NMDCA News:

SANTA FE — As temperatures drop and days get ever shorter, it’s a sure sign that the holidays are just around the corner. To help New Mexicans get ready for the festivities, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs has put together a slate of seasonal events from Santa Fe to Mesilla through the New Mexico Traditions program. 

“From the farolitos of the north to the celebrations in the south, our state’s holiday customs are a testament to the enduring spirit of our people,” said New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego. “We invite everyone to experience the magic of our cultural institutions as we honor the past and look forward to the new year.” 

An overview of upcoming New Mexico Traditions events is available below. Please visit nmculture.org/traditions to learn more about events you! 

Santa Fe 

• 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7: Ornament and Card-making Workshop at the New Mexico History Museum (113 Lincoln Ave.). 
• 5:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12: Holidays at the Palace at the New Mexico History Museum. 
• 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13 – Sunday, Dec. 14: Native American Artisans Portal Program Winter Youth Show & Sale (Santa Fe Plaza). 
• 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13: Annual Holiday Open House at New Mexico Museum of Art (107 W Palace Ave.). 
• Saturday, Dec. 13: Holiday Winter Stroll on Museum Hill (On Museum Hill, 706 Camino Lejo). 

Albuquerque 

• 5–9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5: Old Town Holiday Stroll at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (1801 Mountain Rd. NW). 
• Dec. 7–14, showtimes vary: The Farolitos of Christmas at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 4th Street SW). 
• 5:30–8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14: 2nd Annual Luminito Celebration at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. 

Las Cruces and Alamogordo 

• 5–8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10: Farm La-La at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. 
• 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13: Holiday on the Hill at the New Mexico Museum of Space History (3198 State Rte. 2001, Alamogordo). 

New Mexico Historic Sites (Throughout New Mexico) 

• 5–9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6: Winter Letters and Farolito Tour at Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner (3647 Billy the Kid Drive, Fort Sumner) 
• 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7.: Winter Native Art Market at Coronado Historic Site (485 Kuaua Rd, Bernalillo). 
• 5–9 p.m., Friday Dec. 12–Saturday, Dec. 13: Lights of Gisewa at Jemez Historic Site (18160 NM-4, Jemez Springs). Note: this event is sold out. 
• 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Dec. 13, 14, 20, and 21: Nacimientos/Nativities Open Houses at Taylor-Mesilla Historic Site (2350 Calle Principal, Mesilla). 
• 5–9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20: Noche de las Luminarias at Fort Selden Historic Site (1280 Fort Selden Rd., Radium Springs). 

About New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs

Created in 1978 by the New Mexico Legislature, the Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is New Mexico’s cultural steward, charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, eight historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs, NMDCA is one of the largest and most diverse state cultural agencies in the nation. Together, the facilities, programs, and services of the Department support a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.