ RIDE transitions to new transit app – The City of Albuquerque is rolling out new technology to help make transit rides easier and faster. The city’s ABQ RIDE Connect app will formally transition to the ABQ RIDE GO! app.

🔶Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2025 Albuquerque walk – The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Sunday, November 2, helps fund breast cancer research, support programs and provides a supportive community for survivors and those with loved ones affected by breast cancer.

🔶Bernalillo County adds six new ‘I Voted’ stickers to 2025 lineup – Bernalillo County has selected a handful of original artwork by Albuquerque Public School students to be featured in this year’s local election.

🔶International District could see major public housing transformation with federal grant – Some Albuquerque apartment buildings built in the 1970s are at the center of a new plan that could deliver millions of dollars to help transform the International District.

🔶Albuquerque updating community center membership guidelines for teens – The City of Albuquerque is updating its community center membership guidelines to better serve teens. Youth passes will now cover ages 5 to 11, while teen passes will be available for ages 12 to 17. That is a shift from the previous 16 to 18 teen pass age range.

🔶Sunport will not play video from Department of Homeland Security Secretary – The Albuquerque International Sunport is among several airports refusing to play a video from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem addressing the government shutdown. Secretary Noem shot the video blaming Democrats for the shutdown, with the intention of playing it at security checkpoints across the country.

🔶Bernalillo County Commission taking steps to increase immigrant protection with new proposal – As the federal government continues its crackdown on illegal immigrants in the country, Bernalillo County is taking steps to offer more protection for immigrants. Some commissioners argue that many who are detained are not offered due process.

🔶Street lighting project for MDC frontage road approved by Bernalillo County Commission – Plans to improve lighting on the road leading to the Metropolitan Detention Center are moving forward. Tuesday night, Bernalillo County Commissioners approved a project to install 119 solar lights along the I-40 frontage road between Atrisco Vista Boulevard and Shelly Road.

🔶Mental health support made easier: APS adds “resources” tab to school websites – Attention parents, Albuquerque Public Schools has made it easier to find out exactly what mental health services are available at your child’s school.  Services can vary from one campus to another, but starting today, you can visit your school’s website and look for a new tab called Mental Health Resources.

🔶Albuquerque residents express concerns at fiber optic construction town hall – As Albuquerque transitions to fiber optic, construction has been controversial in neighborhoods, but a recent town hall meeting attempted to address the ongoing issues and offer solutions. KRQE News 13 has reported on community concerns with internet companies cutting utility lines, tearing up lawns, and leaving installation incomplete. Earlier this year, the City of Albuquerque threatened to get tough on the internet companies with a scheduled moratorium on permits, but in August, Albuquerque City Council suspended that measure.

New Mexico Notices

🔶Water levels rise statewide helping with irrigation and drought in New Mexico – The heavy rain New Mexico has gotten over the last week has drastically increased water levels in rivers and reservoirs statewide, which, in turn, is helping irrigators and farmers statewide. Water levels in the Rio Grande have more than doubled in the last week due to the heavy rain, according to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. It’s also helped reconnect the sections that dried up along the channel through the summer months.

🔶Department of Agriculture asks residents to keep firewood local – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is asking residents to keep firewood local. The department says moving untreated firewood across state lines or long distances can introduce invasive pests that can threaten local ecosystems.

🔶New Mexicans’ SNAP benefits could be delayed if government shutdown continues – With the government shutdown in its third week, New Mexicans who rely on food assistance could see delays. The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states across the country that if the shutdown continues, SNAP benefits will not be distributed.

🔶NMPED: Literacy rates rise for students in New Mexico – The New Mexico Public Education Department said its investments in early literacy programs are paying off. New Mexico students have seen a rise in literacy rates since 2022. NMPED Secretary Mariana Padilla said the state has trained pre-K through 5th-grade teachers in this approach while also expanding summer reading programs.

🔶PNM offering assistance for furloughed federal employees – PNM is lending some help to federal employees who have been temporarily dismissed and are struggling to pay bills. PNM is offering payment arrangements and assistance programs to those facing financial hardships. They have also suspended disconnections for customers who are going through layoffs.

🔶New Mexico Environment Dept. launches survey about PFAS in Holloman Lake — The New Mexico Environment Department is asking anyone who has visited Holloman Lake to participate in a survey which will be used to measure pollution. The survey will determine exposure to toxic PFAS in the area after years of chemical tests by the defense department, now known as the department of war.

🔶Over $10 million in child tax credits remain unclaimed in New Mexico – The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department says almost 24,000 families are still eligible for $10.7 million in child tax credits they didn’t claim in 2023 and 2024.

🔶New Mexico Corrections Department launches new vocational program – The New Mexico Corrections Department is entering a new partnership with Northern New Mexico College offering inmates a chance to earn electrical theory certificates.

🔶How New Mexico’s winds have fueled damaging fires in the state; Beyond the Forecast – High winds have been known to reduce visibility, create dust storms and fuel dangerous wildfires across the Land of Enchantment. Chief Meteorologist Grant Tosterud and Meteorologist Josh Redwine explain why spring is the windiest season in Albuquerque and New Mexico in this episode of Beyond the Forecast.

🔶New Mexico state senator resigns from legislature – After only a few months on the job, a Republican state senator from southern New Mexico has left the legislature. Sen. Nicholas Paul, who represents Otero, Lincoln, and Chaves Counties, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing health reasons.