7 Christmas Towns In New Mexico That Will Fill Your Heart With Holiday Cheer
By Melissa Mahoney|Published November 07, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Where do you enjoy spending the holiday season in New Mexico? When the season arrives, a whole new world of festivities opens up to bring us some holiday cheer. And, for that, we are lucky. One of the best ways to get into the spirit of the season is to visit one of the best Christmas towns in New Mexico. Check out the map below and see what towns offer the best in terms of holiday cheer.
Make your holidays merry and bright with a trip to Albuquerque! From its annual River of Lights event to holiday markets, trolley tours to see the lights, the Annual Luminaria Tour, and more, the city is full of Christmas spirit.
Take a stroll through Taos Plaza during the holidays and you'll be dazzled by the twinkling light displays. And be sure to head to Taos Pueblo on Christmas Eve to check out the ceremonial procession and bonfire. It's one of the most unique events around the state. There's no doubt in my mind that Taos is one of the best Christmas towns in New Mexico.
Santa Fe is a magical place to visit no matter what time of year but especially so during the winter months. During the holidays, the city turns into a winter wonderland complete with candlelight caroling, Christmas light displays, and more. Chances are also good that you can experience a white Christmas here in Santa Fe!
Christmas on the Pecos is perhaps the best holiday event in Carlsbad. Tour the river by boat and enjoy all of the light displays along the way. This one-of-a-kind light show on the river cannot be missed!
There's something quite magical about seeing all of the luminaria placed around Mesilla Plaza on Christmas Eve. Stroll around the plaza and take it all in. While here, you can spend time shopping at Tis the Season de Mesilla in nearby Las Cruces.
Held annually in Los Alamos, WinterFest is a weekend-long celebration to kick off the holiday season in early December. With a light parade and events held throughout town, you'll get into the spirit of the season in no time!
If there's one thing that the Christmas town of Madrid is known for having some of the best light displays in New Mexico. In fact, an airline used to reroute its planes to fly over Madrid so that passengers could see the lights from above. One thing's for sure -- Madrid is a must-visit town for holiday lights!
What are your favorite Christmas towns in New Mexico? Let us know if any of your favorites made the list!
