What's up this weekend? A look at what's going on around Sandoval Co. Sept. Oct. 18-20

Corrales through the lens: Photography book collects images from 'Eighteen Years in the Village'

Photographer Dennis Chamberlain has organized a book that has a minimum amount of words and a maximum amount of images. The book is titled “Eighteen Years in the Village: A Photographic Tour of Corrales, New Mexico.” Chamberlain has been living in the village for that long.

Fiesta of Cultures coming to Coronado Historic Site

BERNALILLO — The annual “Fiesta of Cultures: All Cultures of New Mexico” will be held from 1…

1. Celebrate the season with the city of Rio Rancho’s Fall Festival from 2-8 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Rancho Events Center. The day will feature live music, an arts and crafts show, pumpkin carving, Food Truck Alley, and a children’s cake walk throughout the event. There will also be a costume contest at 5 p.m. and trunk or treating from 6-8 p.m.

All events start times are subject to weather and may be canceled due to such conditions as rain, wind or lightning. Admission is free for the all-ages event. Parking and park seating space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Blankets, umbrellas and coolers are permitted. Food vendors will be on-site. No glass, outside alcoholic beverages or individual grills will be allowed. Live music starts at 2 p.m. Visitors can access City Center via Unser Boulevard/King Boulevard and Paseo del Volcan/Broadmoor Boulevard.

For more information, call the Cabezon Community Center at 505-892-4499 or 505-891-5015.

2. Dennis Chamberlain will discuss and sign copies of his book “Eighteen Years in the Village: A Photographic Tour of Corrales” at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Corrales Community Library, 84 West La Entrada.

Through the lenses of his digital Nikon cameras, Chamberlain finds beauty in a multitude of subjects — people, animals, buildings, balloons, waterways, trees and mountains — from his 18 years of living in the village.

He is president of the Corrales Arts Center, and for 10 years was the New Mexico Councilor of the Professional Photographers of America.

Chamberlain moved to Corrales from Dallas, where he had worked as a certified public accountant for about four decades.

The book can also be ordered on the website corralesartscenter.org.

3. The annual “Fiesta of Cultures: All Cultures of New Mexico” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at Coronado Historic Site.

The Fiesta of Cultures is a family-friendly event celebrating New Mexico’s diversity of cultures and will include cultural performances, live animals, a community ofrenda/offering display, kiva tours, food trucks (Manko: Native American Fusion), and local vendors who specialize in art, crafts and jewelry.

In attendance will be The Wilde Bunch Square Dancers, an LGBTQ+ square dance group from Albuquerque, Pueblo Enchantment Dancers from Acoma Pueblo, Van Hanh Vietnamese Lion Dancers, and Son Como Son Cuban (a salsa band).Also in attendance will be Llama del Sol and On a Wing and a Prayer bird rescue, who will both be conducting animal demonstrations.

The Department of Cultural Affairs’ Wonders on Wheels mobile museum will offer tours of their exhibit “Growing New Mexico/Creciendo Nuevo México.”

Admission to the Fiesta of Cultures is $10 but is free to Friends of Coronado and Jemez members, Museum of New Mexico Foundation members, Native/Tribal affiliations, disabled veterans and foster families.

For a full schedule of activities, visit media.newmexicoculture.org.

4. Michael Heralda will present “Origins of Dia De Los Muertos” at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church, 966 Old Church Road, in Corrales.

He will reveal the foundation, ancient concepts and beliefs regarding this topic from an indigenous perspective. The stories will explore indigenous philosophical concepts with the goal of having a greater appreciation and understanding of the ancient and personal ceremony.

The presentation is timed to precede the actual contemporary dates of the celebration (Nov. 1-2) to assist those interested in preparing an offering/ofrenda at home honoring their departed loved ones. Attendees will also see and hear some indigenous instruments.

The event is free and open to the public with seating limited to 150 people. No saving of seats will be allowed.

5. Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center is offering a low-cost vaccination/microchip clinic for the general public from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Cottonwood Mall. Appointments and prepayment of the services are required. Refunds will only be granted with 48 hours notice of cancellation.

This is a drive-up clinic; pets are to remain contained in the vehicle until vaccinations are ready to be given. All dogs must be human-friendly and must be on a leash. Felines must be human-friendly and in an appropriate carrier. Muzzles cannot be used.

Available dog vaccinations are DA2PP, one-year rabies, three-year rabies and a microchip that includes registration. Feline vaccinations include FVRCP, one-year rabies, three-year rabies and a microchip that includes registration. There is a discount for bundled vaccinations.

For more information, contact Sara Heffern at sarawmr@aol.com or 505-267-6983.