Celebrate Albuquerque's birthday at this event in Old Town

In 1706, Albuquerque was founded as a Spanish colonial settlement that served as an outpost connecting Mexico to America. The first building of that settlement was a small adobe chapel where the San Felipe de Neri Church stands today.

Hundreds of years later, the city is a hub for fine arts, history and large events like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Albuquerque is 319 years young and to celebrate the good times, the city is hosting a birthday celebration filled with food, entertainment and live music on Saturday, April 19, in the center of Old Town.

“This is a great way to kick off the outdoor season in Old Town and our concert season to celebrate Albuquerque’s birthday,” said Bree Ortiz, community events division manager for the city. “We’ll have all the traditional birthday things planned.”

To kick off the activities, flamenco group Spanish Broom will show their dancing skills and Trio Carrillo will perform mariachi music.

“A lot of the streets will be closed for pedestrian-friendly shopping and a lot of the stores will be open with specials and special things for the birthday, and we’ll have more than 10 Old Town merchants coming to have booths for gifts in the plaza,” Ortiz said.

Select merchants at Old Town will offer a variety of deals during the day.

The event celebrates the rich history of New Mexico and will include a Founder’s Ceremony, where the descendants of founding families will pay tribute to their ancestors. Founding families will carry banners that represent their respective ancestry and march through the streets of Old Town before telling the tales of their family’s history in New Mexico.

After the ceremony, Ivon Ulibarri and Café Mocha will serenade with salsa music.

During the event local food trucks will be on site, including Wok’n Roll Thai, Old Town Pizza and Flying Roadrunner Bakery among others.

Children will be able to spend the day showing off their best birthday look with free face painting, and Parks and Recreation will provide a 25-foot rock wall to test your climbing skills.

“This will be a great afternoon in Old Town,” Ortiz said. “The vibe of the event is great, entertainment is top-notch, and this gives people a great opportunity to support some local businesses in Albuquerque while being able to get out for a safe, quality event with family.”

Celebrate Albuquerque's birthday at this event in Old Town