1 Ring in the New Year.

NYE at Taos Ski Valley, Taos

New Year’s Eve at Taos Ski Valley means drinks, dancing, dinner, and light shows. See the mountain light up as skiers descend the runs with torches in hand during the annual torchlight parade and firework show. Dine on a prime rib buffet at Tenderfoot Katie’s, then dance the night away at the Martini Tree Bar, where DJs and Grateful Dead cover band Let It Grow perform at the annual Snow Ball.

NYE on the Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe

Fireworks, little piñon bonfires, outdoor heaters, hot chocolate, and bizcochitos keep the festive vibes high on the Santa Fe Plaza before a lit-up Zia symbol rises over the capital city at midnight. The celebration starts Sunday at 9 p.m. under the colorful display of holiday lights covering the square.

Torchlight Parade, Red River

The fireworks get going one day early at the weekly torchlight parade at Red River Ski Area on Saturday at 7 p.m. Attendees have a clear view of the lights from The Lift House, where it’s warm and toasty.

Las Cruces Chile Drop, Las Cruces

In perfect New Mexico style, Las Cruces spices up the new year when a 19-feet-high electric chile drops on the Plaza de Las Cruces at midnight. The 10th annual Chile Drop starts at 8 p.m. with a block party, food vendors, carnival games, and a live performance from The Memphis Band.

New Year’s Eve with the Opera, Albuquerque

Opera Southwest sends 2023 off with a variety show at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Albuquerque Youth Symphony and Opera Southwest’s chamber orchestra will join several of the company’s artists to sing fun opera classics. Join the performers afterward in a champagne dinner for an additional charge.

Urban Cowboy New Year’s Eve Bash, Ruidoso

Grab your cowboy hat and giddy up to Downshift Brewing Company’s Riverside location in Ruidoso for live country music on Sunday at 7 p.m. Hear from Race Ricketts, Nick Brumley, and Presley Haile before headliner Harry Luge takes the stage.

Christmas on the Pecos, Carlsbad

Start the new year off with a bang at Christmas on the Pecos. Carlsbad’s night skies will be extra bright on Sunday when fireworks explode at midnight. Look up and make a wish.

Singer Max Gomez returns to New Mexico for several special holiday shows. Photograph courtesy of Max Gomez.

2 Catch a prodigious son’s concert.

Americana folk singer and songwriter Max Gomez performs at the Taos Center for the Arts in his hometown on Thursday at 8 p.m., and at the Historic Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos on Saturday at 7 p.m. “I love coming home to Taos for the holidays, seeing friends and family, and performing amid the snowy streets,” says Gomez.

Esther Rose will join Gomez on stage, as well as other mystery guests. “Nobody knows who will be there until they step on stage,” he says. While carols like “Jingle Bells” are not on the setlist, Gomez assures us the songs will evoke the holiday season.

Seth Meyers brings his comedy act to the Lensic Performing Arts Center. Photograph courtesy of the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

3 Laugh at the Lensic.

Seth Meyers, a best-selling author, former SNL cast member, and host of NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, takes the stage at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Known for his blend of topical and observational comedy, Meyers’s stand-up will have you laughing into the new year.

A snow leopard rests in the Asia habitat at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. Photograph courtesy of ABQ BioPark Zoo.

4 Celebrate NYE at the BioPark.

Fun for the whole family, ABQ BioPark’s New Year’s Eve Before Dark celebration invites visitors to spend the last day of 2023 with the polar bears, sharks, and abundant plant life at the zoo, aquarium, and botanical gardens from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Check out this list to find animal feeding times and storytelling events.

Tranquilbuzz Coffee House hosts the Silver CIty Community Theatre's performance of “Scrooge and Marley” on Saturday. Photograph courtesy of Tranquilbuzz Coffee House.

5 Grab coffee with Scrooge.

Actors from the Silver City Community Theatre perform a 15-minute excerpt from the holiday classic A Christmas Carol at Tranquilbuzz Coffee Shop in Silver City. Catch the scene “Scrooge and Marley” on Saturday at noon.

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