Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest April 6th & 7th 2024 discounts and deals

  Chocolate! Coffee!                                            

If that isn't reason enough to attend I'll offer a few more enticing options.

Time, date, location:

Saturday, April 6th 10am -5pm

Sunday, April 7th  10am -5pm

The event is at Expo New Mexico (the fairgrounds) Manuel Lujan Jr. Exhibit Complex and Main street

Parking is available at Gate 1 on Central, Gate 3 on San Pedro (best option for easy handicap access), Gate 8 Louisiana just south of Lomas, easy access to festival. parking $10

Single Day Tickets:

Special offer 2 tickets for $25 must attend together

Adults (ages 13 and up): $15 online through April 5th. $20 effective April 6. 

Ages 3-12, $5 Under 3, Free

Online coupon code for $5 off your adult ticket.  CCF24   

here is a link to buy tickets, and fun add on experiences like chocolate bar class, wine and dessert pairings, beer and chocolate pairings, painting classes $12 (that's a good price).  

https://chocolateandcoffeefest.holdmyticket.com/tickets

Buy your ticket online and enjoy a free scoop of Blue Bell Ice Cream at the Festival. Chocolate or Coffee? What will you choose?

The world's largest festival for chocolate, coffee, and gourmet foods. this is a small sampling of all the Chocolate, wine, coffee, treats you can sample and buy. Enjoy it now and later. There is something to offer for everyone. Coffee, Chocolate, food trucks sample everything and wash it down with an adult beverage if you like. You can even sample the beer and wine. 2 music stages this year. Presentations at the Coffee, festival, and Chocolate stage in the Lujan building. 200 vendors to choose from. So many options.

If you want more information about the event. Vendors, live music, classes, kids stuff, tickets. Here is the link to the page https://www.chocolateandcoffeefest.com/

Big Ass cookies

Bite me bakery

George's gourmet pound cake

Entrance to event

Jakes farm freeze dried candy

Koo Weh Cookies 

Be hempful CBD

Jaramillo Vineyards 

Las Nueve Ninas winery

Marthas Body Bueno

Nosotros on Stage

Sheehan Winery 

The Pop Co

Three Black cats

See you there...

35th Fiery Food show March 1- 3, 2024

35th Annual National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show

March 1st - 3rd, 2024

General Public Hours:    

Friday        3pm -8pm 

Saturday    9am - 7pm

Sunday      10am - 6pm

Tickets: 

Adults            $16.00

Child 11 - 18   $5.00 

Child 10 and under Free

This is prices at the door. You can buy Adult tickets in advance here. https://www.etix.com/Sandia

Location:

Sandia Resort and Casino, 30 Rainbow Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

free parking onsite. The event is on the Resort side of the building.

The experience:

Samples to try, stuff to buy. This event is for you if you like to cook and if you like to eat. 

there are healthy, spicy, mild, and wild options to choose from. 

There is over 100 items to sample. 

There is something out there to appeal to your taste buds. 

Any additional information about the show can be found here. https://www.fieryfoodsshow.com/

See you there. 

Wisconsin Cheese curds 

Boo and Henrys BBQ

Cornivore flavored Popcorn

Taos Hum 

El Pinto 

Empty Bowl Queso

Simmie J's BBQ

Metal the brand

Pop Pops Italian ice 

TD's Brew and BBQ

Red and Green Chile fudge

Behrnes Pepper Salt

Miss Teddi's 8th Annual Trunk or Treat Sunday 10/29/23

 Mark your calendar for Sunday October 29th, 2023

6pm - 9pm at El Baile Event Center, 3911 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque

Halloween is right around the corner and its time to show off those costumes and get some candy.

This event is hosted by Miss Teddi who has been active in the Cannabis community for many years.

She wants to provide a safe no judgement environment for the kids of Cannabis and CBD patients. 

Besides candy, there will also be entertainment, a bounce house, and security on site. 

Always something exciting and new.  

Miss Teddi the Terpene queen

Juggling fire

See you there. 

I'll be there taking pictures, make sure to give me a thumbs up or say hello

51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Oct. 7th - 15th, 2023 basic info and how to crew

Sunny Boy Balloon 2022 

 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

General admission $15, children 12 and under are free. 

parking at Balloon Fiesta park is $20 cash only.

The park and ride option to avoid the traffic  is $25 Adults, $23 Seniors, $10 children and includes admission. with parking at Coronado Mall, Cottonwood Mall, and Hoffmantown Church. 

Here is the link with info https://balloonfiesta.com/Park-Ride

ride your bike to the Fiesta bike valet parking is free. 

• you will want to get there early because dawn patrol usually starts at 6am with traffic getting in you can expect to leave at 4:30am
• The Balloon Glow usually starts around 6pm followed by a fireworks display.
• dress in layers it can be 53 degrees in the morning jacket weather, by the afternoon its in 70s and 80s a t-shirt will be comfortable. 
• all sessions are weather permitting. If the event cancels due to weather save your ticket for the next session.
• bring a camera, make sure all your batteries are fully charged. 
• there are metal detectors and searches of purses and backpacks at the gate. 
• if you are walking on the field with the balloons and pilots watch the ropes when they are inflating balloons. that rope is going up...
  
  

I enjoy the on site fiesta experience. I usually volunteer for Chase crew. here's some basic info how to crew. 

You can sign up to crew same day of the event or in advance at the chase crew tower south end of the field. 

You don't have to drive your vehicle. You get the opportunity to work with the pilots and crew on the field assisting with getting the balloon from a bag in the back of the truck. To fully laid out in your section to inflate. Cold inflate, then the pilot adds the propane to make the envelope float. finally the zebras (launch director) come over and tell you you're next to fly. Watching the balloons fly away is a magical experience and everybody cheers. When you sign up for chase crew you choose the mornings and evenings you are available, you watch an instructional video, you get a free pass for the fiesta and you meet pilots from around the world. Win/Win

general admission ticket purchase here https://balloonfiesta.com/Purchase-Tickets

schedule of events here https://balloonfiesta.com/Event-Schedule

Here is the Special shapes that will be there this year https://balloonfiesta.com/Special-Shape-Rodeo

ground fireworks balloon glow 

Drone show on field

    

Roadrunner drone show

2023 NM State fair deals, September 7th-17th

Gascar Races

September 7th- 17th, 2023                                                                        

Main and Heritage 

Fair Hours: 

10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday - Thursday (Midway opens 2pm Monday -Friday) 

10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday - Saturday

Admission: Ticket purchase is available online with a fee purchase tickets via etix or purchase at entrance.

Adult - $15.00
Senior (65 and older) - $8.00
Kids (5 to 12 years old) - $8.00

Children 5 and under - FREE                        

Parking: Gate 1 on Central has parking available for $10.00 from Monday through Thursday and $20.00 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Gate 8 on Louisiana offers ample parking but fills quickly. Parking for Gate 8 is $10.00. There is free handicap parking at both gates. 

Bike Valet will check your bike during fair hours FREE

DEALS

September 7, 2023 - OPENING DAY - $4 Admission, $30 Ride Wristband, GRAZE DAYS - All food vendors will offer one regular menu item for just $5 from 10 am - 4 pm. LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY - Free admission for NM Law Enforcement officers and personnel with valid ID.

September 8 - 10, 2023 • TEACHER APPRECIATION • All teachers will get in to the Fair for FREE when they present their district issued ID or a pay stub at the ticket booth. Free admission is good for ID holder only.

September 8, 2023 - STATE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY - State employees get in for just $8.00 when they present an ID badge issued by the state agency they work for, or a current pay stub issued by a state agency. Discount is good for ID or paystub holder only. FIREFIGHTER & FIRST RESPONDERS DAY - Free admission for firefighters and first responders with valid ID.

Monday, September 11, 2023 • Four Dollar Day! $4 admission all day • $30 ride wristbands

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 • Military/Veteran's Day • Free admission for all active & retired military and veterans with valid ID • $5 admission and $30 ride wristbands

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 • Dollar Day! $1.00 admission all day • Dollar Rides! All rides are $1 per ride, with a minimum purchase of 10 rides required. Ride wristbands will not be available for purchase

Thursday, September 14, 2023 • EVERYONE IS A KID TODAY - $8 admission all day • $30 ride wristbands • Graze Days - All food vendors on the grounds offer one regular menu item for just $5 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

September 15, 2023 • City & County Employee Appreciation Day – admission for anyone employed by a New Mexico city or county government get in for just $8 with city or county issued employment ID • $40 Ride Wristbands

If you want additional info on the state fair here is the link https://statefair.exponm.com/p/about

Fall is coming and so is the NM State fair. Its time to enjoy all the fun of the Midway rides, food, entertainment. 

I'm going to share some of the highlights of the 2022 NM state fair. The midway will give you some amazing views 90ft up from the Gentle Giant Ferris wheel. there is many other rides to choose from for the tiny kids and for the brave ones. same rides as your childhood. Unless you rode horses they are on the other side of the fairgrounds. Some games to try your luck and win a stuffed animal or whatever fun prizes you want. There's also fair food and giant lemonade.    

Jason The circus man

Gentle Giant

If you head down Main street there are many entertainers different times of day. You might see the strolling piano, Jason D'Vaude The circus man. He juggles fire and large knives on a very tall unicycle. You don't see that every day.  

There's award winning art along the way in the many buildings that line main street. 

Inka Gold is usually performing on Main street.  

Inka Gold

If you go earlier in the day there will be car shows and Schools. first responders, fire department etc. to meet and consider possible career choices. 

Villa Hispana

firehose demo

Salsa Steel drum band

Head down Heritage st and go see Villa Hispana and Indian Village. You may want to pick up a fresh Watermelon drink and some fry bread. Watch some dances and buy some stuff. Make your way back to Main street, check out the Agriculture buildings and all the animals participating in the fair. The duck races are in this area also. The red barn and petting zoo is on the east side of the street. Near the Manuel Lujan building, Inside this building is my favorite place to get cotton candy and more sweet treats. The Salsa steel drum band might be performing inside the Louisiana or San Pedro gate. 

If you haven't eaten something yet there is rows of food options right by the Chevron Pavilion. More music and food. across the way is the African-American Pavilion. 

Midway Lights

There is so much to see and do at the state fair, make sure you go and take lots of pictures and enjoy the memories. 

Stilt performers

    See you at the fair.

Discovery flight gave me happy butterflies with Del Sol Aviation

Dash of Cessna 

Interested in what it’s like to fly? 

Always been a bucket list item? 

Want to ‘try it’ before you decide? 
Book a Discovery Flight today!

Well Del Sol now that you mention it...

Interested in what it’s like to fly? Yes.

Always been a bucket list item? Sure, why not.

Want to ‘try it’ before you decide? Absolutely

I thought that this would make a perfect gift for somebody who loves adventure, or maybe somebody hard to buy for. Oh wait that's me too. 

First you call for information or to reserve your discovery flight. Then set a time to meet with a pilot/flight instructor. 

The morning of my flight. The school is very near the Albuquerque Sunport. Planes and runways that is handy. Front desk staff was very pleasant, flight instructor very informative, and he even put up with my humor asking if we would do any top gun moves. He said no. Weather plays a big role in a smooth flight. That makes sense. I got 45 minutes basic education and 45 minutes in the air. Before the flight there was a complete safety check of all parts of the plane. Inside the plane you plug in a headset with microphone, feet on the rudder control (its not gas and brake). Hands on Yoke. The flight instructor actually controls the entire flight. You get to test the rudder and yoke in flight so you get a feel for it. Well that really puts you at ease. Up in the air the view is so amazing. I was happy I could take a few pictures and video which will always remind me of my discovery flight. When you turn that plane around and you feel like you are floating for a moment those are my "happy butterflies". The landing was so smooth I was impressed. I am now more informed about what it takes to become a pilot. It's doable with a few options like sport, private or commercial pilot. I got a certificate with my .7 hour discovery flight. I'm on my way. 

It's never too late to live your best life. 

Here is a link to Del Sol Aviation discovery flight page. https://www.delsolaviation.com 

The flight prices can fluctuate with Airline fuel costs. When I took my flight in September 2022 it was less than $250 for priceless memories. If you book a flight let me know, let them know, let everybody know because its the best.     

Flight instructor Jackson

 

view from plane

Me smiling after my flight

Thank you for joining me on my journey.