1 Get down with holiday shows. 

Mariachi Christmas, Socorro
Celebrate the holidays in Socorro at this performance that has become a New Mexican tradition, bringing Mexican dance and music to local stages for more than two decades. Expect mariachi songs, vibrant costumes, and ballet folklórico at the Macey Center on the New Mexico Tech campus. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., but get there earlier: Starting at 5:30 p.m., the college hosts Venta de Navidad, a holiday market with a cash bar, posole, and bizcochitos.

Nutcracker in the Land of Enchantment, Albuquerque 
The season’s classic ballet with songs by Tchaikovsky gets a New Mexican spin at this annual performance at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Featuring beloved local characters like Zozobra and Mr. Coyote, the Christmas ballet will make New Mexicans feel a kinship with the show. Catch it at 7 p.m. all three evenings, or at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday Pops, Albuquerque
Hear your favorite tunes performed by members of the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque. The beloved concert features classic songs, tunes from the Nutcracker, and the world-class talent of the philharmonic’s musicians and guest conductor Jamie Reeves, who has conducted at renowned venues like the Hollywood Bowl and is the music director at the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. The show is Saturday at 6 p.m. Find tickets here.   

A Christmas Carol, Santa Fe
Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol comes to life as actors from the Upstart Crows of Santa Fe do dramatic readings of the story in costume, alongside a Victorian-style Christmas tea served at the performances. Take advantage of multiple chances to see it this weekend at the Universal Unitarian Church in Santa Fe. Find tickets here.

A Retro Nutcracker, Taos
The Nutcracker gets a 1950s treatment in Taos, presented by Ballet Taos. Along with all the classic Tchaikovsky compositions, expect characters like Elvis Presley to take the stage at the Taos Center for the Arts. Choose from performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Find tickets here.

Holiday Flamenco, Santa Fe
Christmas carols and flamenco footwork combine in this holiday presentation by the Compañía Chuscales & Mina Fajardo. Performing at Teatro Paraguas in Santa Fe, the Holiday in Santa Fe shows feature songs such as “Silent Night” and “Carol of the Bells” reimagined through the lens of flamenco. Check out performances through the next two weekends. 

See "Makowa: The Worlds Above Us" at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture during the Winter Solstice celebration. Photograph courtesy of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

2 Celebrate the solstice. 

Winter Solstice Celebration on Museum Hill, Santa Fe
Rise and shine on Sunday to seize the shortest day of the year with the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture on Museum Hill in Santa Fe. Starting at 7 a.m., the solstice event includes a sunrise bird-watching session, a tour of the current Makowa: The Worlds Above Us exhibition, storytelling by Sunny Dooley (Diné), a bird feeder making workshop, performances by the Sky City Buffalo-Ram Dance Group from Acoma Pueblo, and more. Find tickets and a full schedule here.

Winter Solstice Observation, Aztec Ruins National Monument
Arrive at Aztec Ruins by 4 p.m. on Monday to see the sunset alignment on the north wall of the great house site, which happens at sunrise on the summer solstice, and sunset on the winter solstice. Built more than 900 years ago by Ancestral Puebloans, the site is a testament to a deep Indigenous understanding of the cosmos. The event is led by site rangers, who can answer questions and speak to the significance behind the architecture, which was built to capture the magic of the movement of planetary bodies.

Make everyone on your gift list smile with something from the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair in Farmington. Photograph courtesy of the Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair.

3 Shop local at the last minute.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, Farmington
If you’re still checking items off your gifting list, you’re in luck—this market in Farmington features makers from all around the Four Corners region who bring a diverse collection of giftable items, ornaments, and holiday-themed goods. Find the fair at the Farmington Museum & Visitor Center on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holiday Pottery Market, Las Cruces
Shop ceramics made by 17 members of the Potters’ Guild at Gallery 925 this weekend during the final days of the guild’s Holiday Pottery Market. “The things these potters have made are so unique,” says Diane Alire, owner of Gallery 925. “It’s so much more than just cups and bowls. There are incredible ornaments, vases, and sculpture—it’s an absolutely wonderful show.” With prices ranging from $10 to $150, the works are also budget-friendly. Potters are on-site throughout the weekend, ready to answer questions about techniques and the inspirations behind the works. The gallery is open Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stroll the Santa Fe Bontanical Garden's La Luz de las Noches. Photograph courtesy of the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

4 Bask in the glow. 

La Luz de las Noches, Santa Fe
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden is a cheery sight during La Luz de las Noches, a holiday event open in the evenings from Thursday through December 31. Thousands of sparkling lights and lines of farolitos illuminate the grounds, which visitors can experience alongside boozy sips from As Above So Below, festive bites by Nunez Catering, and live music by different performers each night. See the Jacob Shije Trio on Friday, Santa and carolers on Saturday, and the Young Voices of the Santa Fe Opera on December 22. The holiday celebration is open from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. nightly, except on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Get tickets here.

Parade of Lights Cruise, Santa Fe
The streets of downtown Santa Fe will be filled with light-strewn cars of all kinds on Saturday during the second annual Parade of Lights Cruise. Starting at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi, the cruise will feature lowriders, vintage rides, and floats decked out in sparkly holiday lights and decor.

Felix y Los Gatos performs as part of the Community Las Posadas at FUSION in Albuquerque. Photograph courtesy of Felix y Los Gatos.

5 Seek room—and music—at the inn.

Las Posadas, which means “the inns” in Spanish, is a tradition celebrated in communities throughout New Mexico wherein public processions reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter on their journey to Bethlehem. On Saturday, the New Mexico Youth Arts Ambassadors re-create the ritual at FUSION in Albuquerque with a Community Las Posadas. Starting at 5 p.m., the free evening includes a procession, crafting, holiday treats, and live music from Felix y Los Gatos, Al Hurricane Jr., and Keith Sanchez.

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