Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival & USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships to Take Place in Albuquerque This Weekend
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – (May 5, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival will make its return to Balloon Fiesta Park on May 6-7 alongside the 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships on May 5-7. Both events will be held concurrently on May 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As the oldest Celtic Festival in New Mexico, the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival will celebrate its 35th year. The two-day celebration of the culture of the seven Celtic nations will once again feature local food and drink vendors, as well as live music with Australian-based Celtic rock band BROTHER headlining the main stage both Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, the crowd favorite Heavy Athletics competition will take place, as men and women compete in traditional Highland games such as the Caber Toss, the Scottish Hammer Throw, and Sheaf Toss. This year’s Heavy Athletics competition features Nik Aston, the very first New Mexican to become a professional in the sport.
For the first time, Albuquerque will host the 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships. Over 350 athletes will be welcomed to the city as they compete for national titles. Team and individual time trials will take place on May 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., while Road Race will be on May 6 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Sunday, May 7, the Championships will wrap up with Criterium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony. Admission that includes entry to both events is $15 at the gate. For more information, visit celtfestabq.com and usacycling.org.
About the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Association
The Rio Grande Valley Celtic Association represents the united efforts of New Mexico’s Celtic community to celebrate and foster traditional Celtic culture. Every year, the Association hosts a festival that engages Celtic dance, athletics, games, music, arts, history and oral traditions that promote Celtic heritage in New Mexico.
About USA Cycling
USA Cycling is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in the United States and oversees the disciplines of road, track, mountain bike, cyclocross, and BMX. With a mission to develop the sport of cycling in the United States at all levels and to achieve sustained international racing success, USA Cycling supports cyclists from enthusiasts just beginning in the sport to seasoned professionals.
About Visit Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Sports Commission
Visit Albuquerque is an accredited destination marketing organization (DMO), and a private, not-for-profit organization [501(c)(6)]. The mission of Visit Albuquerque is to stimulate economic growth by marketing Albuquerque as a convention and visitor destination, as well as a premier sports destination through the efforts of the Albuquerque Sports Commission (a division of Visit Albuquerque). For more information, go to www.VisitABQ.org.
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