ABQ Summerfest kicks off tonight in the Northeast Heights instead of its usual downtown venue.

The free event opens with live music at 5 p.m. on Wyoming Boulevard just north of Paseo del Norte.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy headlines the show wrapping up the entertainment through 10:30 p.m.

In addition to music and kids’ activities there will be an art market, food, a microbrew garden featuring local brewers and shopping.

Park is available at the North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center at Wyoming and Carmel.  Most stores at the venue will remain open with access from side streets.

Three more Summerfest events are scheduled on Route 66, downtown and on the West Side.

Sen. Martin Heinrich will tout New Mexico’s role in meeting past and future energy challenges in his first Senate floor speech on Thursday.

A statement from the senators office says the speech will be delivered at about 8:15 a.m. New Mexico time and will air on CSPAN-2, which also will stream it online.

“In his speech, Senator Heinrich will discuss the important role that New Mexico has played and will continue to play in shaping the nation’s energy future, and that our capacity to deal with many of our 21st century challenges rests heavily on our ability to make policy that is driven by facts, by data, and by science,” the statement said.

Heinrich, a Democrat and former congressman, was elected to the Senate last year succeeding Sen. Jeff Bingman, who retired.

The military and emergency first responders will be on hand Sunday at Veterans’ Memorial Park for Children’s Freedom Festival Day.

The event organized by the city of Albuquerque is free and runs from 1-4 p.m.

“I am proud of the New Mexico Veterans’ Memorial Park,” Mayor Richard J. Berry said in a statement released by his office.  “It is a beautiful place in our city that honors the many men and women who have made sacrifices for our freedom.

“This event will encourage families to visit the memorial park for the first time or give them a reason to visit the park again.”

Additional parking will be available at Kirtland Federal Credit Union, 6400 Gibson Blvd., with a shuttle service to the park.

Bernalillo County and the city of Albuquerque this afternoon announced new fire closures taking effect on Monday.

Portions of the Rio Grande Bosque and Sandia Mountains Foothills are being closed although some trails remain open.   The county is also closing open-space sites in the East Mountains.

KRQE News 13′s Emily Younger is covering this story for the 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts and for KRQE.com.

City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County:

Under the partial closure, citizens may still use the levee roads and established trails in the Bosque and Foothills. Citizens should not be off the established trails.

“The use of our citizens is part of the city’s Bosque preservation and Fire Prevention strategy.” Fire Chief James Breen said. “Limited public access maintains a human presence to report fires in the early stages, report suspicious activity and prohibited activities.”

Bernalillo County is closing the following East Mountain open space areas on Monday:

• Carlito Springs
• Ojito de San Antonio
• Sabino Canyon
• Sedillo Ridge
• Sandia Knolls

Bosque and Foothill Area Rules

• Stay on established paths and levee roads
• Use of river is allowed if access to river is accomplished through established paths and levee roads.
• Remain on alert.
• Citizens cannot access Cibola National Forest and Grasslands wilderness from city open space areas.
• Report suspicious activity to 505-242-COPS
• Report any fires or other emergencies to 911

Open Burning Ban

• Open burning has been banned in public and private outdoor areas within the municipal boundaries of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. Examples include but are not limited to:
• Open burning
• Bonfires
• Recreational fires
• Use of model rockets
• Open flame devices
• Burning may be done in an enclosed chamber devices such as cooking/outdoor grills.

More from KRQE.com:

• Statewide fire restrictions and closures »
• Wildfire news and resources »
• Submit fire and weather photos to Report It! »

The Albuquerque Film and Media Experience is going on this weekend.

The event represents creative achievement in film, music, arts and entertainment in the state.

And there are some big-time actors here for the event including Robert Redford.

The event includes films and documentaries including four world premiers and ends on Sunday.

Additional information is available on the AFME website.