1 Shop local.

Power & Light Press Holiday Market

More than 25 vendors are on the menu at the 5th annual Holiday Market at Power & Light Press in Silver City on Thursday 5 to 9 p.m. “Most of our vendors are from Grant County, but we have folks from Tucson, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces too,” says Kyle Durrie, owner at Power & Light Press. “Silver City has lots of artists and markets. So, we try to be unique and offer things you don’t see around town very often, like new artists and artists who don’t show often.” The locally owned printer and boutique—which creates witty and whimsical letterpress greeting cards and gifts—is also open during the market.

Little Bear Holiday Market

The Nob Hill location of Little Bear & Wine Bar in Albuquerque hosts a holiday market on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring an eclectic and aesthetic collection of home goods, handcrafted gifts, and delicious coffee and wine. What more could a little elf want?

Los Ranchos Art Market

This Los Ranchos de Albuquerque outdoor market showcases a ton of handmade goods including bath bombs from Fizzy Bee Beauty Co., ceramics by Studio Aposto and Mission Valley Pottery, kokedamas (a method of growing a plants from a self-contained ball of moss and soil) by Moss & Stone, wallets and handbags by Geeky Magic Creations, and much more. The holiday-version of this market is this Saturday and the following Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Albuquerque Christkindlmarkt

Attend the inaugural Albuquerque Christkindlmarkt, a German-style holiday market on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Hosted by Eurozone, a shop specializing in tasty treats from European countries, the market will offer German bread, cakes, and cookies in addition to handmade German wares. Wear your most festive outfit and take a pic with Santa.

Silver City Holiday Artisan Market

More than 30 juried artists pop up at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business & Conference Center in Silver City on Saturday (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m–3 p.m.). The show is juried, meaning there’s a curated quality of works to peruse for gifts.

Hilos y Colores

Rare Andean embroidery folk arts are the focus of this pop-up sale at the International Folk Art Market Center in Santa Fe. Artists Mercedes Yauri Atusuci and Natividad Cibeli Flores Yauri, who are part of the 800-member collective Hilos y Colores in Peru, give demonstrations and sell their colorful and intricate works Thursday through Saturday.

Ledoux Street glows with bonfires and farolitos during Lighting LeDoux.

2 Make your weekend merry and bright.

Lighting LeDoux

Bonfires and farolitos light Ledoux Street during this annual holiday stroll through some of the most historic and quaint adobe buildings in downtown Taos. Local businesses—including the Harwood Museum, The Valley, Barra Vino, and Suchness—throw the festive block party where merry attendees can shop an outdoor artisan market, sip festive drinks, make art in hands-on activities, and enjoy live performances. “A highlight for me is the greeting card and ornament making, which happens in our education studio,” says Gwendolyn Fernandez, curator of education and public programs at the Harwood Museum. “It’s great to see the creative things people make for their families and friends.”

Catch an illuminated performance by modern dance group Movement Lab, participate in caroling led by the Taos Community Choir, warm your hands on little bonfires, and shop an artisan market with makers including Samantha Platero’s (Diné) Dineh jewelry, Warpzone, and others on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. “It’s just a beautiful, very northern New Mexican tradition of lighting the farolitos, coming together and celebrating this time of year,” says Fernandez. “Ledoux is such a historic street that has always been a center of art. It’s a true expression of our community.”

Los Alamos Winterfest

A North Pole workshop, breakfast with Santa, a crèche show, art exhibits and hands-on making activities, an artisan market, the Christmas tree lighting, and a Holiday Lights Parade are just the tip of the icicle when it comes to the festive offerings at Los Alamos Winterfest. The weekend-long celebration of winter and holidays features events at venues including Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos Nature Center, Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center, Los Alamos County Municipal Building, and more. 

On Saturday, the tree lighting kicks things off at the municipal building at 5:15 p.m. with hot chocolate and a spectacular display of decor on the city’s Christmas Tree. Next, head to Central Avenue to catch the parade featuring floats filled with all the glittery lights our holiday hearts desire.

Old Town Holiday Stroll

Albuquerque’s Old Town lights up during the annual inauguration of the holiday season on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The city lights its 30-foot sequoia replica tree at 6 p.m. with live performances from groups including the Sandia Singers, Baila! Baila! Dance Academy, and Something Major Acapella. Local businesses stay open late to welcome shoppers while the plaza is decked in garlands and twinkly holiday lights. Plus: The city offers shuttles from a few locations.

Riverglo

Berg Park’s Riverwalk in Farmington hosts a luminaria-lined walk during this riverside celebration of yuletide cheer on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Following the Animas River, Riverglo includes jingle bell-icious performances from local caroling ensembles including the Sacred Heart Elementary Carolers and Caliente Community Chorus. Expect twinkly lights, an appearance from Santa Claus and the Grinch with photo opportunities, a live Nativity scene, and hot chocolate and popcorn.

Electric Light Parade

Join Charlie Brown and the gang during the Peanuts-themed Electric Light Parade in Las Vegas on Saturday. It starts at Second and Baca streets at 6 p.m. and culminates at Plaza Park. Keep your eyes peeled for Snoopy among all the sparkly floats.

Ruidoso Festival of Lights Parade

A Journey of Hope and Resilience is the theme of the holiday parade in Ruidoso, where fires and flooding made for an extremely difficult 2024. On Saturday at 5:30 p.m. the Festival of Lights Parade brings a heap of glittery floats to Sudderth Drive. After the parade, attendees can head to Wingfield Park and hit the ice for some holiday skating.

Old Mesilla Christmas Tree Lighting

The Historic Mesilla Plaza hosts a holiday party and tree lighting on Friday from 5:30 pm. to 6:30 p.m. Jolly-seekers can buy hot chocolate, hot cider, lattes, and churros while watching the sparkly seasonal lights glow on Mesilla’s Christmas tree.

Las Cruces Christmas Tree Lighting

Have a very merry Saturday in Las Cruces and see the Christmas tree light for the first time on the Plaza de Las Cruces at 6 p.m. with live music and food trucks. Then, head to the Rio Grande Theater and see a special screening of The Muppets Christmas Carol at 8 p.m.

Madrid Christmas Parade

Madrid knows how to celebrate. The former mining town’s Christmas parade is known for packing a big glittery punch, despite the town’s tiny size. See it on Saturday at 4 p.m. There will be live music by Sunbender starting at 3 p.m. and resuming after the parade. On Sunday, Madrid’s Holiday Lights & Music series kicks off. Hosted by Joe West and Lori Ottino, the series brings local musicians and performers to the streets of Madrid every Saturday and Sunday in December from 2 to 5 p.m.

Young Indigenous artists, ages 5 to 17, showcase their traditional handmade works during the Native American Portal Youth Winter Show.

3 Shop next-gen artists.

Young Indigenous artists, ages 5 to 17, show their work during this holiday pop-up market at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe. Many of the participants in the Native American Portal Youth Winter Show have parents and grandparents who are part of the museum’s Native American Portal Artists program, selling their traditional handmade works under the portal at the Palace of the Governors.

“Some of these artists graduate from the youth program and end up selling under the portal, and become future committee members who oversee the program,” says Christina McCorquodale, head of education and engagement at the New Mexico History Museum. “It’s a new generation of artists.”

The winter youth show includes over 70 artists, who create paintings, jewelry, pottery, beadwork, and handmade garments set up in the museum’s lobby and Meem room. “These traditions are passed down through their ancestors,” McCorquodale says. “So, it keeps authentic traditions alive.” Expect holiday tunes serenading the event, which is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Red Rock Balloon Rally brings over 150 balloons to the pale orange canyons near Gallup. Photograph by Tim Baca.

4 Soar over Gallup.

One of the biggest ballooning events of the year, the Red Rock Balloon Rally features over 150 balloons that rise from the pale orange canyons near Gallup. Expect mass ascensions at Red Rock Park, a Balloominaria at Rio West Mall, a balloon glow in the rocks, Indigenous dances, award ceremonies, lunches, and more, Friday through Sunday.

Mariachi Christmas at the Macey Center in Socorro showcases vibrant ballet folklorico dancers, Mariachi ensembles, and traditional costumes.

5 Dance into the holidays.

Mariachi Christmas takes the stage at the Macey Center in Socorro on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The performance includes ballet folklorico dancers, Mariachi ensembles, and a rainbow of traditional costumes making the holiday celebration a feast for your eyes and ears. During intermission, attendees can shop a holiday market featuring goods by local makers, eat posole and biscochitos, and grab a drink at a cash bar. The event is curated by Norberta Fresquez, which organizes the annual Mariachi Spectacular in Albuquerque. This year, Mariachi Juvenil Aztlán and folklorico dancers from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley get the spotlight.

For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.