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Abiquiu and New Mexico Events - December 2026
December in northern New Mexico is about light: farolitos along the walls, small bonfires on the hillsides, and the coldest, clearest skies of the year. Abiquiu has no fixed December programme of its own, and the region's Christmas traditions are in Santa Fe, Taos and the pueblos - all worth the drive. The month's dated entries are below, each with the source we checked.
What is on in December
Santa Fe Farolito Walk
Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026, from dusk
The Christmas Eve walk along Canyon Road in Santa Fe, when thousands of farolitos are lit along the adobe walls and the galleries stay open late. It is a tradition rather than a ticketed event and it has no fixed published hours: the lights go on at dusk, and the sources disagree about when the evening winds down, so we print no closing time. Confirm the arrangements locally before you set out.
Where: Canyon Road, Santa Fe
Tickets: Not ticketed
Sources: SantaFe.com on the Canyon Road Farolito Walk - checked 16 October 2026, showing the walk "every Christmas Eve", beginning at sundown
Christmas Day (federal holiday)
Friday 25 December 2026
A federal holiday and, in northern New Mexico, the quietest day of the year. Federal offices close and most shops in Española and Santa Fe close with them; if you are self-catering in the village, buy fuel and food the day before.
Where: New Mexico-wide
Tickets: Not ticketed
Sources: US Office of Personnel Management, 2026 holiday schedule - checked 15 October 2026
New Year's Eve
Thursday 31 December 2026
The last night of the year, and the start of a long weekend: 1 January falls on a Friday. No organised village programme had been published when we checked, so treat this as the date rather than an event. Santa Fe and Albuquerque list their own New Year programmes closer to the night, and restaurants that open for it are usually booked out days in advance.
Where: Northern New Mexico
Tickets: Varies by venue
Sources: US Office of Personnel Management, 2027 holiday schedule (the following day is a holiday) - checked 15 October 2026
Los Alamos New Year's Eve Skate
Thursday 31 December 2026, 8pm to 12.30am
Los Alamos County's New Year's Eve skate party at the county ice rink runs through to half past midnight, with a mini carnival alongside the skating and hot cider, popcorn and music to see in 2027. It is a family night at the rink rather than a street party, and general admission applies - this is the paid county rink session rather than a free open house.
Where: Los Alamos County Ice Rink, 4475 West Road, Los Alamos
Tickets: Paid - general admission applies
Sources: Los Alamos County (organiser) - checked 16 October 2026, showing Thursday, December 31, 2026, 08:00 PM to Friday, January 01, 2027, 12:30 AM
Usually on in DecemberBeyond those, the pueblos of the northern Rio Grande mark Christmas with their own dances. These are religious occasions with visitor rules of their own: check with each pueblo before travelling, and never photograph where it is not invited. For everything else, the region's civic programmes are published in mid-December. The state tourism office event list carries them as they are announced.
Plaza Blanca Guide -
How To Get Here -
Events calendar - Unofficial guide. Not associated in any way with the Dar Al Islam
Center or Georgia O'Keeffe's estate
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