New Mexico Event Calendar

New Mexico Events Calendar for 2025

Welcome to my 2025 New Mexico Event Calendar! Here’s your chance to dive into the unique festivals and events that truly reflect the vibrant spirit of the Land of Enchantment. Whether you’re into ancient Pueblo traditions, the latest in modern art, or racing horned lizards at a pie festival, there’s something here for everyone. I’m highlighting some big-name gatherings and a few quirky, lesser-known events that make New Mexico special.

I aim to keep this calendar updated at least a month in advance, so you can plan your adventures accordingly. If you stumble across any quintessential New Mexico events that should be added to the list, drop me a line at [email protected].

Be sure to check local listings and event websites as dates may be subject to change.

Happy Travels!

Mark (aka The New Mexico Travel Guy)

December 2024

November 30 – December 30, 2024: River of Lights (Albuquerque). Take a leisurely walk along our 1.6-mile trail, where you’ll encounter over 700 unique, hand-crafted light displays. Along the way, catch sight of animated and 3D sculptures, all brought to life by millions of sparkling lights. It’s New Mexico’s top pick for a walk-through holiday light show, and it just might become yours too. Here’s an article that I wrote about the River of Lights event to give you an idea of what to expect, and here’s the River of Lights event website.
December 5, 2024: Old Town Holiday Stroll (Albuquerque). Enjoy holiday shopping, live music, and the grand lighting of the Christmas tree in the heart of Albuquerque’s historic Old Town.
December 7, 2024: Ruidoso Festival of Lights Parade (Ruidoso). The Festival of Lights Parade in Ruidoso is a cherished event that gathers friends and family for an evening of sparkling lights and community spirit. Following the parade, the celebration continues at the After Party in Wingfield Park. Here’s a link to the Ruidoso Festival of Lights event website.
December 8, 2024: Las Posadas on the Plaza (Santa Fe). Las Posadas, a cherished tradition celebrated globally, depicts Mary and Joseph’s quest for lodging before Jesus’ birth. This year marks the 48th annual presentation of this historic Hispanic event, brought to life by local volunteers and participants from various northern New Mexico communities. The candle-lit procession kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe Plaza, wrapping up with festive carols and merriment. The History Museum will close at 3 p.m. to get ready for this complimentary public gathering. Arrive at the Plaza by 5:00 p.m. to prepare your candles.
December 11 – 15, 2024: Festival of the Cranes (San Antonio, NM). Held annually at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in San Antonio, New Mexico, the Festival of Cranes celebrates the migration of sandhill cranes and other birds. It features tours, workshops, and other activities for bird nerds like me. I also wrote a blog post about San Antonio and the Festival of Cranes.
December 24, 2024: Canyon Road Farolito Walk (Santa Fe): On Christmas Eve, Santa Fe’s historic Canyon Road is illuminated with farolitos (small paper lanterns), creating a magical atmosphere as visitors stroll through the art district. The event begins at sunset on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.
December 25, 2024: Luminaria Ski and Snowshoe at Enchanted Forest (Red River). Imagine spending the evening of Christmas Day (December 25th) on a short cross country ski / snowshoe trail loop that is lit up by luminarias or farolitos. It’s supposed to be an amazing experience. Reservations available for 6pm or 8pm. Here’s a link to Enchanted Forest website for more info.
December 31, 2024: Taos New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade. Ring in the New Year with a torchlight parade at Taos Ski Valley, where skiers carry torches down the mountain, followed by fireworks.
Pueblo Feast Days and Dances: Many of New Mexico’s pueblos host traditional dances and feasts during December, especially around Christmas. These events are rich in Native American culture and are open to respectful visitors. Be sure to contact the pueblo in advance to confirm event details and visitor protocols.

January 2025

January 17 – 19, 2025: Albuquerque Comic Con. The Albuquerque Comic Con is an annual pop culture convention held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, bringing together fans of comics, anime, gaming, science fiction, and fantasy.
January 29 – Feb 2, 2025: Taos Winter Wine Festival. A multi-day celebration of wine and culinary arts, featuring wine tastings, gourmet dinners, and seminars at local restaurants and Taos Ski Valley. Here’s a link to the Taos Winter Wine Festival website.

February 2025

February 1 – 2, 2025: Angel Fire Shovel Race Championships. A thrilling, snow-packed race where participants ride modified snow shovels down a ski hill, reaching high speeds in this unique winter sport. Here’s a link to the Angel Fire Shovel Race event website.
February 21 – 23, 2025: Santa Fe Film Festival. Showcasing international and independent films, this festival includes screenings, panels, and discussions with filmmakers in Santa Fe’s scenic venues. Here’s a link to the Santa Fe Film Festival event website.
February 28 – March 2, 2025: National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show. For lovers of all things spicy, this show features the hottest chili peppers, sauces, and salsas, along with BBQ demos and tastings. Here’s a link to the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show website.

March 2025

March 7, 2025: Las Cruces Cowboy Days. Experience the Wild West with rodeo events, live cowboy music, reenactments, and cowboy poetry at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum.
March 14 – 15, 2025: Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the KiMo Theater (Albuquerque). Featuring thrilling outdoor adventure films from around the world, this traveling festival lands in Albuquerque for two nights of cinematic excitement to help you plan your next outdoor adventure.

April 2025

April 24 – 26, 2025: Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. One of the largest Native American pow wows in North America, featuring traditional dancing, music, arts, and the Miss Indian World pageant. Here’s a link to the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow event website.

May 2025

June 2025

June 20 – 28, 2025: Albuquerque Flamenco Festival. A colorful celebration of flamenco dance and music, with workshops, live performances, and masterclasses from renowned flamenco artists. Here’s a link to the Albuquerque Flamenco Festival website.

July 2025

August 2025

September 2025

September 13, 2025: The 43rd Annual Pie Festival (Pie Town, NM). he Annual Pie Festival in Pie Town, New Mexico, is a beloved celebration of homemade pies, small-town charm, and community spirit. Held every September, the festival features pie-baking contests, a pie-eating competition, live music, and family-friendly activities. Visitors from all over come to sample a variety of pies and enjoy a quintessentially American experience in the heart of New Mexico’s scenic landscape. To learn more about Pie Town, here’s an article I wrote about the Pie Town and the festival.

October 2025

October 4 – 12, 2025: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The largest hot air balloon event in the world, with hundreds of balloons filling the sky each morning, evening glows, and live entertainment. Here’s a link to the Balloon Fiesta event website.

November 2025

December 2025

As you can see, there’s a wide variety of things to experience in New Mexico in 2025, so get out there and check it out.

Happy travels!