KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Kirtland hosted a number of events this year to celebrate the base’s 75th anniversary. The year-long celebration is culminating in a massive All-American Festival set for Oct. 21 at Harden Field.
Master Sgt. Benito Rodriguez, head of the planning committee, said the festival is a way to thank Team Kirtland for all the hard work they did throughout the year.
“We had a very busy year,” he said. “We had some funds donated for 75th anniversary events and wanted to create a final celebration to thank the community for all of their hard work, and make sure folks know we appreciate everything they do.”
Rodriguez said there is “a lot of really cool stuff planned.” There will be two live bands and a DJ, pickup games for sports, such as volleyball and football, bouncy house for the kids, and Knockerball, a soccer hybrid where players compete in a single-chambered ball of air with inner handles and shoulder straps.
Everything is going to be free, including food and beverages. The festival kicks off at 2 p.m. and runs until about 6:30 p.m., when the party will transition to a Movie Under the Stars event. With Halloween approaching, the movie chosen is the family-friendly, animated feature Hotel Transylvania 2.
As part of the festival, there will be an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter static display and a Security Forces display. There will also be a single-elimination softball tournament, where eight teams will compete for a trophy and bragging rights. There are several slots still open for the tournament. Those with a team wishing to participate should contact Master Sgt. Raymond Sorensen at 846-8309 or Tech. Sgt. Forrest Richardson at 846-7706.
Rodriguez expects more than 1,000 people to attend the event, and said his committee is working hard to make it one of the best celebration’s the base has ever seen.
“We are going to make it really energetic,” he said. “We won’t be spread out across the entire field. We’ll be a little cozier, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The festival has been designated an alternate duty location for members of the 377th Air Base Wing and the 58th Special Operations Wing.