Albuquerque Area Kids! Calendar Calendar indianpueblo.org. 2, Visual Arts Museum: First Sunday Free Admission, 10am-4pm. Free for all NM residents, reserve tickets online, masks or cloth face coverings required. National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th SW, 724-4771, nhccnm.org, my.nmculture.org/1097/4927. 5, Free First Wednesday, 9am-5pm. General admission is free on the first Wed of the month. Timed ticketing applies. Free, ABQ Museum, 2000 Mountain NW, ABQ, 243-7255, holdmyticket.com. 5, 12, 19, 26, Toddler Time, 9-10am. Explora opens an hour early for caregivers and toddlers to enjoy early childhood exhibit areas, storytime and a music jam. Included with admission/free for members & under age 1, Explora, 1701 Mountain NW, 224-8323, explora.us. Explora is a learning place that welcomes visitors of all ages and provides real experiences with real things that put people’s learning in their own hands. Science, technology, engineering, art, math exhibits are designed for all ages. Open 10am-5pm, Tues-Suns, 1701 Mountain NW, ABQ, 600-6072, explora.us. National Hispanic Cultural Center offers virtual experiences including online building visits on its website, social media and YouTube channel. The Visual Arts Museum is now open 10am4pm, Tues-Suns; The Historic and Literary arts building is open 10am-4pm, Thus, Fris and a guided Torreón Tours of the “Mundos de Mestizaje” fresco are offered 11am, Thus, Fris. Timed tickets are limited and available online; those not fully vaccinated must wear a mask, 1701 4th SW, ABQ, 246-2261, nhccnm.org. NM Dept of Cultural Affairs has links with info like reopenings for museums, historic sites and other institutions that have resources, activities and exhibits online. The “Visit Virtually” section includes links to museums, cultural ctrs and libraries, newmexicoculture.org. NM Museum of Natural History & Science is open 10am-4pm, Weds-Suns and features eight permanent exhibit halls that take guests through time. Tickets must be purchased online, 1801 Mountain NW, ABQ, 841-2869, nmnaturalhistory.org/visitors/visitor-information.
Dance Ongoing, Cultural Dance Program, noon, Sats & Suns. Pueblo communities celebrate seasonal cycles through prayer, song and dance. These dances connect ancestors, community, and traditions while honoring gifts from the Creator. Included with admission, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th NW. 843-7270, indianpueblo.org. Keshet Dance & Center for the Arts has a YouTube channel for online dance classes for kids ranging from fitness to hip-hop and jazz. keshetarts.org.
Exhibits 5, 12, 19, 26, Toddler Time, 9-10am. Explora opens an hour early for care-
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New Mexico Kids!
givers and toddlers to enjoy early childhood exhibit areas, storytime and a music jam. Included with admission/free for members & under age 1, Explora, 1701 Mountain NW, 224-8323, explora.us.
Fairs & Festivals 1, Lights of Enchantment. A Community First program with more than 350 displays and more than 1 million points of light. Sandia Speedway, 100 Speedway Park SW, ABQ, holdmyticket.com, lightsofenchantment.com. 1-2, Winter Wonderland, 6pm. A drive-thru holiday experience combining holiday spirit and NM culture into a family friendly attraction with a walking section with vendors and Santa. A portion of ticket sals goes to Carrie Tingley Hospital. $30/vehicle, Expo NM, 300 San Pedro NE, winterwonderlandnm.com.
Library Events Area Libraries offer activities like Lego Club, Book Groups, Read to the Dogs, Storytimes, Crafts, Movies and Knitting Clubs. Check websites for calendars and details: abqlibrary.org, riorancholibraries.org, placitaslibrary.com. 2, One Inch at a Time, 2:15-3:15pm. In this workshop, preschoolers will measure objects using a variety of tools, including "inchworms" as well as standardized tools like rulers and measuring tape. Free, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW, 897-8816, abqlibrary.org. 8, Chess Club, 1-3pm. Bring a chess set and learn game strategy from Coach Avery, all ages; registration required, limited to 20. Free, Cherry Hills Library, 6901 Barstow NE, 857-8321, abqlibrary.org. 9, Bright Light, Dark Shadows, 2:153:15pm. In this workshop, preschoolers will explore light and shadows using flashlights. Free, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW, 897-8816, abqlibrary.org. 10, Erna Fergusson’s Birthday, 2:305:30pm. Join for a celebration featuring an exhibit plus arts and crafts; all ages. Free, Erna Fergusson Library, 3700 San Mateo NE, 888-8100, abqlibrary.org. 12, Mirror, Mirror, 3:30-4:30pm. Everything that is seen is because of light. If an object is smooth and shiny, a beam of light will bounce off in a predictable direction. Free, Juan Tabo Library, 3407 Juan Tabo NE, 291-6260, abqlibrary.org. 16, Sound Sleuths, 2:15-3:15pm. Sounds are part of everyday experiences. Children can progress to sound sleuths who can listen to and describe all they see, feel and hear vibrating. Free, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW, 897-8816, abqlibrary.org. 20, Young Inventors, 3:30pm. Inventors find creative solutions for practical problems. Stories of young inventors and hands-on experience to inspire children. Free, South Valley Library, 3904 Isleta NW, 877-5170, abqlibrary.org. 22, Grow Your Own Garden Seedlings, 11am-12:30pm. Learn how to germinate and grow seedlings at home for yard and garden; registration
January/February 2022
required. Free, Cherry Hills Library, 6901 Barstow NE, 857-8321, abqlibrary.org. 23, A Balancing Act, 2-4pm. This workshop invites children and families to have fun exploring and manipulating the placement of weight in objects to learn about balance. Free, Erna Fergusson Library, 3700 San Mateo NE, 888-8100, abqlibrary.org. 23, Do You See What I See?, 2:153:15pm. In this workshop, children and families use mirrors to bounce light all over the room to see around corners. Free, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW, 897-8816, abqlibrary.org. 29, Recycled Robot Revamp, 10amnoon. Bring creativity and ingenuity and rejuvenate recycled materials into robots. All materials provided, ages 5+. Free, San Pedro Library, 5600 Trumbull SE, 256-2067, abqlibrary.org.
Open Houses 22, Immanuel Lutheran School, 10am-noon. ILS is committed to providing children with a Christian education; ages two years old preschool through 8th grade; Christian teachers, small class sizes, challenging academics, K-8 sports, fine arts, before and after care. Free, 300 Gold SE, 243-2589, immanuelabq.org.
Science & Nature 15, Family Nature Club Hike, 10amnoon. Join an Open Space Educator on a family-friendly hike through the bosque and down to the river. Hands-on learning, natural history fun facts, storytelling and seek out wildlife. See website for what to bring. Registration required at play.cabq.gov. Free, Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors NW, 768-4955, visitalbuquerque.org/event/family-natureclub-hike/48655.
20, World Penguin Day, 10am-2pm. Learn more about penguins including the macaroni, king and gentoo penguins that live at the zoo. Included with admission, ABQ BioParkZoo, 903 10th SW, 768-2000, cabq.gov. 22, Grow Your Own Garden Seedlings, 11am-12:30pm. Learn how to germinate and grow seedlings at home. Instruction about heat mats, grow lights, seeds, fertilizing and planting. Free, Cherry Hills Library, 6901 Barstow NE, 857-8321, abqlibrary.org. 22, Sea Turtle Awareness Day, 10am. Activities, art, films, hands-on stations and a children’s sea turtle craft. Included with admission, ABQ Aquarium, 2601 Central NE, 848-7180, cabq.gov. 30, Science of a Simple Sort, 2:153:15pm. Use observation and classification skills to bring order to chaos. Free, Taylor Ranch Library, 5700 Bogart NW, 897-8816, abqlibrary.org. State Parks Free Entrance Days: schedules and details can be found at nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parksstate.htm.
Storytelling 18, Family Storytime, 10:30-11am. A program geared toward preschool/ kindergarten age children and their adults. English language with a Spanish language component. Free, Alamosa Library, 6900 Gonzales SW, 836-0684, abqlibrary.org.
Also of Interest The Children’s Hour provides weekly educational and entertaining public radio programing and podcasts for listeners of all ages, created by and for kids and families, ChildrensHour.org, 89.9 fm KUNM.
Let’s Draw! Let’s Draw Become a published artist. Create your own drawing here and send it to: New Mexico Kids!, 9100 Galaxia Way NE, Abq, NM 87111. Some drawings will be selected to illustrate future issues of New Mexico Kids! Please include your name, age & hometown.
