Before I Die Festival to make stop in RR

The 6^th annual Before I Die New Mexico Festival will take place in Albuquerque October 16-21, 2023, right after the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. One of the stops is at French Funerals and Cremations on Unser Blvd.

“Before I Die Festivals provide unique and innovative ways to entertain while educating about end-of-life issues, to get people to plan for our 100% mortality rate,” said Gail Rubin, festival coordinator, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death.

The Before I Die New Mexico Festival entices baby boomers and younger generations to face their own mortality with festival events that educate and encourage planning for the inevitable. Events will take place in-person in Albuquerque and online in a Zoom meeting room, providing geographic reach beyond New Mexico. View the schedule of events here.

Events include:

• Comedy Performance: Ben Wasserman’s Live After Death show, Friday, October 20 at 7:00 p.m. at French Funerals & Cremations location at 1275 Unser Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM.
• Death Cafe Discussions: daily opportunities to discuss mortality questions in a supportive environment.
• Newly-Dead® Games: Bingo and The Game for Couples and Singles make death education an upbeat experience.
• Movie Night at the Funeral Home: feature-length films to laugh and learn about end-of-life.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours of sponsors’ locations and discussions of products and services.
• Millennial Morticians with ABQ Brews: a panel discussion at Tractor Brewing Wells Park location on Thursday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. This year’s young funeral professionals will be all women – the Femme Fatale edition!
• Mortuary Mall: a collection of funeral products and services for attendees to browse and learn taking place at Sunset Memorial Park on Wednesday, October 18.
• Murder and Mayhem Cemetery Tour: this walking tour on Saturday, October 21 at 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. features true stories of deaths of people buried at Historic Fairview Cemetery. This is a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization.
• Informative Speakers: sessions on estate and financial planning, downsizing, after-death follow-up, grief, and more.
• Virtual Audiences: Sessions with speakers will be available as hybrid events with in-person audiences and online participants, thanks to Festival sponsor Keeper. Videos will be made available after the festival.