1 Ring in the New Year.

Las Cruces Chile Drop

In apropos New Mexican style, Las Cruces rings in the new year by dropping a massive 19-foot light-covered chile pepper over the Plaza de Las Cruces. The festivities, including live music by singer-songwriter Daniel Solis, start at 6 p.m. 

NYE Skate, Los Alamos

In Los Alamos, the county ice rink welcomes skaters with sparkling cider, popcorn, and a mini-carnival to bring in the new year. The party starts at 8 p.m. and ends with a ball drop at midnight.

Hotel Glorieta’s NYE Masquerade Party, Santa Fe

Santa Fe’s newly remodeled Hotel Glorieta throws a New Year’s Eve party in the Marigold Room performance venue. Dance the night away at the masquerade-themed bash from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with music by Adobe Disco and At_One, and enjoy a Champagne toast at midnight welcoming 2026 with fizz and fun. Tickets are $10, find them here.

NYE on the Santa Fe Plaza

Hit the holiday bedazzled Santa Fe Plaza for a community celebration presented by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe. Warm your hands over little piñon bonfires, munch on bizcochitos, sip hot chocolate, and bid farewell to 2025 with a giant sparkling Zia symbol that rises over the plaza at midnight. The party starts at 8 p.m.

Torchlight Parade at Taos Ski Valley

Skiers descend the slopes at Taos Ski Valley carrying lit torches on New Year’s Eve, creating a parade of light that welcomes 2026. The torchlight parade starts at 6 p.m. and concludes with fireworks around 6:15 p.m. Find a makers’ market with local vendors starting at 2 p.m., a prime rib buffet at Tenderfoot Katie’s, and an over-21 Snow Ball party at the Martini Tree Bar starting around 7 p.m.

State Parks’ Polar Bear Plunge and Polar Stomp, Angel Fire

The annual plunge and Polar Stomp hike at Eagle Nest Lake State Park happens at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Warm up after around a campfire with hot cocoa.

Dave & Friends Polar Bear Plunge, Farmington

Hop into the frigid waters at Lake Farmington during this January 1 plunge, which raises money for the 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue. Shed your layers and hit the water at noon.

Polar Bear Plunge at Storrie Lake State Park, Las Vegas

Brave souls dive into Storrie Lake during the annual Polar Bear Plunge, which sees folks jump from the boat dock at 11:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Park entry is free for the event.

Watch acclaimed flamenco artist La Emi perform at the Eldorado Hotel with live music and guest dancers.

2 Catch a flamenco show.

La Emi at the Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe

One of New Mexico’s most famous flamenco artists, La Emi, dances at the Eldorado Hotel in Santa Fe at 7:30 p.m. December 30–31. Vicente Griego, Armando Tovar Chuscales, Misael Barraza-Díaz, Eddie Garcia, Olivia Rojas, Janira Cordova, and Alyssa Alderete join her onstage. The New Year’s Eve performance includes a special toast. Find tickets here.

Entreflamenco Christmas Season, Santa Fe

Visit Entreflamenco in downtown Santa Fe to see performances by the in-house company, which started in Spain in 1998 and has been performing throughout Santa Fe since 2011. The company creates more than 150 shows a year with unique choreography and music. Catch the Christmas season performances through January 3. Find tickets and showtimes here.

Join a guided morning hike on the Pajarito Plateau with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center. Photograph courtesy of Pajarito Environmental Education Center.

3 Rise and hike.

Explore trails around Pajarito Plateau near Los Alamos with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center on Friday morning. The hike covers 2–3 miles during the 3-hour trip. Wear sturdy shoes, extra layers, and bring water so you can most enjoy the crisp mountain air and a nice reset after the copious amounts of cheese and chocolate you may have consumed over the holiday. Meet at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 9 a.m. to join the group.

Enjoy an intimate Elemental Concert at San Miguel Chapel, featuring cello and voice. Photograph courtesy of San Miguel Chapel.

4 Listen to an Elemental Concert.

The acoustics inside Santa Fe’s San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the country, prove that you don’t need technology to harness harmonic capacity. Visit on Friday at 6:30 p.m. to hear the 50th Elemental Concert by cellist Michael Kott and vocalist Laurianne Fiorentino. The element the compositions are based on is nickel, and tickets are $20 at the door.

Cheer on the New Mexico Lobos as they face Wyoming at The Pit. Photograph courtesy of the UNM Lobos.

5 See the Lobos play.

The University of New Mexico men’s basketball team takes on Wyoming at the Pit in Albuquerque on Saturday at 6 p.m. It’s the Lobos versus the Cowboys, so expect a true Wild West game. Get your tickets here. 

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