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34°F / 1°C
(Passing Clouds. Chilly.)
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Albuquerque is the only major city within several hundred miles and most of New Mexico relies on it for quality entertainment. The city offers activities that are as diverse as the cultures that populate the area. No matter what your tastes, there are year-round activities that will provide hours of enjoyment. The locals are particularly proud of the various venues here and contribute greatly to the success of events.
Sports/Outdoors
Nowhere are sports fans more loyal than in Albuquerque and evidence of this is most readily found at The Pit. The Pit is home to the UNM Lobo basketball team and is famous for its noise, energy level and pandemonium. There is no way to avoid getting immersed in the game when The Pit gets wound up. Both the Lobo men and women play in this arena and more often than not, it is before standing-room-only crowds of nearly 20,000. The Lady Lobos hold the NCAA record for the highest single-game attendance.
Up from the University, just off Central Avenue, is the busiest coliseum in the state. Tingley Coliseum is host to many events year round. Every year, the first three weeks of September welcome the New Mexico State Fair. The walls of Tingley also echo with 11 nights of Professional Rodeo performances as well as stage acts like Waylon Jennings, Def Leppard, Blood Sweat and Tears and Mark Chesnut. At other times during the year, Tingly hosts the New Mexico Scorpions hockey team, the Indian National Finals Rodeo, the Gathering of Nations, concerts, monster truck rallies and dirt bike races. The New Mexico Slam World Basketball League team just completed its first season here, and has moved its venue to the Albuquerque Convention Center. If you like basketball, the Slam provides edge-of-your-seat, high-quality basketball.
Without a doubt, the most famous spectator event in town is the annual Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. More than 1000 colorful hot air balloons fill the skies above the city during the first two weeks of October. Balloonists maneuver to win events like the key grab, during which a set of new car keys is hung from a tall pole. The first pilot able to maneuver close enough to grab the keys gets to keep the car. Spectators are treated to musical entertainment and wonderful food provided by vendors as well as a chance to see one the world's most colorful spectacles.
Museums
There is no limit to what one can see at the museums in the area. The Downtown area offers The Albuquerque Museum, Explora Science Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. New Mexico's night skies have attracted astronomers from all over the world and the LodeStar Planetarium shares its acquired knowledge with the curious public. Located on Kirtland Air Force base is the National Atomic Museum, which explains the official history of atomic science in the United States. There are a number of museums that would appeal to the person who favors oddities, such as International Rattlesnake Museum. If you are interested in the history and culture of the Pueblo Indians of the area, schedule time for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Music
Music is the heartbeat of any culture and Albuquerque offers a spectrum of choices for the music lover. The haunting rhythms of Native American drums at the Gathering of Nations Powwow, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and Mariachi Espectacular, are a sample of what the city has to offer.
Popejoy Hall, on the University of New Mexico campus, hosts a variety of touring musical programs throughout the year including the Stomp percussion group. Now in its 23rd year, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop sponsors dozens of concerts and several major events during the year. When the stars come out, Albuquerque goes to the Journal Pavillion, a brand new outdoor venue that seats 8400. Although small, the Adobe Theater is an intimate local favorite for musical plays. The hands-down favorite venue for the performing arts is the KiMo Theater, a restored picture palace built in Pueblo Deco style when movie palaces like Grumman's Chinese Theater were the rage.
Dance
The New Mexico Ballet Company teams up with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for special performances like the Nutcracker. Popejoy Hall's Ovation series often sponsors international dance troops like Ballet de l'Opera de Bordeaux. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center has Native American dancing daily and during the summer, folk dance performances can be seen at the Civic Plaza as part of Summerfest.
Theater
Theater abounds in Albuquerque, from professional traveling groups to experimental community theaters. The Vortex Theater is a community-run center that provides a venue for local amateur actors to perform. The Albuquerque Little Theater is a big favorite among locals and is in its 70th season. For family-oriented entertainment, the Strolling Players Theater Group offers a variety of performances throughout the year.
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