Five Things to Do This Weekend

1 Give the gift of fine art.

One of the few group shows hosted by Blue Rain Gallery, in Santa Fe, the annual Miniature Show is a holiday celebration where artists make small paintings, up to 16" x 16", specifically for the exhibition. “Our collectors look forward to this every year,” says Leah Garcia, marketing director at the gallery. “It’s an accessible way to get into the fine art world.” Prices start at $400, and the roster of 19 artists includes Indigenous painters such as Jessie Littlebird (Laguna/Kewa Pueblo), Ryan Singer (Diné), and Helen K. Tindel (Santa Clara Pueblo), alongside locals including Erin Currier and Eric Romero. As an artist and art collector herself, Garcia says artwork makes a great gift. “If you find a piece you resonate with and holds meaning to you, it makes the gift more personal,” she says. “Art is something you live with and can enjoy day to day.” The show opens Friday with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and runs through December 9.

2 Are you listening?

Bells will be ringing in Ruidoso at the opening of Grindstone Stable’s sleigh rides. Draft horses pull the sleigh on a trip through historic Upper Canyon, giving riders a chance to make a lovely holiday memory—snow or not. (The sleighs can be fitted with wheels, so the weather won’t affect your plans.) Each sleigh is equipped with blankets, so you’re sure to have a warm and wonderful trip. The 30-minute rides start at 5:30 p.m.

3 Have fun on Black Friday.

From 2 to 7 p.m. on Friday, part of Main Street in Las Cruces shuts down to host One Huge Fiesta. The fourth annual holiday party includes Santa, games for the whole family, art stations, vendors, food, and live music by the New Mexico State University band and DJ Mike Gamboa.

4 Shop at local holiday markets. 

SWAIA Winter Indian Market
Take the family and shop a selection of works by more than 160 SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market artists at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday. An annual holiday shopping treat with a festive vibe, the market features live music, cultural performances, and a variety of mediums like jewelry, ceramics, and painting. It’s open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get tickets here.  

Holiday Art Market at the Wheelwright Museum
Buy directly from 13 Indigenous artists during the Wheelwright Museum’s sixth annual holiday market at the Case Trading Post, in Santa Fe. It’s open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and includes free admission to the museum all weekend.

Shop Local Saturday 
ArtWalk Santa Fe and Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery collaborate to create a wonderland shopping experience at the bar on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Sip hot drinks while shopping locally made goods from more than 50 vendors during the all-day holiday party filled with community and cheer.

NM Artisan Holiday Market 
A huge show of local talent, the juried NM Artisan Market at Hotel Albuquerque invites some of the best New Mexico makers of giftable hats, jewelry, paintings, photography, fashion, bath and body products, woodwork, and more. Happening since 2018, the market runs Friday through Sunday.

Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Festival
Roughly 175 fine artists from all over the country set up shop at Expo New Mexico, in Albuquerque, Friday through Sunday. The cheery atmosphere includes performances from groups such as the New Mexico Ballet Company, holiday activities for kids, and a culinary row with giftable treats. Get tickets here.

5 See merry and bright holiday lights.

River of Lights
The New Mexico BioPark Society illuminates the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden with millions of twinkly lights and elaborate holiday-themed displays during the 28th annual River of Lights. The one-mile walking path features more than 700 unique light displays—the tallest of which is a 30-foot Brachiosaurus. The merry event is open nightly through December 30 and offers other ticketed experiences like encounters with Santa and his elves, low-sensory nights, and elf workshops, where attendees can craft fun holiday decorations like wreaths.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Luces en El Rio
Head to Plaza Park, in Las Vegas, at 5 p.m. on Friday and see the city turn on holiday lights and a towering Christmas tree. Just after the lighting at 6 p.m., Luces en El Rio brightens the Gallinas Riverwalk Park with illuminated displays set along the river path. The community is encouraged to create their own displays and submit them to be part of the event. This year, the theme is Fairytale Christmas. Expect to see some favorite princesses and fairy-tale characters along the river. Luces en El Rio happens nightly through January 4.

Christmas on the Pecos
Be among the first to see the light displays along the Pecos River in Carlsbad when you hop on a boat during Christmas on the Pecos’s opening weekend. The first boats depart from Pecos River Park at 6 p.m. on Friday, taking a 45-minute trip past light-covered homes and jolly characters. Many of the rides for this weekend are already sold out, so nab your ticket here as soon as possible.

Santa Fe Plaza Holiday Lighting
On Friday, starting at 4:15 p.m., seasonal cheer comes to the historic Santa Fe Plaza with holiday lights, Santa and Mrs. Claus, farolitos lining the pathways, live musical performances, a local artists’ market, and warm food and drinks from local vendors. When the mayor turns on the lights at 6 p.m., expect a lot of oohing and aahing over the hundreds of thousands of colorful bulbs covering the plaza’s trees and surrounding structures.

Silver City Lighted Christmas Parade
On Saturday, see lit-up fire trucks and classic cars make their way down Main Street during the 35th annual holiday parade. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

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