Chile, violets and national parks: 7 events this week

The National Park Service is kicking off its National Park Week on Saturday, April 19, with free admission to all NPS sites (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply).

Alcoléa & cie will perform the movie/concert event “Right in the Eye” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at the KiMo Theatre.

The Albuquerque African Violet Club invites you to “Celebrate the U.S.A.” with its annual show and sale from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20.

20250418-venue-v03weekly — The South Broadway Cultural Center is hosting “Spellbound” featuring Riva Nyri Précil and Racine Kreyòl & Friends at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19.

Beth Trujillo Beth Trujillo Beth Trujillo Asst. Features Editor

Published April 17, 2025 - 10:45 a.m. Modified April 17, 2025 - 10:45 a.m.

Earth Day is this Tuesday, and the city of Albuquerque is doing its part in helping save the planet with an e-waste dropoff event. Already a captain of the planet? Check out one of these other events.

Got an event we should know about? Reach out to features@abqjournal.com.

Purple reign

The Albuquerque African Violet Club invites you to “Celebrate the U.S.A.” with its annual show and sale from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20. African violets will be for sale and this year the club will have streptocarpus. There will also be demos and a drawing. The Albuquerque Garden Center is located at 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE.

Hot ticket

Fort Selden Historic Site will be growing a special chile in its garden this year, the original New Mexico No. 9, the first chile species developed at New Mexico State University by Fabián García over 100 years ago. The site will kick off the growing season from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, with a talk about planting chile heritage gardens. The Wonders on Wheels pop-up exhibit, “Culture Lab: Enchanted Chiles,” will also be on site. Visitors will have the chance to examine chiles with a microscope, paint with chile dye, and tie a ristra. The event is included with the $5 admission, and free for children 16 years and younger and for qualified individuals, at nmhistoricsites.org/fort-selden. The site is located at 1280 Fort Selden Road, Radium Springs.

Moonshot

Alcoléa & cie will perform the movie/concert event “Right in the Eye” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18, at the KiMo Theatre. The event is composed of 12 films representative of the work of special effects pioneer Georges Méliès. Tickets are $10-$20, with children 18 and under free, at artsandculture.cabq.gov. The KiMo Theatre is located at 423 Central Ave. NW.

National Parks for all

The National Park Service is kicking off its National Park Week on Saturday, April 19, with free admission to all NPS sites (other fees, including timed entry or reservation fees, may apply). You can visit Bandelier National Monument, White Sands National Park, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and more. Visit nps.gov for more information.

Books and birthdays

The Patrick J. Baca Library at Central Avenue and Unser Boulevard is celebrating its 10th anniversary from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 18. There will be music, activities and more. The library is located at 8081 Central Ave. NW.

Save the planet

The Solid Waste Management Department is celebrating Earth Day with a free e-waste dropoff event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. Brings your old computers, TVs, prints, cellphones and more to the Eagle Rock Convenience Center, 6301 Eagle Rock NE.

Unique fusions

The South Broadway Cultural Center is hosting “Spellbound” featuring Riva Nyri Précil and Racine Kreyòl & Friends at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19. The performance is free, but reservations are required at artsandculture.cabq.gov. The South Broadway Cultural Center is located at 1025 Broadway Blvd. SE.