There won’t be a cake with 319 candles, but Albuquerque will mark that birthday Saturday with a celebration in historic Old Town.
City officials say the event will honor Albuquerque’s rich history and cultural heritage.
“Albuquerque’s birthday is a time to honor the vision of those who founded our city,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a news release. “As we celebrate 319 years of incredible history, growth, and accomplishment, we work toward a future shaped by innovation, culture, and community.”
The birthday party is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. It will include free face painting, a 25-foot rock climbing wall, and booths from Old Town merchants offering unique local goods.
The Gazebo stage will feature musical performances by Spanish Broom at noon, Trio Carrillo at 12:45 and Ivon Ulibarri & Café Mocha at 2 (following the Founders’ Ceremony).
Culinary options will include local food trucks from CCR Roasting, Ace’s Fry Guy, and Wok’n Roll Thai. The Knights of Columbus will be grilling burgers in the San Felipe de Neri Church courtyard, while Old Town restaurants will offer signature dishes and specials to mark the occasion.
Streets around Old Town will be closed to traffic, with free parking available at the Albuquerque Museum. Well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome.
While the Albuquerque area has been inhabited for thousands of years, the city was officially founded in 1706, by colonial governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, and named in honor of Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, 10th Duke of Alburquerque and Viceroy of New Spain.
The city was incorporated in 1891. The first birthday celebration took place in 1988, according to the release, honoring the Pre-Columbian, Spanish, Mexican, territorial, and statehood eras.
“This annual event celebrates the vision of Governor Cuervo y Valdes and the resilience of the community that shaped the city into what it is today,” the release states.
Anyone interested in carrying banners of Albuquerque’s founding families can email alfredo_fernandez@cox.net for details.