Belen names Al Hurricane Jr. headliner for All American Celebration

Al Hurricane Jr. will headline Belen’s All American Celebration on Saturday, June 27, giving the city a marquee act as it turns Eagle Park into a full evening outing for families, food trucks and local vendors. The free event begins at 5 p.m. at 305 Eagle Ln. and is being billed as a family-friendly Independence Day weekend celebration with music, games and fireworks.

The city scheduled the Black Pearl Band to open the live music lineup from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by Al Hurricane Jr. from 7 to 9 p.m. The evening will then move to a drone show at 9 p.m. and a fireworks display, with the large soccer field set aside as the best viewing area and overflow viewing available on the lower field. Attendees are being asked to bring blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas.

Beyond the music, Belen is using the celebration to turn Eagle Park into a gathering place that can keep people on site through the night. The lineup includes food trucks, a car show, jumpers, an obstacle course, face painting and a dance floor, all of it aimed at creating a busy park atmosphere that can benefit vendors and give local families more to do without leaving town. The event is free to the public, aside from food and vendor purchases.

The headliner gives the city a recognizable draw. Al Hurricane Jr. is widely known as one of New Mexico’s most beloved performers and is the son of Al Hurricane, the musician often called the Godfather of New Mexico music. That name carries weight in Valencia County, where a familiar regional act can help boost turnout and make the celebration feel less like a staged program and more like a destination event.

The announcement also fits into a broader push to keep Eagle Park central to community life in Belen. City parks and recreation materials say the department works with other organizations to provide new, fun, safe and organized programs and events for all ages, and the park already serves as a public recreation and events site. Belen held its 2025 All American Celebration at the same park on June 28, with live music, food trucks, games, vendors and fireworks around 9 p.m. The city also said on Feb. 3 that recent improvements at Eagle Park and the Eagle’s Nest Skatepark were supported in part by a New Mexico Quality of Life Recreation Grant, adding another layer to this year’s larger setup.