NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Check out community events around New Mexico from October 11-17. Albuquerque October 11-12 The Show – Albuquerque's longest-running comedy show happens every Friday and Saturday at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $12. October 11-12 U-Pick Sunflower Farm – Big Jim Farms hosts this event from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. October 11-12 ABQ Bruja Fest – This event begins at 10:00 a.m. at EXPO New Mexico. October 11-13 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – The 52nd AIBF has multiple events going on throughout the week. October 12 Downtown Growers' Market – This happens every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon at Robinson Park. October 12-13 2024 Apple Harvest Festival – The Second Annual Harvest Festival will start at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Manzano Mountain Retreat & Apple Ranch. October 12-13 San Felipe de Neri Arts & Crafts Fall Fiesta – See and purchase art from local artists and crafters beginning at 10:00 a.m. October 13 Animals Day at the Rail Yards Market – Enjoy a pet costume contest and get free info from Lab Dog Rescue of New Mexico and Birding Alliance. October 15 School Choice Fair – The fair gives families an opportunity to learn more about magnet schools in Albuquerque at the Berna Facio Professional Development Center. October 17 Ancora and Albuquerque's Songwriter's Cooperative Open Mic – Every Thursday night at Ancora Cafe and Bakery, try your hand at performing some of your own music. Begins at 5:00 p.m. New Mexico October 11 Stained Glass Suncatcher Workshop – This event at Rainbow Rainbow at Meow Wolf begins at 5:00 p.m. October 12 2024 Silver City Farmers' Market – The market at 1120 N. Main St. in Silver City begins at 9:00 a.m. to noon. October 12 Battle of the Food Trucks/Bands 2024 – Round 3 of this food truck battle will take place at Washington Park in Alamogordo from 12;)0 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. October 12 12th Annual Health & Wellness Fair – Explore, engage, and nergize at this health and wellness fair at the Inn of the Mountain Gods beginning at 9:00 a.m. October 12 Farmer's Market in Alamogordo – Check out offerings from local farmers, crafters, bakers, and more from Otero County. Runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. October 13 Sunday Chess Club – Meet at Popolo's Games in Taos beginning at 1:00 p.m. This free event is all ages. October 13 Family Day: Above the Clouds – This event at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum begins at 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. October 13 Tekken 8 Tournament – This event at Rick's Cyber Lounge in Gallup begins at 1:00 p.m. October 13 Fall Community Day – Everyone is invited to the Taos Harwood Museum of Art's Fall Community Day 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October 15 Swing on the Plaza – Free swing dance lesson begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Plaza De Las Cruces. Open dance follows at 8:00 p.m. Albuquerque Notes 🔶 Balloon Fiesta 2024: What you need to know 2024’s Balloon Fiesta will take place from Oct. 5 to 13 at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque. There are morning and afternoon sessions on Oct. 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12. Morning sessions only on Oct. 7, 8, 9, and 13. Mornings are from 4:30 a.m. to noon. Evenings are from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 🔶 VIEW: Schedule of Balloon Fiesta Events - The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event starting on Saturday, October 5, and ending on Sunday, October 13. The event draws out over 800,000 visitors each year and is one of the most photographed events in the world. Below is a schedule of events for this year’s Balloon Fiesta. 🔶 APS looking into calendar year options including pushing start of school year back – It comes after years of complaints from parents, especially over hot classrooms at the beginning of the year. 🔶 Bernalillo County gets $15 million for new transportation hub on the West Mesa – This summer, Bernalillo County got millions from the federal government to help create a relief hub along the corridor for truckers and others to stop along the route. Called the I-40 TradePort Corridor Project, the county's involvement was borne out of supply chain struggles faced during the pandemic. 🔶 Day of the Tread bicycling event returns October 26, 27 – There will be a road cycling event, a gravel event, and a 4k walk. Bikers can choose between different route lengths based on skill level. The start and finish area for all events will be the Sawmill district. 🔶 Albuquerque company creates bee-friendly solution to combat hive collapse – The Varroa mite is a tiny parasite that attaches itself to honey bees. It's believed the mite is partly responsible for colony collapse disorder. New Mexico-based Terra Vera has designed a machine that fogs beehives with amino acids and sugars that kill mites, but leave the bees unharmed. 🔶 2024 Twinkle Light Parade applications open – The event, which is family-friendly and free, is scheduled for December 15 at 5:15 p.m. It'll be in Nob Hill. Local businesses, the community, and school groups come together to present the dazzling sight. To get involved, you can apply here. 🔶 2024 Duke City Marathon coming October 20 – In addition to the marathon, there will be a free health and fitness expo taking place on October 19 at the Crowne Plaza Albuquerque. On race day Civic Plaza will be full of of spectators, volunteers, booths, vendors, music, food, and more. 🔶 Bernalillo County launches new service to help young adults facing behavioral health challenges – The program will help young adults aged 18 to 25 who are facing behavioral health challenges, including substance use disorders. The program will also provide individualized care through a range of services, including counseling, life skills training, and peer support, to guide clients toward stabilization and recovery. 🔶 United's opening playoff date is set, tickets on sale now – It has now been revealed that the club's opening round match will take place on Sunday, November 3 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the match are currently on sale. New Mexico Notices 🔶 Walgreens offering free flu shots in New Mexico – The pharmacy says they will start offering free vouchers for the vaccine every Friday through November. This is part of the company's effort to serve underserved and at-risk communities, where they say about half of their stores are located. 🔶 Early voting for 2024 general election begins in New Mexico – In Bernalillo County, in-person voting will be available at the Clerk's Annex on Lomas, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday through October 18. 🔶 NM Secretary of State's Office holds campaign to combat A.I. election misinformation – The New Mexico Secretary of State's Office said no cases have been reported in New Mexico yet to influence the election but are cautious after there was an incident in another state earlier this year. 🔶 ENMU offering 24/7 mental health care for students – The university has partnered with Timely Care to offer 24/7 mental health support and medical care. Students can access Timely Care through their phones and select from a wide range of options from licensed physicians and counselors in all 50 states. 🔶 New federal court program in NM supports inmates after incarceration, celebrates first graduation – On Tuesday was the inaugural graduation ceremony for a new federal problem-solving court and a moment the three graduate didn't believe they'd ever get to see. 🔶 EPA to clean up 7 more abandoned uranium mines on Navajo Nation land in New Mexico – The EPA said it will target the sites near Smith Lake and Mariano Lake which are both east of Gallup. Once this project is complete around 260 acres of land will be restored. 🔶 Santa Fe woman organizes free skateboard giveaways for Navajo kids in New Mexico, Arizona – Amy Denet Deal is a member of the Diné Tribe and refers to herself as a "skate auntie." She is currently in the process of handing out 5,000 skateboards to Indigenous youth in New Mexico and Arizona through her sustainable upcycled artwear brand, 4KINSHIP. 🔶 11-year-old Los Alamos chef places 2nd in the Tesuque Casino World Posole Cooking Championships – This past weekend, people came to test their culinary chops at the Tesuque Casino World Posole Cooking Championships; and KRQE News 13 spoke with one 11-year-old contender from Los Alamos who came to stir up the competition. 🔶 Temporary closure in Mt. Taylor Ranger District due to planned missile launch – The closure order will be in effect from October 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. through October 5, 2024, at 4 p.m. If necessary the closure will be in effect from October 12, 2024, at 2 p.m. through October 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. The missile launch is tentatively scheduled for October 5, with a backup date of October 13. 🔶 New Mexico State Police partners with New Mexico State University's Department of Criminal Justice – New Mexico State Police has partnered with the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University to allow students to kickstart their law enforcement careers when applying to the NMSP Academy. When students complete the academy, they will meet the final requirements for their criminal justice degree and be commissioned as New Mexico State Police officers.