Yuletide in Taos and Beyond

Posted November 29, 2015

Northern New Mexico is a magical place to be during the Christmas holidays! Traditions here merge and blend: Native American and Spanish customs with Santa Claus and the Grinch; farolitos and luminarias glow alongside strings of electric holiday lights and digital art projected on adobe walls.

Here is an overview of holiday events within driving distance of Taos: around the Enchanted Circle, north, south, east and west of Taos. You can always learn more at these online calendars: BeyondTaos community events, BeyondTaos Art Calendar,  LiveTaos nightly entertainment calendar.

Week of November 29 to December 5

Riverglo in Farmington
Riverglo in Farmington

Thursday-Saturday, 3rd-5th
Festival of Trees
A winter wonderland of artfully decorated Christmas trees. Teddy Bear Tea, Storytelling, Family Night
Location: Farmington Civic Center

Thursday, 3rd
Holiday on the High Road
1-4:00. The gallery/studio of artist Leigh Gusterson offers a multi-artist gift show, hot cider and cookies to start your holiday.
Location: Light Mountain Gallery, Penasco

Lighting Ledoux in Taos
Lighting Ledoux in Taos

Christmas Parade
5:45. Light Parade route runs through Historic Downtown Farmington.
Location: Main Street, Farmington

Lighting the Community Christmas Tree
5-7:00. Complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, coffee and carolers.
Location: Frontier Square/Angel Fire Visitor Center

Friday, 4th

Taos Plaza tree
Taos Plaza tree

Lighting the Christmas Tree and Electric Light Parade on Taos Plaza
4-6:00. Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the Grinch, hot chocolate, cookies, and carolers.
Location: Taos Plaza

Riverglo
6-8:00. Luminarias light up the river and evening sky while carolers and bell choirs ring in the holiday. Hot chocolate and food.
Location: Berg Park, Farmington

Saturday, 5th
Salmon Ruins Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
9-5:00. Traditional and contemporary hand-made jewelry, pottery, lapidary, ornaments, silver, and other specialty hand-crafts will be for sale.
Location: Salmon Ruins Museum, Farmington

Christmas Festival in the Mountains
11-3:00. Over 30 Vendors, Santa, Arts & Crafts, Entertainment, Food, Fun!
Location: Chama Elementary Gym, Chama

Holiday Fiesta Community Day
11-4:00. A free event for families with activities all day at the museum.
Location: Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos

Taos Community Chorus concert
3:00. Mexican Baroque: Exploring Our Past, the music of 18th Century composer, Ignacio de Jerusalem.
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Taos

Rascuache Carnival
2:00-midnight. Family fun to benefit Penasco Theatre. Youth circus performers, puppet shows, mask making, DJ Chrystalline, 2-5:00, then adult aerial artists and dancing with DJ Ginger.
Location: Taos Mesa Brewing

Lighting Ledoux
5-7:00. Museums, galleries, studios and merchants usher in the holiday season. Luminarias, farolitos, music and refreshments. See video of a past Lighting Ledoux.
Location: Ledoux Street, Taos

Projecting Particles @ The Harwood Museum of Art  
5-7:00. STEMarts LAB and The PASEO present teen-led art projection on the outside walls of the museum.
Location: Ledoux Street in Taos

San Juan College Luminarias
Display illuminates the campus with 50,000 candlelit bags. This is the largest luminaria display of a non-profit entity in New Mexico.
Location: San Juan College, Farmington

Saturday-Sunday, 5th-6th
Free Holiday Train Rides
9-3:00. Toys for Tots! Bring toy and nonperishable food item for free ride with Santa. 888-286-2737
Location: Cumbres & Toltec station in Antonito CO

Week of December 6 to 12

Santa Paws on John Dunn Walkway, sponsored by Stray Hearts
Santa Paws on John Dunn Walkway, sponsored by Stray Hearts

Sunday, 6th
Miracle on Main Street
2-6:00. Celebrate the magic of Christmas at this new holiday event: ice skating, Santa and a giant snow globe.
Location: Farmington Civic Center

Taos Community Chorus concert
3:00. Mexican Baroque: Exploring Our Past, the music of 18th Century composer, Ignacio de Jerusalem.
Location: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Taos

Friday, 11th
25th Annual Moreno Valley Toy Run Dinner
6-9:00. “Making Smiles Happen Since 1990” dinner, auction, dance.
Location: Zebs Restaurant & Bar, Angel Fire

Santa on the Cumbres & Toltex Train
Santa on the Cumbres Toltec Train

Saturday, 12th
Bonfires on Bent Street
10-7:00; reception 4-7:00. Farolitos and luminaries, food, music, Santa and more.
Location: John Dunn Shops/Bent Street, Taos

Taos Community Chorus concert
3:00. Mexican Baroque: Exploring Our Past, the music of 18th Century composer, Ignacio de Jerusalem.
Location: La Santisima Trinidad, Arroyo Seco (Taos)

Saturday-Sunday, 12-13th
Taos Chamber Music Group: A Spanish Holiday
5:00pm. Chamber music for flute, violin, cello and piano by Spanish composers.
Location: Harwood Museum Auditorium in Taos

Free Holiday Train Rides
9-3:00. Toys for Tots! Bring toy and nonperishable food item for free ride with Santa. 888-286-2737
Location: Cumbres & Toltec station in Chama

Week of December 13 to 19

Magic Flute opera, Live in HD from the Met
Magic Flute opera, Live in HD from the Met

Sunday, 13th
Taos Community Chorus concert
3:00. Mexican Baroque: Exploring Our Past, the music of 18th Century composer, Ignacio de Jerusalem.
Location: St. James Episcopal Church of Taos

SOMOS Holiday Open House
4-6:00. Poet and writer James Nave recites A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas. Refreshments.
Location: SOMOS Salon in Taos

Friday-Saturday, 18-19th
Alumbra de Questa Outdoor Christmas Crafts Market
11-8:00. Enjoy traditional holiday foods plus unique arts and crafts amid a thousand lights and hundreds of farolitos.
Location: Downtown Questa

Saturday, 19th
Opera: Met Live in HD, The Magic Flute by Mozart
11:00am. Holiday encore performance.
Location: Taos Community Auditorium, Taos

La Noche on Taos Plaza
5-8:00. Santa will make an appearance; bon fires and Mexican hot cocoa.
Location: Taos Plaza

Week of December 20 to 26

Skiing with Santa at Angel Fire
Skiing with Santa at Angel Fire

Sunday, 20th
Taos Community Chorus – Messiah Sing-Along, 3:00
Location: St. James Episcopal Church in Taos

Wednesday, 23rd
Navajo Nativity
6-8:00. Navajo Ministries presents an annual live nativity,  a Christmas tradition at Four Corners Home for Children.
Location: Farmington

Thursday, 24th

Luminaria Tour in Red River
Luminaria Tour in Red River

Fireworks and Torchlight Parade, 7:00
Location: Lift House in Red River Ski Area

Ski with Santa and Mrs. Claus all day, then head to Angel Fire Resort base area for Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks.
Location: Angel Fire Resort

Christmas Eve Procession
Bonfires and the Procession of the Virgin is a pageant of beauty, heritage. Sundown.
Location: Taos Pueblo

Christmas Eve at Picuris Pueblo
Sundown. Torchlight Procession of the Virgin Vespers. Matachina Dances.
Location: Picuris Pueblo near Penasco

Sipapu Christmas Eve Party
5-8:00. Christmas Eve with holiday music, warm fires, food & drink. Free!
Location: Sipapu Ski Resort Lodge

Christmas Eve Dinner at Elements, 4-9:00
Location: Element’s Dining Room at Angel Fire Resort Country Club

TSV Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade, 6:00
Location: Taos Ski Valley

Friday, 25th
Taos Pueblo Deer or Matachines Dance
2:00. Traditional Christmas Day dances. No cameras or cell phones.
Location: Taos Pueblo plaza

Christmas Dinner at Elements, 4-9:00
Location: Element’s Dining Room at Angel Fire Resort Country Club

Christmas Luminaria Tour
Evening. Ski or snowshoe along a three-kilometer loop
Location: Enchanted Forest X-Country Area in Red River

Panorama of Christmas Eve at Taos Pueblo by Gus Foster (poster available at gusfoster.com)
Panorama of Christmas Eve at Taos Pueblo by Gus Foster (poster available at gusfoster.com)

Week of December 27 – January 2

New Year's Eve at Red River by Ron Weathers
New Year’s Eve at Red River by Ron Weathers

Wednesday-Saturday, 30th-2nd
Year-end Renewal Retreats
3 days. New Years is an ideal time to take rest and remember what has been and envision what could be. Five retreat workshops to choose from.
Location: Ghost Ranch Retreat Center near Abiquiu

Thursday, 31st
Old Fashioned New Years Eve Party
Cake walk, pizza walk, hula hoop contest, and more! Free.
Location: Red River Community House

New Years Eve Torchlight Parade, 7:00
Location: Red River Ski Area

New Year’s Eve Dinner at Elements, 5-9:00
Location: Element’s Dining Room at Angel Fire Resort Country Club

New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade, Fireworks and Party, 6:00
Location: Angel Fire Resort

New Years Eve Celebration, 6:00
Location: On Slope at Taos Ski Valley

Friday, 1st
Turtle Dance
8-1:00. Traditional Taos Pueblo Turtle Dance marks the beginning of a new year.
Location: Taos Pueblo plaza

Calendar Resources

BeyondTaos community events
BeyondTaos Art Calendar
LiveTaos nightly entertainment calendar

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