Mother's Day in Old Town

Celebrate Mom with food, fun, and free entertainment.

2024 MDOT 1

Mother's Day in Old Town | Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 1-5 p.m. | Historic Old Town

This free event celebrates Mom on her special day in Old Town and features food, shopping, music and more. Eat, dance, and enjoy time with the family in Historic Old Town!

Gazebo Entertainment Schedule

1 p.m.- Watermelon Mountain Jug Band- Folk/Bluegrass

2:45 p.m.- Ballet Folklorico Del Norte- Traditional Mexican Folk Dance

3:30 p.m.- Calle 66- Salsa

Photo of large group of people standing in front of brick building, posing for the camera. The men are in all white outfits and the women are in colorful dresses.

In 1990, Señora Elaine Alarid started a folklórico dance program at Del Norte High School. While directing the troupe, Ballet Folklórico danced/ entertained twice on Carnaval Cruises, and twice on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii. Since Señora retired in 2006 from Del Norte High School, she has continued directing the troupe, which now consists of her former DNHS dancers, and their families. The performances consist of costuming, choreography and footwork, from the different states of Mexico.

Three men and one woman, each holding an instrument, standing in front of an old, dark green truck. They are standing in a line, smiling at the camera.

The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band recognized as “one of New Mexico’s treasured natural resources” has been entertaining audiences, young and old, since 1975. True to the original instrumentation of 1920’s jug bands of the South, band members Patrick Houlihan (vocals, guitar, jug, harmonica, kazoo, jaw harp), Gary Oleson (washtub bass), Ben Perea (guitar and banjo), and Barbara Piper (washboard, vocals, high hat, percussion) delight audiences with country, bluegrass, jug band, ragtime, popular, Spanish, original music, and even some rock ’n roll. They are a musical delight to the ears and the eyes!

Six men and one woman posing toward the camera inside a diner. They are each sitting in a different booth.

CALLE 66 Is a veterans of the salsa scene and is lead by Peruvian vocalist Jackie Zamora. Calle 66 currently performs contemporary salsa, cumbia & merengue with influences from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia & Peru.

Food

Enjoy a bit to eat from local trucks including CCR Roasting, Rando's Food Truck, Chilaquick, and Fresco. Old Town restaurants will be serving their signature plates and running specials for the occasion.

Shopping

Treat mom like a queen with the perfect gift from a local store! Old Town businesses will have booths around the Gazebo, selling everything from soaps and candles to jewelry and art. Participating vendors include Salem's Tea House, Puzzled, Back Alley Brujas, Brown Bear Gallery & Gifts, Plaza Gifts, Turquoise Tree Flower Shop, San Felipe Snow Cone, Lapis Room, and Salsa Saint. Visit all the booth before making your way through the rest of Old Town to stop by your favorite shops and discover new ones.

Activities

Enjoy free kids’ activities such as a 25-foot climbing wall, presented by the City of Albuquerque Parks & Recreation Department, and free face painting.

Add another member to the family with pet adoptions sponsored by the City of Albuquerque Department of Animal Welfare. All adoption fees will be waived and each adoption will include spay/neuter, microchip, required vaccinations, and one free initial vet visit. For dogs, you will also receive one free dog training class.

Getting There

Streets in and around Historic Old Town will be closed to traffic for the Mother's Day festivities. Plan accordingly and be respectful of residents and posted parking signs in the area. Free parking will be available at the Albuquerque Museum.