As the holiday season approaches, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) is organizing a series of events across the state through its New Mexico Traditions program. The events are scheduled to take place in various cities, including Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, and at historic sites throughout New Mexico.
"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 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."
The planned activities include workshops, art shows, open houses, and traditional holiday strolls. In Santa Fe, residents can participate in ornament and card-making workshops at the New Mexico History Museum on December 7 and attend other events such as Holidays at the Palace and a Holiday Winter Stroll on Museum Hill.
Albuquerque will host an Old Town Holiday Stroll at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science on December 5. The National Hispanic Cultural Center will present "The Farolitos of Christmas" from December 7 to 14 and hold its second annual Luminito Celebration on December 14.
In southern New Mexico, Farm La-La will take place at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces on December 10. Alamogordo's New Mexico Museum of Space History will offer "Holiday on the Hill" on December 13.
Historic sites across New Mexico will also participate with events such as a Winter Letters and Farolito Tour at Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner on December 6 and Noche de las Luminarias at Fort Selden Historic Site on December 20. Some events have already sold out.
The NMDCA was established by legislation in 1978 to preserve and showcase New Mexico’s cultural heritage. It oversees eight museums and eight historic sites as well as arts, archaeology, historic preservation, and library programs. The department supports a $5.6 billion cultural industry in New Mexico.
