'Mayor's Sunday is Funday' to bring new, old traditions for 20th celebration

RIO RANCHO — “The Mayor’s Sunday is Funday” is set to bring some new traditions and vendors to Haynes Park Aug. 17, when the event will mark its 20th year.

“Sunday is Funday,” scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 17, at the park, 2006 Grande Blvd., is coordinated and sponsored by Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club and numerous community organizations, according to the event’s website. Proceeds will benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico, Boy Scout Troop 714, the Rio Rancho High School Key Club, St. Felix Food Pantry and Storehouse West Inc.

“Come join the fun — that’s what it’s all about,” David Heil, Kiwanis Club president and Sunday is Funday coordinator, said in an interview. “Meet your neighbors, meet neighbors that you haven’t seen in weeks or months, meet neighbors you haven’t met before.”

Last year, the event saw 6,400 attend, according to Heil, who is hoping to best that figure this year.

Asked to reflect on the 20-year history, Heil and Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull noted “Mayor’s Sunday is Funday” could not have started without its founder, the late Anton Richard “Tony” Popper, who was a Rio Rancho Governing Body member.

“He thought the mayor should host an event where everyone could come out — kind of like a picnic,” Hull said.

The event has since transformed into an outdoor extravaganza, with more than 170 vendors and thousands of people attending, according to organizers and the event’s website.

The mayor’s kickball competition, in which Hull plans to participate, will feature nine teams.

“At 59 (years old), me getting out on a field and running around and playing with all of these kids, that’s my crazy,” Hull said with a laugh.

Last year’s champion, Awaken Church, will be defending its title against Hull’s team and others and have the responsibility of handing off the trophy to the winner.

Attendees can use the pool for free, Heil said. Besides swimming, the event will offer a fun jump and mechanical bull, he said.

Vendors will include food, business, government, political and religious groups. Almost 10 new vendors are expected to attend, according to a list provided by Heil. The newcomers will add to the majority that keep coming back, he said, and many vendors look for ways to attract attendees by decorating their booths creatively.

“They’re able to network not only with the community, but with the guy in the booth right next to them, and a lot of that develops relationships,” Heil said.

Loaded Lemon, an Albuquerque-based food truck that specializes in freshly pressed lemonade, is among the new vendors participating in this year’s event. Christopher Chavez noted that despite the name’s loaded connotations, the business’s drinks do not contain alcohol.

“On a hot, sunny day, it’s really refreshing to have something that, you know, is real and not artificial,” Chavez said. “We just try to make everything basic and say, ‘Hey, this is real lemonade with real fruit.’”

Having participated in Albuquerque’s “Summerfest,” Loaded Lemon wants to go to the “biggest and best” events, and “Sunday is Funday” appealed to Chavez.

Chavez, who is the father of a 2-year-old and another child on the way, said he supports event proceeds going to numerous community programs to “keep youth on the right path.”

Parking locations include First Baptist Church, 3906 19th Ave. SE; Intel, 1600 Rio Rancho Blvd. SE; and the University of New Mexico Health Clinic, 1790 Grande Blvd. SE. Street parking is also available where permitted.

The cost of admission to the event is $1 for everyone ages 13 and above. Kids 12 and under will be admitted for free.

For more information, visit rioranchofunday.com/.