Way OUT West, Xeric Garden Club and 'Celebrating Pastels': 7 events this week

20251010-venue-v03weekly — The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is celebrating Balloon Fiesta Week through Monday, Oct. 13.

Beth Trujillo Beth Trujillo Beth Trujillo Asst. Features Editor

Published October 9, 2025 - 7:00 a.m. Modified October 9, 2025 - 7:00 a.m.

I think a lot of people my age have a fondness of crocodiles thanks to a certain Australian who graced our TVs. You can learn more about these rad reptiles at the ABQ BioPark Zoo this weekend. Or check out one of these other beauties.

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

Music for all

The Jewish Community Center of Albuquerque is hosting “An Evening with Paco Diez” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Diez will be performing ancient Spanish Romancero and Sephardic music for the first time in New Mexico. Tickets are $20 at jccabq.org. The JCC is located at 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE.

Honoring heritage

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is celebrating Balloon Fiesta Week through Monday, Oct. 13. Native American dance groups will be performing every day and artisans will be on hand, with Indigenous Peoples’ Day being honored on Oct. 13. Tickets run $7-$12 at indianpueblo.org. The IPCC is located at 2401 12th St. NW.

Heading Way OUT West

The Way OUT West Film Fest is coming to the Guild Cinema from Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 19. The event will screen over 70 comedies, dramas, documentaries, shorts and international films celebrating the LGBTQIA+ experience. Tickets start at $12 at wayoutwestfilmfest.com. The Guild is located at 3405 Central Ave. NE.

Little discussion on the prairie

The Xeric Garden Club is hosting a free class from master gardener Barbara Shapiro at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, as she speaks on how to bring the prairie home to urban gardens. She will discuss the book “Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design” by Benjamin Vogt, and go over strategies for design and choice of plants. The Albuquerque Garden Center is located at 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE.

‘Celebrating Pastels’

The Pastel Society of New Mexico is “Celebrating Pastels” at the Bernalillo Martha Liebert Public Library through Friday, Oct. 17. The show features works by the society’s members, who range from New Mexico and beyond. The library, located at 124 Calle Malinche in Bernalillo, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For more information visit pastelsnm.org.

Crikey!

It’s CROCtober at the ABQ BioPark Zoo, a celebration of crocodilian conservation, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Learn about the reptiles while keepers feed the BioPark’s resident American and Chinese alligators. Admission to the zoo is $1-$19.50 at artsandculture.cabq.gov, and free for qualified individuals. The zoo is located at 903 10th St. SW.

Passion for piano

The 4th Olga Kern International Piano Competition is ready to tickle the ivories. The first rounds are slated for 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, and Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 114 Carlisle Blvd. SE. The quarterfinal round will take place 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Admission for the first rounds and quarterfinals is free. The semifinal round will take place 1-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth St. NW. Tickets are $10 at olgakerncompetition.org, and free for qualifying individuals. The finals start at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at the NHCC.