AS IF A GATHERING OF 200 COLORFUL HOT-AIR BALLOONS isn’t enough, the Red Rock Balloon Rally cranks up the volume with a spectacular setting in Gallup’s Red Rock Park, three days of family-friendly events, and a dash of holiday cheer. “The area we fly is so very special,” says Bill Lee, president of the Red Rock Balloon Rally Association. “Being able to fly in these magnificent canyons that have formed over millions of years and being able to explore the canyons up close makes it an incredible experience.”
Get high: Looking for the best spots to watch? Lee suggests using the Pyramid Rock and Church Rock trails to get atop the cliffs, where you can look down on the balloons and likely see them fly right overhead.
Make it a weekend: Don’t skip the Native art vendors and other special events. On Friday, Indigenous dancers perform alongside the glowing balloons. “To have those happening side by side is really special,” says Lee.
Light it up: Get in the holiday spirit with Saturday’s Christmas Parade through downtown Gallup and that evening’s Balluminaria, at Rio West Mall, which can draw up to 20,000 people.
December 2–4,
800-380-4989
Baila! Baila!'s annual holiday show will take place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Photograph courtesy of National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Mariachi Christmas, featuring the sights and sounds of Mexico during Christmas, returns this holiday season to Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque. Photograph courtesy of Popejoy Hall.
