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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Week of December 27 – January 2
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
