Events focus on arts, culture and cuisine throughout 2012

Albuquerque, NM – The state of New Mexico, one of America’s youngest states, celebrates 100 years of statehood in 2012 with events and festivals all year long. In Albuquerque, a variety of events and festivals will honor the state’s landmark occasion. To learn more about Albuquerque’s celebration, visit www.abqcentennial.com. The site will be updated as events are finalized.

During New Mexico’s Centennial celebration in 2012, Albuquerque events honor the rich history of our area (Albuquerque turns 306 next year) and the exciting prospects for the future. As Albuquerque’s mayor Richard J. Berry puts it, you can “experience a place where the modern city skyline is set against the backdrop of the ancient cultures of the Southwest.”

Savor Albuquerque

The Centennial celebration will be a part of Savor Albuquerque, a festival which celebrates Albuquerque’s arts, culture and cuisine. The 12-day festival runs June 6-17, 2012, and culminates with the Centennial celebration in Downtown Albuquerque on June 16th.

Spotlight events during Savor Albuquerque include the Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque, “The Seven” at the Cell Theatre, the 6th Annual Duke City Improv Festival and RoofTapas, a culinary showcase at area restaurants.

To learn more about Savor Albuquerque, visit www.savorabq.com.

Albuquerque Centennial Summerfest

To conclude the Savor Albuquerque festival, the Albuquerque Centennial Summerfest will offer dancing, food, music, car shows, arts markets, family activities and a territorial village. The Centennial Summerfest will depict many of the important aspects of New Mexico’s history – and future.

The city-wide festival will include featured performers on five stages along Route 66 (Central Avenue) in Downtown Albuquerque throughout the day. The stages will focus on a variety of elements of New Mexico’s history including:

• The New Mexico Music Stage features flamenco, mariachis, folk dance, New Mexico Music.
• The Native American Stage will feature traditional and modern Native American music and dance along with Native American crafts displays, vendors and food.
• The World Stage will be located against Albuquerque’s iconic KiMo Theatre.  Peoples from throughout the world have migrated to New Mexico bringing with them their culture, music and dance.  
• The Route 66 Rock and Rockabilly Stage and Car Show will pay homage to the “Mother Road” and its heyday.
• The Territorial Village will truly look at the city and state’s past. Eat from authentic Chuck Wagons where food is prepared from Dutch ovens or cooked underground.  Wild West cowboys may even make an appearance.

In addition to the festive musical atmosphere, local cuisine will of course play an important role. New Mexico chile, Native American fare, fresh made tortillas, an authentic Matanza, Chuck Wagon cooking and more will capture visitor taste buds. A juried art show will also be on display along Central Avenue throughout the day.

The Albuquerque website, www.abqcentennial.com, will be updated as events are finalized.

Celebrating History

“Albuquerque Celebrates 1912” is an exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History with  artifacts and photographs relating some of the major events taking place in Albuquerque around the time of New Mexico’s statehood. See a 47-Star federal flag from 1912. Contemplate documents, textiles, and objects related to historic events that include presidential visits to Albuquerque, the first aeroplane flights at the Territorial Fairgrounds, and the ratification of the New Mexico State Constitution at the Alvarado Hotel.
 

Also at the Albuquerque Museum, “Faces from the Past, Facing the Future: Albuquerque and the Turn of the 20th Century” showcases more than 80 photographs printed from a collection of 800 glass plate negatives from around 1912. With the invention of photography in the 1800s, studio portraits were readily available to nearly everyone.
 

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center will be honoring the Centennial with an exhibit titled “100 Years of State & Federal Policy: Its Impact on Pueblo Nations” opening February 4, 2012. The historic exhibition examines 100 years of State and Federal policy since 1912 and its impact on New Mexico’s Pueblo communities to personalize history by drawing connections between the human experience and enacted policies.

In iconic Albuquerque style, the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum is currently showcasing “A Century of High Flying: Science, Space and Sport.” The exhibit celebrates 100 years of flight in New Mexico in relations to tourism, top secret projects, stratospheric research, aerospace medicine, and popular culture.

For details on the complete New Mexico Centennial celebration, visit www.nmcentennial.org.

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The mission of the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a visitor and convention destination. For more information, please call 505.842.9918, visit our web site at www.ItsATrip.org, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/visitAlbuquerque or Twitter http://twitter.com/see_albuquerque pages.