PLAN YOUR VISIT
Come spend four days with us in Albuquerque.
Chicharra takes place across Albuquerque, bringing poetry into theaters, galleries, cultural spaces, and gathering places throughout the city. Whether you're traveling from across town or across the country, here's what you need to know to make the most of your festival weekend.
WELCOME TO THE HIGH DESERT
Chicharra happens in Albuquerque, where the high desert, big skies, and rich cultural traditions of New Mexico provide a setting unlike anywhere else. At more than 5,000 feet above sea level, Albuquerque can surprise first-time visitors: drink plenty of water, give yourself a little time to adjust to the elevation, and bring layers—March days can be beautiful and sunny while evenings turn chilly quickly. Sunscreen is a good idea year-round, too. Most of all, leave yourself some time between poems to explore the city, eat something covered in chile, look toward the mountains, and discover the place Chicharra calls home.
BETWEEN THE POEMS: A FEW PLACES WE LOVE
Chicharra will keep you busy, but we hope you'll leave a little room to explore the city we call home. Here are a few of our favorite places to find books, coffee, culture, food, and a little high-desert quiet while you're here.
Books on the Bosque — Chicharra's Literary Partner
Our friends at Books on the Bosque have built the kind of independent bookstore we love: welcoming, community-minded, proudly inclusive of LGBTQ+ readers and writers, and full of books worth getting lost in. As Chicharra's literary partner, they're also helping us build a bigger home for poetry in Albuquerque.
Coffee:
New Mexico Piñon Coffee
You can get coffee anywhere. You can't get New Mexico everywhere. Try one of Albuquerque's signature coffee flavors while you're here and take a little high-desert caffeine home with you.
Napoli Coffee & Michael Thomas Coffee
If what you're after is simply a really good cup of coffee, these are two of our favorites. Both are local Albuquerque institutions where the coffee is taken seriously and the atmosphere makes it easy to stay for another cup—or another poem.
For That New Mexico Flavor:
El Modelo Mexican Foods
An Albuquerque institution and the kind of place you might miss if nobody told you about it. El Modelo has been serving New Mexican food for generations—come hungry, order at the window, and don't be afraid of the chile.
The Original Cocina Azul — 12th & Mountain
For a sit-down New Mexican meal, Cocina Azul is one of our favorites. The original 12th & Mountain location serves the kind of red-and-green-chile comfort food that makes a pretty convincing argument for why New Mexicans are so opinionated about lunch.
A Little Bit of Albuquerque:
Old Town
If you've got an hour or two between events, wander through Old Town. Centered around Albuquerque's historic plaza, it's an easy place to explore adobe architecture, galleries, museums, shops, restaurants, and more than three centuries of the city's history. Grab something to eat, browse for a while, or just find a bench near the plaza and watch Albuquerque go by.
The Bosque
Need a little quiet between poems? Head toward the river. Albuquerque's cottonwood bosque runs along the Rio Grande and offers miles of trails beneath the trees—one of the best places in the city to walk, breathe, and remember there's a world outside the festival.
Culture & Art:
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
New Mexico is home to 19 Pueblos, and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is an extraordinary place to learn about their histories, cultures, art, and living traditions. Founded by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, the center offers exhibitions, cultural programming, Native art, and food—and is one of the places we most recommend making time for while you're here.
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Located in Albuquerque's historic Barelas neighborhood, the National Hispanic Cultural Center celebrates Hispanic, Latino, and Chicano art and culture through visual art, performance, literature, history, and education. Explore the museum and campus, catch an exhibition or event, and experience a cultural tradition deeply woven into the life and history of New Mexico.
For more great options for things to check out while you're here, visit our good friends over at Visit Albuquerque
The Host Hotel - Arrive Albuquerque
717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
ARRIVE Albuquerque, a 137 room boutique hotel Albuquerque on historic Route 66 featuring a cocktail bar, restaurant, and a relaxing pool.
Located on Central Avenue in Downtown Albuquerque, ARRIVE Albuquerque is a beautifully renovated historic hotel and neighborhood hub. Originally built in 1965 and opened as Downtowner Motor Inn, this 137-room boutique hotel is bright and comfortable, with a modern southwestern-inspired charm and all the low-key luxury ARRIVE is known for.
Featuring a year-round heated pool, valet parking, and an amazing eatery downstairs, it is also home to the Secret Gaery, one of our event spaces this year.
Chicharra guests get 15% off the best available rate by following the link below, and you don’t pay until you stay!
