New Mexico
What’s happening around New Mexico November 29-December 5
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Check out community events around New Mexico from November 29-December 5.
Albuquerque
- November 29 Family Friday Shop and Stroll – Bring your friends and family to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for a holiday shop and stroll event with games for kids, Pueblo Santa, photos with Santa, artists, ornament making, s’mores, hot chocolate, Pueblo pies, and more treats for everyone. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- November 29 Wreath Making Workshop – Using dried berries, gorgeous greenery, and other natural elements foraged from around Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, learn how to make a beautiful wreath infused with New Mexican touches. This event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and costs $150 per person (or $100 for inn guests).
- November 29-December 1 New Mexico Artisan Market – Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town hosts New Mexico’s premier boutique holiday shopping experience. Shop locally curated, handcrafted, artisan goods from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.
- November 29-December 1 24th Annual Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Holiday Festival – Kick off holiday shopping while supporting artists at the largest holiday art festival in New Mexico. Shoppers can find memorable and original gifts at this three-day event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10.
- November 30 Winrock Wonderland Holiday Market – From 2 to 6 p.m., visit Winrock Town Center Park for a showcase of over 80 local artisans, makers, food trucks, and live entertainment, including a special Nutcracker performance by the New Mexico Ballet.
- November 30-December 30 River of Lights – New Mexico’s largest original walk-through holiday light show runs until Dec. 30th from 5 to 10 p.m. daily.
- November 30-December 8 The Nutcracker Ballet – Kick off your holidays and experience the magic of The Nutcracker Ballet, presented in Popejoy Hall on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7 and 8. This timeless tale of wonder features stars from the New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet plus a full live orchestra from the New Mexico Philharmonic. Showtimes and ticket prices vary.
- December 2 A Drag Queen Christmas – The longest-running drag tour in America, this 10th Anniversary Tour hosted by Nina West starts at 8 p.m. with a VIP Meet & Greet starting at 6 p.m. This event is for ages 18+, with tickets starting at $45.
- December 5 Nob Hill Shop and Stroll – Started in 1995 by local Nob Hill Merchants, Shop & Stroll is intended to highlight local retailers in the Nob Hill neighborhood during the holiday season. This free event runs from 5 to 10 p.m.
- December 5-29 Winter Wonderland NM – A New Mexico favorite, Winter Wonderland NM at EXPO NM returns for the 2024 season. This event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Dates vary. Tickets start at $30.
New Mexico
- November 29 2024 Santa Fe Plaza Holiday Lighting – The City of Santa Fe’s annual Holiday Plaza Lighting ceremony will be held from 4:15-8 p.m. on The Plaza.
- November 30 MarketMusic – Listen to Baroque Christmas music from around the world from 12 to 1 p.m. Guest soprano Jennifer Perez sings works reflecting Germanic, French, Italian, and Peruvian holiday traditions at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe.
- November 30 Holiday Lighted Bike Ride – Join a guided, lighted bike ride through old Mesilla and Mesilla Park and get into the Christmas spirit. Enjoy refreshments and listen to holiday music along the 4.72-mile ride through Las Cruces from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your own bike and save $10.
- November 30 Holiday Market/Holly Day Magic Art & Craft Show – Support Roswell and small businesses to find the best goods for your holiday shopping from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a $5 entry fee.
- November 30 Christmas Light Parade – Tucumcari’s Annual Christmas Light Parade will be held on Small Business Saturday at 6 p.m. starting at Del’s Restaurant.
- November 30 Small Business Saturday and Holiday Craft Show – Visit the Eagles Club in Espanola starting at 10 a.m. Enjoy discounted breakfast from The Beast Food Truck with early bird registration.
- November 30 Stargazing/Meteor Shower Watch Party in the Caldera – Take in the majesty of the celestial sky and the Leonids meteor shower at Valles Caldera National Preserve, an International Dark Sky Park. Bring water, snacks, a red light, telescope (if you have one), and your own seating. The event starts at 7 p.m.
- November 30 101st Battle of I-10 – Watch the NMSU Aggies play the UTEP Miners in the 101st football rivalry game in Las Cruces. Tickets start at $12 and the game starts at 2 p.m.
- December 4 2024 Native Arts & Crafts Christmas Bazaar – From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the entire community is invited to attend and enjoy a day filled with beautiful artistry and cultural celebration. Get into the holiday spirit with unique, handcrafted gifts at this Farmington event.
- December 5 Adulti-Verse: Bizarre Bazaar with ArtWalk Santa Fe – Enjoy holiday shopping, crafting, and festive beverages at Meow Wolf. Tickets start at $25 for New Mexico residents. This event is for ages 21+ and starts at 6 p.m.
Albuquerque Notices
🔶 City of Albuquerque hosting series of community meetings on homelessness – The city of Albuquerque is looking to hear from the community about housing and homelessness in the metro. The city is hosting a series of community meetings called “Constructive Conversations.”
🔶 Albuquerque Environmental Health Dept. shares Thanksgiving food safety tips – With Thanksgiving this week, the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department is reminding residents to prioritize food safety. The department shared the following tips to consider when buying, preparing, and cooking Thanksgiving food.
🔶 Boots In The Park festival returning to Albuquerque with headliners Luke Combs, Cody Johnson – Country musical festival Boots In The Park is returning to Albuquerque with a new format and performers in 2025. The festival will now take place over two days, May 17 and 18, at Balloon Fiesta Park.
🔶 LIST: Free Thanksgiving meal giveaways in Albuquerque – Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and several Albuquerque community organizations have events set up to help make sure everyone has access to a holiday meal. Here, you will find a list of free meals and food giveaways happening in November 2024.
🔶 Thanksgving 2024: Which Albuquerque, Santa Fe operations are impacted? – This year, Thanksgiving falls on November 28, which means Black Friday is on November 29. Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe will have closures to observe the holiday.
🔶 Albuquerque Luminaria Tour returns for 59th year – The annual Luminaria Tour is returning for its 59th year. The popular tour takes guests through some of the most festive neighborhoods in Albuquerque, including Old Town and the Albuquerque Country Club.
🔶 Albuquerque holding annual crossing guard food drive – The annual City of Albuquerque Crossing Guard Food Drive is coming up December 2 – 10. Crossing guards at locations throughout the city will be collecting non-perishable items.
🔶 Albuquerque department sheds light on object attached to some parking meters – A recent video circulating on social media has people wondering what the devices mounted on Downtown parking meters are. As it turns out, they are nothing new.
🔶 City completes medical sobering facility at Gateway Center – The City of Albuquerque celebrated a milestone on Monday as they are preparing to open a sobering center. They hope it will address a crisis in the community while easing the burden on emergency rooms.
🔶 Prepare for busy airports and roads, Sunport says – The Albuquerque Sunport is prepping for a busy holiday week as they expect hundreds of thousands of flyers. According to airport officials, more than 170,000 people will be traveling through the airport over the next few days.
New Mexico Notices
🔶 Experts say it’s time to increase the 911 surcharge in New Mexico by 99 cents – Every New Mexican with a phone bill has been paying the same rate for 911 fees since 1989. However, on Monday, officials from the New Mexico Association of Counties say it’s time for a fee increase.
🔶 Corrales leaders warn residents about a rise in coyote attacks – A growing number of coyote attacks has Corrales city leaders warning neighbors. Additionally, some think the village needs to bolster its efforts in addressing the problem.
🔶 New Mexico receives $18.6M to help residents heat their homes during winter – The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) received $18.6 million of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help New Mexicans stay warm and safe during this winter season. LIHEAP is a federal program administered by the Health Care Authority and currently provides utility assistance to 30,219 lower-income households across the state.
🔶 Fees waived on Black Friday at New Mexico state parks – Those looking for an outdoor activity during the Thanksgiving break have a cheap option with state parks here in New Mexico. The State Energy and Mineral Department said Black Friday will be a free-use day for all 35 parks in the Land of Enchantment. However, some parks may be closed due to seasonal hours.
🔶 New Mexico providing emergency SNAP support to people impacted by flooding – The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) is providing emergency support to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers impacted by severe flooding in Chaves County and other affected areas. This assistance includes replacing lost food benefits, reissuing EBT cards, and temporarily allowing hot food purchases.
🔶 When do New Mexico, Southern Colorado ski resorts open? – Ski season is upon us and New Mexico and southern Colorado ski resorts are getting ready to welcome the public. Here is a list of area ski resorts and when they’re scheduled to open.
🔶 PODCAST: Why Are New Mexico’s Children At Risk? – When it comes to overall child well-being in New Mexico, the state ranks 50th in the nation according to a ‘Kids Count’ report. But that ranking doesn’t even include child abuse and neglect data. What sort of indicators are used to measure child welfare? And how can New Mexico move out of last place?
🔶 New Mexico Game and Fish releases video about turkey conservation – New Mexico Game and Fish is highlighting their turkey conservation efforts ahead of Turkey Day. The department said that in the 1930s, there were only about 30,000 wild turkeys left in the US. Thanks to conservation efforts, that number grew to more than 7 million by 2010, and officials hope to continue the trend.
🔶 New Mexico representative steps down to focus on health after re-election – A state representative from Milan has retired from the legislature to focus on his health. Eliseo “Lee” Alcon, a Democrat was elected to the state house in 2009, where he advocated for New Mexico veterans, the economy, and the environment.
🔶 Teen arrested for Roswell-area school threats – Roswell Independent Schools said the teenager has been arrested after they made threats against schools in the area. According to the district, they were alerted by the FBI early Friday morning of potential threats made against the schools on social media.
The McCauley Springs Fire in the Jemez Ranger District, east of Battleship Rock, is 100% contained at 712 acres.
The fire was reported on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Northern New Mexico Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT), led by Incident Commander Luke McLarty, initially managed the fire before the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3, under Incident Commander Matt Rau, took over. From June 26 to July 4, this team handled operations, after which command returned to the Jemez Ranger District. Under a Type 4 organization, firefighters worked to cool remaining hot spots and secure firelines, reaching full containment on July 13.
Although the fire is fully contained, visitors should remain aware that burned areas can present hazards. When visiting fire-affected areas, watch for changing conditions, hazard trees, unstable terrain, and other post-fire hazards. Suppression repair work may continue in some locations, and the public is asked to use caution around personnel and equipment and provide crews with plenty of space to work.
A temporary closure order for the burned area remains in place through August 11, 2026. The full order and map can be found on the Santa Fe National Forest website under Alerts. Battleship Rock, Jemez Falls Campground and Group Area, the Jemez Falls Trailhead, San Diego Overlook, and the East Fork Trail from Battleship Rock to Highway 4 will remain closed until further notice for public safety.
A multi-disciplinary Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team evaluated the burned area to identify risks to human life, property, and critical resources. Over 80% of the fire was mapped as low soil burn severity, meaning most tree canopies and ground cover remain intact, reducing the risk of erosion and runoff. About 12% of the area showed moderate burn severity, with patchy ground cover loss and some water-repellent soils. Less than 1% was classified as high burn severity, where vegetation and soil were heavily impacted. The full summary can be found on the Santa Fe National Forest website.
For Santa Fe National Forest news and updates visit our website and social media pages (Facebook and X).
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
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NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Some call the multi-million-dollar El Camino Real Heritage Center an architectural masterpiece. Others, however, call it one of New Mexico’s most expensive blunders. In 2021, former Speaker of the House Don Tripp weighed in on the project, “As far as benefit, it really didn’t have any benefit to anybody.”
Taxpayers paid more than $4,000,000 to build it, a few million dollars more to operate it and, now, a half million to tear it down.
The El Camino Real Heritage Center is a history museum dedicated to the historic ‘Royal Road of the Interior’. Established by Spanish conquistadores in 1598, the historic byway extended from Mexico City to north of Santa Fe. Armed with $4,000,000 from the state legislature and the Bureau of Land Management, consultants were hired to find the best place to build the new museum. After studying various locations, they chose a remote spot on the prairie 37 miles south of Socorro.
The experts said, ‘build halfway between Socorro and Truth or Consequences,’ and the museum will draw 100,000 visitors a year, bring in $10,000,000 to the region, and create 174 new jobs. Back in 2004, no one raised a red flag about putting a tourist attraction in an out-of-the-way location. It was only after construction was complete that officials learned the so-called experts were dead wrong. The project was doomed to fail before it even opened its doors. “Who the heck thought it was a good idea to build it where they built it?” State Rep. Gail Armstrong told KRQE News 13 last year.
The state’s newest museum opened in 2005. An estimated crowd of 2000 turned out for the dedication ceremony. Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker was there. “We had Bill Richardson out there cutting the ribbon, and then we had the Vice President of Spain come down here with his beautiful wife, and we had dignitaries everywhere. It was exciting,” Mayor Bhasker said.
But the excitement was short-lived. Where the historic El Camino Real trail was in use for three centuries, the museum with its namesake lasted just eleven years. The remote location meant few visitors, meager revenue, inadequate staffing, expensive utilities, and maintenance.
In 2016, New Mexico’s Cultural Affairs Department pulled the plug on the El Camino Real Heritage Center, padlocked the doors, and permanently closed the museum. The parking lot is deserted, tourists are gone, artifacts are packed away, display cases vacant, exhibits dismantled, interpretive panels removed, and the gift shop is bare. All there is to show for millions of tax dollars is an abandoned building on the prairie.
“Eleven years is disgraceful. There was a real failure in this particular project,” the late State Senator John Arthur Smith said in a 2021 interview. We asked the retired Senate Finance Committee Chair, when the history of this project is written, what will it say? “They’re going to shake their head and (use this as) another example of government waste,” the retired Senator Smith said in 2021.
So what do you do with a $4,000,000 deserted building in the middle of nowhere? Time and vandals have taken a toll. The museum was closed and boarded up in 2016, and then state officials abandoned the site. Because little effort was made to secure the empty building, it is no longer habitable. Copper wiring has been stolen. There is significant structural damage, mold, a rodent infestation, and no electricity or lights. Most of the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, water, and septic systems are either obsolete or inoperable.
Faced with a whopping $3.5 million repair bill, the Museum of New Mexico’s Board of Regents made the difficult decision last year to demolish the building. Board of Regent’s President, Dr. George Goldstein, calls the building, “A loss, a huge loss.”
“What a complete waste of taxpayer dollars,” says State Rep. Gail Armstrong who’s District 49 includes the museum site. And what did taxpayers get for their $4,000,000 investment? “Nothing. It just cost them a ton of money. Nothing,” Representative Armstrong said.
This week, a state-hired demolition crew began the task of tearing down the museum complex. Tons of concrete, steel, and glass will be hauled away. The parking lot and nearby caretaker’s house will also be ripped out. The prairie will be graded, reseeded with native plants, and returned to the Bureau of Land Management in restored, pristine condition. The demolition project is expected to take four months.
The El Camino Real museum was planned and built during the Governor Bill Richardson administration. All of the State Legislators involved in the funding of the museum project have since left government service.
Soon, the El Camino Real International Heritage Center will be just a bitter memory. All clues to the existence of a pricey government blunder will have been erased. Pay a visit to the remote spot south of Socorro later this fall, and all you will find will be desert creosote, prairie dogs, and a few rattlesnakes.
CLOVIS, New Mexico (KVII) — A baby giraffe was born at the Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis.
The city announced a male calf was born around 1 a.m. Thursday to Jerrica, a Rothschild giraffe who has lived at the zoo since she was born there in January 2012.
Zoo officials said Jerrica, a first-time mother, and her calf are doing well.
Baby giraffe born at the Hillcrest Park Zoo in Clovis, New Mexico on July 9, 2026 (Credit: Hillcrest Park Zoo )
The calf will make his public debut from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment you won’t want to miss! Bring your family, your camera, and your excitement as we welcome the zoo’s newest (and tallest!) superstar!” said the zoo.
Because the calf is male, he will eventually be moved from Hillcrest Park Zoo to another zoo or facility, according to the city.
The zoo plans to ask the public to help name the calf in the coming weeks.
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