Albuquerque Comes Together for 11th Annual Recovery Main Event

For the 11th year, Albuquerque showed up for recovery. On Thursday, September 24, more than 1,000 community members filled Civic Plaza for the Annual Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery Main Event – a free, family-friendly celebration featuring over 100 partner and resource tables, Lightning Boy Hoop Dancers, Mariachi Tenampa, a DJ, free lunch for attendees, and the announcement of this year’s Adán Carriaga Leader in Recovery Award.

The event was organized and executed by the Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery Committee, established 11 years ago by Adán Carriaga, a dedicated champion for behavioral health and addiction treatment. The committee is the driving force behind the recovery events that took place throughout September. The City of Albuquerque is proud to sponsor both events and has multiple Health, Housing and Homelessness department representatives on the committee.

Thursday’s event was made possible through the generous support of more than 30 sponsors committed to advancing recovery in Albuquerque. Platinum sponsors included Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness, Icarus Behavioral Health, Zia Recovery Center, and the New Mexico Health Care Authority.

This year’s Adán Carriaga Leader in Recovery Award was presented to Ashley Charzuk, Chief Executive Director at New Mexico Harm Reduction Collaborative, in recognition of outstanding leadership and dedication to the recovery community in Albuquerque.

“Addiction touches nearly every family in Albuquerque, and so does recovery,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Organizations showed up with real resources, and this community gathered for the people fighting the hardest fights. That kind of turnout doesn’t happen by accident.”

“Recovery is one of the most courageous things a person can do,” said Reina Martinez, Health, Housing and Homelessness division manager and member of the Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery Committee. “The people who came to Civic Plaza on Thursday, whether they’re in recovery or they love someone who is, understand that deeply.”

Thursday’s main event closed out a month of celebration that began with Mayor Tim Keller’s proclamation of September 2026 as Recovery Month in Albuquerque on September 1 and the Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery Art Show, which opened September 13 at the Wheels Museum and ran through September 30. Pieces created by people in recovery were available for purchase throughout the month.

Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery’s mission is to focus on acceptance, welcoming, and embracing all paths that lead to recovery while building strength in communities.

For more information about Albuquerque Celebrates Recovery, visit abqrecovery.org. For information about the City’s behavioral health and recovery programs, visit cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness or call 311.