7 bright activities for this annular solar eclipse weekend

I heard the sun and moon are going to give New Mexico the old razzle-dazzle on Saturday with an annular solar eclipse. In case you miss having that sunlight, here are some other bright ideas this weekend.

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1Making music together

The Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra is opening its 2023-24 season with a duo of concerts. Enjoy the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven and more. The first concert starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the First Unitarian Church, 3701 Carlisle Blvd. NE; with a second concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at St. Therese Catholic Church, 3424 Fourth St. NW. The event is free and open to all. Visit abqphil.org for more information.

2Walkin’ in a wildlife wonderland

Amigos de la Sevilleta will host a free 5K hike of the Mesa View Trail at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 13. Those who can’t make the event Friday are invited to undertake the hike themselves on Saturday, Oct. 14. The hike, which is rated as moderate to strenuous, is part of the celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. The refuge is located at 40 Refuge Road, San Acacia. Visit amigosdelasevilleta.org for more information.

3Dulcet sounds of the dulcimers

Enjoy the “Sweet Sounds of History” with the Sandia Mountain Dulcimers at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Learn more about the instruments and listen to a range of music from Celtic jigs to traditional fiddle tunes. The free event will take place at the San Pedro Library, 5600 Trumbull Ave. SE.

7 bright activities for this annular solar eclipse weekend

4Art extravaganza

The 35th annual juried Old Church Fine Arts Show concludes this weekend. The show of over 50 New Mexico artists is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 15. The show is located at 966 Old Church Road, Corrales.

5Celebrate the sun

From 8 a.m. to noon, head out to the Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras for East Mountain Celebration: Annular Eclipse Viewing Party. There will be free screen painting (participants are asked to bring one item for screen painting) with a commemorative annual solar eclipse design. The community center is located at 478 NM-333, Tijeras. Parking is located nearby at Roosevelt Middle School, A. Montoya Elementary School and the Village Hall.

6A good book

The Friends of the ABQ Public Library is hosting a book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Downtown Main Branch. Admission is $2. Shop thousands of the books, CDs, DVDs and records, with paperbacks priced at $.25. The Main Library is located at 501 Copper Ave. NW.

7This. Is. Albuquerque.

The UNM Lobo football team will play host to the San Jose State Spartans at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Tickets start at $16, plus fees, at golobos.com. University Stadium is located at 1111 University Blvd. SE.