Albuquerque Celebrates New Mexico Centennial
Events focus on arts, culture and cuisine throughout 2012
The state of New Mexico, one of America’s youngest states, celebrates 100 years of statehood in 2012 with events and festivals all year long. In Albuquerque, a variety of events and festivals will honor the state’s landmark occasion.
During New Mexico’s Centennial celebration in 2012, Albuquerque events honor the rich history of our area (Albuquerque was founded in 1706) and the exciting prospects for the future. As Albuquerque’s mayor Richard J. Berry puts it, you can “experience a place where the modern city skyline is set against the backdrop of the ancient cultures of the Southwest.”
Savor Albuquerque
The Centennial celebration will be a part of Savor Albuquerque, a festival which celebrates Albuquerque’s arts, culture and cuisine. The 12-day festival runs June 7-16, 2012, and culminates with the Centennial celebration in Downtown Albuquerque on June 16th.
Spotlight events during Savor Albuquerque include the Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque, “The Seven” at the Cell Theatre, the 6th Annual Duke City Improv Festival and RoofTapas, a culinary showcase at area restaurants.
To learn more about Savor Albuquerque, visit www.savorabq.com.
New Mexico Centennial Summerfest
To conclude the Savor Albuquerque festival, the New Mexico Centennial Summerfest will offer dancing, food, music, car shows, arts markets, family activities and a territorial village. The Centennial Summerfest will depict many of the important aspects of New Mexico’s history – and future.
The city-wide festival will include featured performers on five stages along Route 66 (Central Avenue) in Downtown Albuquerque throughout the day. The stages will focus on a variety of elements of New Mexico’s history including:
- The New Mexico Music Stage features flamenco, mariachis, folk dance, New Mexico Music.
- The Native American Stage will feature traditional and modern Native American music and dance along with Native American crafts displays, vendors and food.
- The World Stage will be located against Albuquerque’s iconic KiMo Theatre. Peoples from throughout the world have migrated to New Mexico bringing with them their culture, music and dance.
- The Route 66 Rock and Rockabilly Stage and Car Show will pay homage to the “Mother Road” and its heyday.
- The Territorial Village will truly look at the city and state’s past. Eat from authentic Chuck Wagons where food is prepared from Dutch ovens or cooked underground. Wild West cowboys may even make an appearance.
In addition to the festive musical atmosphere, local cuisine will of course play an important role. New Mexico chile, Native American fare, fresh made tortillas, an authentic Matanza, Chuck Wagon cooking and more will capture visitor taste buds. A juried art show will also be on display along Central Avenue throughout the day.
This website will be updated as events are finalized.
Other Centennial Events and Exhibits
3rd Thursday: Centennial Birthday Party - January 19, Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. Play the Museum's smartphone game to uncover iconic images, important events and personal stories in the collection. Enter a raffle to receive a Centennial present from the Museum's Photo Archives collection. Enjoy birthday treats from Slate Street Café and a book signing in the Gallery Store by author Richard Meltzer.
New Mexico First Centennial Town Hall - March 22-23, Albuquerque Marriott. New Mexico First commemorates the state’s 100th birthday with a vision-setting conference that draws on lessons learned from 25 years of New Mexico First town halls while asking state residents to assess key elements of our future.
100 Years of State & Federal Policy: Its Impact on Pueblo Nations - Exhibit, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This historic exhibition examines 100 years of State and Federal policy (1912-2012) and its impact on Pueblo communities and personalizes our Pueblo Indian history by drawing connections between the human experience and those enacted policies.
Dinosaur Century - Exhibit, New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. New Mexico is a place where important dinosaur discoveries are made. This exhibit will highlight some of the significant fossils found in New Mexico within the past 100 years that have previously only been seen by research scientists.
Albuquerque Celebrates 1912
- Exhibit, Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. This exhibition highlights artifacts and photographs relating some of the major events taking
place in Albuquerque around the time of New Mexico’s statehood. See a
47-Star federal flag from 1912. Contemplate documents, textiles, and
objects related to historic events that include presidential visits to
Albuquerque, the first aeroplane flights at the Territorial Fairgrounds,
and the ratification of the New Mexico State Constitution at the
Alvarado Hotel.
Faces From Our Past, Facing the Future: Albuquerque and the Turn of the 20th Century
- Exhibit, Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. This exhibition features prints made from a collection of glass plate negatives.
Approximately 80 photographs will be on display along with original
packaging and more than 800 digital images of the collection. Many of
these individuals were citizens of Albuquerque when New Mexico became a
state in 1912.
A Century of High Flying: Science, Space and Sport
- Exhibit, Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. The exhibit celebrates 100 years of flight in New Mexico in relations to
tourism, top secret projects, stratospheric research, aerospace
medicine, and popular culture.
Download a PDF illustrating 100 Years of Statehood: Celebrate New Mexico 1912–2012.
For details on the complete New Mexico Centennial celebration, visit www.nmcentennial.org.