Albuquerque Biological Park Calendar of Events
October 2009
Featured Events
- Flowers of Fall - October 1-31
- Brown Bag Lecture at Zoo - October 1 and 3
- Harvest Festival at the Garden - October 3-4
- Free Fishing Clinic at Tingley Beach - October 10
- Ikebana Show at Garden - October 10-11
- Touchpool Volunteer Training - October 15
- Aquarium Overnight - October 16/17
- Train Tracks in Your Backyard Garden - October 17-18
- Wolf Awareness Week - October 18 - 24
- Horticulture Volunteer Orientation - October 21
- Zoo Boo - October 31
January February March April May June July August September November December
Flowers of Fall
Through October 31 , 9:00am-5:00pm daily
Visit the Botanic Garden to enjoy the rich hues of autumn in our "Flowers of Fall" show. With chrysanthemums and other blooms, we will celebrate the harvest season in shades from golden yellows to deep burgundies.
The show runs from September 26-October 31. It is included with regular admission.
Brown Bag at the Zoo
Thursday, October 1 and Saturday, October 3, 12:45 - 1:30pm
Topic and Speaker TBA
This series of informal, lunchtime lectures presents the science of conservation. Topics include plant and animal themes relevant to the BioPark, and presenters may be BioPark staff or field experts.
Brown Bag lectures take place twice a month (on a Thursday and a Saturday), alternating between the Aquarium/Garden and the Zoo locations. Lectures at the Zoo are included with regular admission. There is no fee to attend the lectures at the Aquarium/Garden. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information.
Harvest Festival at the Heritage Farm
Saturday-Sunday, October 3-4, 10:00am-2:00pm daily
You don't need to leave town to visit a farm this harvest weekend. Come to the Rio Grande Botanic Garden's Heritage Farm to sample the fruits, vegetables, smells, tastes and sounds of the fall harvest. Find out how cider is made and sample our fresh cider pressed on-site. Docents will be stationed at kitchen garden, orchard, vineyard and house with demonstrations and interpretive activities, crafts and games; and old-time bands will provide music. Harvest Festival activities are included with general admission.
Free Fishing Clinic at Tingley Beach
Saturday, October 10, 10:00am-12:00pm
Visit the event tent at Tingley Beach to learn more about fly-fishing and fly-tying, fishing etiquette, catch & release practices, and how to “catch the big one”. Tingley Beach Fishing Guides will be on-hand to teach and share fishing tips. Equipment and supplies are available for use during the clinic free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants are welcome to bring their own gear as well. In addition, Tingley Outfitters provides basic equipment for purchase inside the Tingley Train Station.
Download a flyer about the 2009 Free Fishing Clinics 
Ikebana Show at the Botanic Garden
Saturday-Sunday, October 10-11, 9:00am-5:00pm daily
An exhibition of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, in the Botanic Garden Showroom. The exhibition will open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm each day.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Ikebana International Chapter #41 and the New Mexico Branch of Ichiyo School of Ikebana.
The Ikebana show is included with regular admission.
Touchpool Volunteer Training
Thursday, October 15, 9:30am-3:30pm
Touchpool volunteers assist with the hands-on invertebrate Touchpool at the aquarium and introduce visitors to horseshoe crabs, horse conchs, sea urchins and other fascinating marine animals. For more information, please call (505) 764-6245.
Aquarium Overnight
Friday-Saturday, October 16-17, 7:00pm-8:00am
Sleep next to the sharks at this family-friendly event. Participants will learn about interesting facts about ocean species and their nighttime behavior during this special Aquarium sleepover. Includes games and crafts, Touchpool visit and ocean film fest in the theater. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: $25/person. Group size is limited. Pre-registration is required and and participation is reserved only after payment is received. Call (505) 848-7180 for more information and to register.
Train Tracks in Your Backyard Garden
Saturday-Sunday, October 17-18, 9:00am-5:00pm daily
Enthusiasts from the New Mexico Model Railroaders Club will demonstrate how to bring backyard gardens to life with motion and sound through the use of miniature, G-scale trains and their unique, complementary landscape.
Special displays for this fun annual event will include electric and live steam trains, character trains, choo-choo sounds and the kids' all-time favorite--the dynamite car! Including permanent and new displays for the event, there will be 8 trains running simultaneously on 1,400 feet of track this weekend!
Club members will showcase their personal collection of model trains in active displays. Visitors can get advice on how to get started installing trains in home gardens, and see photo tours of the best garden train layouts in the state. Club will members make the complex come alive for visitors by sharing background stories about the Botanic Garden's permanent garden railroad display, with its villages, tunnels, trestles and mining scenes.
This event is included with admission.
Wolf Awareness Week
Sunday-Saturday, October 18-24, 10:00am-2:00pm daily
Visit the Mexican Wolf exhibit at the Rio Grande Zoo to learn about wolf conservation and re-introduction in the Southwest. Find out the crucial role these animals used to play in New Mexico's ecosystem and get hands-on with wolf biofacts. Call 764-6214 for more information.
Download Wolf Awareness Worksheets 
for student grades K-1, 2-5, and 6-12.
Horticulture Volunteer Orientation
Wednesday, October 21, 9:30am-12:00pm
Horticulture Volunteers assist the BioPark horticulture staff with routine garden maintenance and special plant projects. Open to volunteers ages 16 and up. For more information, please call (505) 764-6245. The training will take place the Aquarium/Garden Education, 2601 Central Ave. NW.
Zoo Boo
Saturday, October 31, 12:00-4:00pm
The 21st annual Zoo Boo offers a safe alternative for trick-or-treating. Four children in costume get in free with a paying adult ($7).
From 12:00-4:00pm there are games, Haunted Habitats, a variety of performances, a costume parade, costume judging and sweet treats from many sponsoring businesses and civic organizations. Sponsor tables will be located throughout the zoo.
As always, this year's event is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Shelly Lerner Burstein, a much-loved local pediatric cardiologist and zoo docent. A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful people and businesses who donate each year to the Zoo Boo Education Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition assistance for underserved youth interested in taking BioPark classes.
New Mexico BioPark Society members receive free admission for the adults and children on their pass as usual. To qualify for the offer above, an adult must purchase a ticket.
Would you like to be a Zoo Boo volunteer? This year’s event will be bigger than ever! Community help is needed to run carnival games for trick-or-treaters at the Zoo. You can make a difference by creating a fun and safe Halloween celebration. Must be 18 or older. Costumes are encouraged! Call (505) 764-6245 for more information.