Christmas in New Mexico is our favorite time of year because, each night, the state is lit by glow of farolitos. Some of our towns and cities really embrace the spirit of the season and go all out with decorations, parades, light displays, and winter activities. Here are the most enchanting places to visit this Christmas – some of our picks for the best Christmas towns in New Mexico!
- Carlsbad
Julie S./TripAdvisor Carlsbad is home to a light spectacular that you’ll never forget. Christmas on the Pecos is a major and unique event, where you view more than 100 light displays while floating down the river.
Check out the wonderful WildLights event at the Living Desert Zoo, which was named one of the best zoo lights displays in the nation! Get all the details here. Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
- Albuquerque
Michele/Flickr Duke City is magical in December. Be wowed by the River of Lights at the ABQ Biopark, marvel at the Old Town Plaza draped in decorations, or sign up for the Christmas Eve luminaria trolley tour. Albuquerque even has a giant snowman made out of tumbleweeds! Read more about all of Albuquerque’s winter festivities here. Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Los Alamos
Larry Lamsa/Flickr The town’s winter parade may come and go, but the lights around Ashley Pond keep the festive spirit alive all winter. There are plenty of winter-themed activities in Los Alamos, from outdoor ice skating to skiing at Pajarito Mountain. Check out the events calendar for all the goings-on in Los Alamos this year. Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
- Alto
Ruidoso Winter Park/Facebook Ruidoso Winter Park is technically located in Alto. It’s a winter wonderland for sure! Get into the spirit of the season with some tubing at this snowy play park. Read more about this fun and festive park here! 121 Ski Run Rd, Alto, NM 88312, USA
- Madrid
Enrique A Sanabria/Flickr In historical terms, Madrid is the ultimate New Mexican Christmas town. Back when it was a company-run, coal-mining village, its lights display was so extraordinary that airlines detoured flights to give passengers an aerial view of it. The light parade is usually in early December and on Saturdays in December, stores remain open late, and Santa comes to town so it’s a great time to take in the holiday lights while you do a little shopping. Madrid, NM 87010, USA
- Mescalero
Ski Apache/Facebook Mescalero is home to Inn of the Mountain Gods, which is always beautifully decorated for the season. Ski Apache, an epic snowy adventure slope, opens during wintertime, and there is a torchlight parade and fireworks display here to help you get into the festive spirit. Get more information about Ski Apache on its official website. Mescalero, NM 88340, USA
- Taos
Matthew/Flickr Another ski town that’s a wonderland around Christmas is Taos. The plaza is the festive hub, illuminated with Christmas lights. At Taos Pueblo, Christmas Eve is marked by mass, bonfires, and a religious-themed procession! Taos, NM 87571, USA
- Belen
Belen Harvey House Museum/Facebook Head to Belen if you’re searching for an affordable but impressive Christmas light display. The Bugg Lights at the Harvey House are free (although donations are welcomed) and it includes 200,000 lights! Read all about another Christmas lights tradition in Belen here. Belen, NM 87002, USA
- Las Cruces
James Hill/Flickr At Christmas, New Mexico State University is covered with luminarias. The university also puts on several festive events, such as a musical performance that takes place at Las Cruces Downtown Plaza. Las Cruces, NM, USA
- Angel Fire
GB_InTexas/Tripadvisor Angel Fire is bewitching in December, with a Christmas Eve torchlight parade on the slopes, followed by a fireworks display. You can even take a sleigh ride! Winter season begins December 10th. Get all the details here! Angel Fire, NM, USA
- Santa Fe
Enrique A Sanabria/Flickr The trees in Santa Fe’s plaza look like jewels when wrapped in colorful lights and you can view even more lights at Glow, a display at the botanic garden. Christmas Eve is marked by the extremely popular farolito walk along Canyon Road. Some years, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performs the Nutcracker and groups like Santa Fe Desert Chorale perform carols. Click here for an events calendar you just can’t pass up. Santa Fe, NM, USA
- Mesilla
James A. Castañeda/Flickr Mesilla Plaza is washed with warm light from the luminarias placed around it on Christmas Eve when you can usually also hear a performance by carolers. Visit the city website for an updated calendar of events! Mesilla, NM, USA
Which cities and towns do you like to visit during the holiday season? Where are your favorite light displays that shine during Christmas in New Mexico? We’ve put together this road trip to help you explore New Mexico’s lights this Christmas! What are your favorite holiday traditions? Tell us about them in the comments!
Julie S./TripAdvisor
Carlsbad is home to a light spectacular that you’ll never forget. Christmas on the Pecos is a major and unique event, where you view more than 100 light displays while floating down the river.
Check out the wonderful WildLights event at the Living Desert Zoo, which was named one of the best zoo lights displays in the nation! Get all the details here.
Carlsbad, NM 88220, USA
Michele/Flickr
Duke City is magical in December. Be wowed by the River of Lights at the ABQ Biopark, marvel at the Old Town Plaza draped in decorations, or sign up for the Christmas Eve luminaria trolley tour. Albuquerque even has a giant snowman made out of tumbleweeds! Read more about all of Albuquerque’s winter festivities here.
Albuquerque, NM, USA
Larry Lamsa/Flickr
The town’s winter parade may come and go, but the lights around Ashley Pond keep the festive spirit alive all winter. There are plenty of winter-themed activities in Los Alamos, from outdoor ice skating to skiing at Pajarito Mountain. Check out the events calendar for all the goings-on in Los Alamos this year.
Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA
Ruidoso Winter Park/Facebook
Ruidoso Winter Park is technically located in Alto. It’s a winter wonderland for sure! Get into the spirit of the season with some tubing at this snowy play park. Read more about this fun and festive park here!
121 Ski Run Rd, Alto, NM 88312, USA
Enrique A Sanabria/Flickr
In historical terms, Madrid is the ultimate New Mexican Christmas town. Back when it was a company-run, coal-mining village, its lights display was so extraordinary that airlines detoured flights to give passengers an aerial view of it. The light parade is usually in early December and on Saturdays in December, stores remain open late, and Santa comes to town so it’s a great time to take in the holiday lights while you do a little shopping.
Madrid, NM 87010, USA
Ski Apache/Facebook
Mescalero is home to Inn of the Mountain Gods, which is always beautifully decorated for the season. Ski Apache, an epic snowy adventure slope, opens during wintertime, and there is a torchlight parade and fireworks display here to help you get into the festive spirit. Get more information about Ski Apache on its official website.
Mescalero, NM 88340, USA
Matthew/Flickr
Another ski town that’s a wonderland around Christmas is Taos. The plaza is the festive hub, illuminated with Christmas lights. At Taos Pueblo, Christmas Eve is marked by mass, bonfires, and a religious-themed procession!
Taos, NM 87571, USA
Belen Harvey House Museum/Facebook
Head to Belen if you’re searching for an affordable but impressive Christmas light display. The Bugg Lights at the Harvey House are free (although donations are welcomed) and it includes 200,000 lights! Read all about another Christmas lights tradition in Belen here.
Belen, NM 87002, USA
James Hill/Flickr
At Christmas, New Mexico State University is covered with luminarias. The university also puts on several festive events, such as a musical performance that takes place at Las Cruces Downtown Plaza.
Las Cruces, NM, USA
GB_InTexas/Tripadvisor
Angel Fire is bewitching in December, with a Christmas Eve torchlight parade on the slopes, followed by a fireworks display. You can even take a sleigh ride! Winter season begins December 10th. Get all the details here!
Angel Fire, NM, USA
The trees in Santa Fe’s plaza look like jewels when wrapped in colorful lights and you can view even more lights at Glow, a display at the botanic garden. Christmas Eve is marked by the extremely popular farolito walk along Canyon Road. Some years, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performs the Nutcracker and groups like Santa Fe Desert Chorale perform carols. Click here for an events calendar you just can’t pass up.
Santa Fe, NM, USA
James A. Castañeda/Flickr
Mesilla Plaza is washed with warm light from the luminarias placed around it on Christmas Eve when you can usually also hear a performance by carolers. Visit the city website for an updated calendar of events!
Mesilla, NM, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Towns in New Mexico November 25, 2021 Tori Jane What are the best places to spend Christmas in New Mexico? New Mexico is one of those places people love visiting during the summer, but they underestimate it during the winter. Believe it or not, New Mexico goes quite the distance when it comes to Christmas and holiday festivities; some entire towns love to get in on it! Thanks to multiple cultural influences in the area, one can find all kinds of epic festivities no matter where they look. Spend the holiday in Old Town Albuquerque and fall in love with the luminaria displays, or if you prefer Santa Fe, you’ll find plenty there, too. Taos is a wonderful place to spend Christmas as well, with plenty of events and festivities (not to mention beautiful lights) to go around. In fact, Taos might be the best place to spend Christmas in New Mexico – your chances of having a white Christmas in Taos are pretty decent! What is New Mexico at Christmas like? In a word: mild! Christmases in New Mexico don’t tend to get terribly crazy; even in the higher elevations of the state, temperatures in the 30s are common and temperatures below that aren’t so much. It’s not unusual to have daytime temperatures in the 50s in many parts of the state. As for the towns and cities, Christmas is special; everyone gets a little merrier, a little kinder, a little more generous. It’s a special time of year through and through – don’t discount the magic just because New Mexico happens to be a bit more “desert” than northern states. If you’re hoping for a snowy Christmas, you can visit any one of New Mexico’s delightful towns that actually do get snow, like the aforementioned Taos or Sandia Peak. For a list of some of the best places to visit in New Mexico at Christmas (or just winter in general), check out our feature article!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Christmas Towns in New Mexico
November 25, 2021
Tori Jane
What are the best places to spend Christmas in New Mexico? New Mexico is one of those places people love visiting during the summer, but they underestimate it during the winter. Believe it or not, New Mexico goes quite the distance when it comes to Christmas and holiday festivities; some entire towns love to get in on it! Thanks to multiple cultural influences in the area, one can find all kinds of epic festivities no matter where they look. Spend the holiday in Old Town Albuquerque and fall in love with the luminaria displays, or if you prefer Santa Fe, you’ll find plenty there, too. Taos is a wonderful place to spend Christmas as well, with plenty of events and festivities (not to mention beautiful lights) to go around. In fact, Taos might be the best place to spend Christmas in New Mexico – your chances of having a white Christmas in Taos are pretty decent! What is New Mexico at Christmas like? In a word: mild! Christmases in New Mexico don’t tend to get terribly crazy; even in the higher elevations of the state, temperatures in the 30s are common and temperatures below that aren’t so much. It’s not unusual to have daytime temperatures in the 50s in many parts of the state. As for the towns and cities, Christmas is special; everyone gets a little merrier, a little kinder, a little more generous. It’s a special time of year through and through – don’t discount the magic just because New Mexico happens to be a bit more “desert” than northern states. If you’re hoping for a snowy Christmas, you can visit any one of New Mexico’s delightful towns that actually do get snow, like the aforementioned Taos or Sandia Peak. For a list of some of the best places to visit in New Mexico at Christmas (or just winter in general), check out our feature article!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Mexico is one of those places people love visiting during the summer, but they underestimate it during the winter. Believe it or not, New Mexico goes quite the distance when it comes to Christmas and holiday festivities; some entire towns love to get in on it! Thanks to multiple cultural influences in the area, one can find all kinds of epic festivities no matter where they look. Spend the holiday in Old Town Albuquerque and fall in love with the luminaria displays, or if you prefer Santa Fe, you’ll find plenty there, too. Taos is a wonderful place to spend Christmas as well, with plenty of events and festivities (not to mention beautiful lights) to go around. In fact, Taos might be the best place to spend Christmas in New Mexico – your chances of having a white Christmas in Taos are pretty decent!
What is New Mexico at Christmas like?
In a word: mild! Christmases in New Mexico don’t tend to get terribly crazy; even in the higher elevations of the state, temperatures in the 30s are common and temperatures below that aren’t so much. It’s not unusual to have daytime temperatures in the 50s in many parts of the state. As for the towns and cities, Christmas is special; everyone gets a little merrier, a little kinder, a little more generous. It’s a special time of year through and through – don’t discount the magic just because New Mexico happens to be a bit more “desert” than northern states. If you’re hoping for a snowy Christmas, you can visit any one of New Mexico’s delightful towns that actually do get snow, like the aforementioned Taos or Sandia Peak. For a list of some of the best places to visit in New Mexico at Christmas (or just winter in general), check out our feature article!
