2024 Holiday Happenings

Turkey Trot

The annual Turkey Trot 5K will be held from 8-11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 28, at the Los Lunas River Park.

Thanksgiving dinner

Join Freedom Worship Center for its 11th annual Families Feeding Families Thanksgiving dinner at 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, at 727 Cortez Road, Los Lunas. If you are unable to join in at the church because you have no transportation, the church will deliver a meal to you. Contact April at 505-508-7110 or Nicole at 505-620-2283 for a delivery. They will need to know how many people are in the home and your address. They will deliver anywhere in Valencia County.

Bosque Farms Christmas Parade & Market

The annual Bosque Farms Christmas Parade will be held beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30. Line up at 4 p.m. on the South Bosque Loop. The annual Christmas Market will be held after the parade at the Growers Market on the North Bosque Loop. To participate, call Sandy at 505-261-7831 or KayKay at 505-261-4215

Mid Century Christmas

Vintage aluminum Christmas trees from the 1960s to present will be on display from 3-6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 30; 4-6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at Studio 508 on Becker Avenue in Belen. Each tree is decorated with different ornaments from the ʼ50s, ʼ60s and ʼ70s. Reminisce in the memories past..

Los Pastores de Belen

Los Pastores de Belen presents a “Traditional Christmas Play at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 1, at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. The production is a version of the Shepherd’s play performed in New Mexico for centuries. It is performed by amateur actors, who have been presenting and keeping alive this traditional play.

Holiday luncheon

The Greater Valencia County Chamber of Commerce will hold a holiday luncheon at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Rio Communities. The cost is $20 per person. RSVP at del@belenchamber.org.

Luminaria Stroll

The University of New Mexico-Valencia campus, 280 La Entrada Road, Tomé, is holding its third annual Luminaria Stroll from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4. The free event is open to the community and there will be hot chocolate and cookies served in the SUB Café. The stroll features more than a mile of electric luminarias across campus and more than 3,000 candle luminarias. The event will also include a hot air balloon glow on the south end of the campus.

Hanging of the Wreath

The Hanging of the Wreath on the New Mexico-Valencia campus clock tower, will be held from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, at UNM-Valencia campus, 280 La Entrada Road, Tomé. The annual Luminaria Stroll and Balloon Glow will follow. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served at the UNM-Valencia SUB Café. All events are free, and all are welcome.

Winter Extravaganza

Winter Extravaganza is from 6-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 6, at the Peralta Methodist Church, at 25 Wesley Road, Peralta, to enjoy an evening with friends creating crafts for you to enjoy or share with your loved ones. You will take home one large, one medium and two small craft ideas with instructions. Call the Valencia County CES office to register at 505-565-3002. The event fee is $20 to participate and is due by Dec. 2.

Valencia County Toyz-4-Kidz Run

Join the American Legion Riders Chapter 25 of Secundino Baldonado American Legion Post 81 Belen for the 13th annual Valencia County Sheriff’s Toyz-4-Kidz Run on Saturday, Dec. 7. Registration begins at 10 a.m. in the parking lot at Lowe’s in Los Lunas. Registration is $20 or an un-wrapped toy. There will also be an optional Poker Run and 50/50. This will be a full police-escorted 50-mile ride around Valencia County, ending at Fat Sat’s Bar and Grill in Belen.

Santa in the Barn

Local craft vendors and 4-H and FFA members will have booths at the annual Santa in the Barn event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Valencia County Fairgrounds, 14 N. 1-25 Bypass, Belen. Come take pictures with Santa.

Grinch in Rio Communities

The city of Rio Communities is hosting “How the Grinch Stole Rio Communities” from 3-7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at Rio Communities City Hall 360, Rio Communities Blvd. There will be cookies, hot chocolate, door prizes, pictures with the Grinch, followed with a movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Mid Century Christmas

Vintage aluminum Christmas trees from the 1960s to present will be on display from 4-6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at Studio 508 on Becker Avenue in Belen. Each tree is decorated with different ornaments from the ʼ50s, ʼ60s and ʼ70s. Reminisce in the memories past.

Los Lunas Christmas Parade

The village of Los Lunas annual Christmas Parade will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at Heritage Park at the Valencia Y, and ending at Don Pasqual Road and Main Street.

Enchanted Holiday Concert

An Enchanted Holiday Concert will be held from 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, in the SCC Multi-Purpose Auditorium at UNM-Valencia campus, 280 La Entrada Road, Tomé, featuring several performances. Enjoy the sounds of UNM-Valencia Rio Grande Singers and a brass quintet performance. Proceeds benefit the UNM-Valencia Student Food Pantry. Tickets are $20 at the door, no pre-sales.

Santa is Coming to Town

The annual Santa Claus is Coming to Town event will be held beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, at the Los Lunas Transportation Center, 101 Courthouse Road, Los Lunas.

Miracle on Main Street

The city of Belen’s 37th annual Miracle on Main Street event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, on Becker Avenue in Belen. There will be a Christmas Craft Fair with food and music, hosted by the Belen Art League. The electric light parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Main Street and Camino del Llano.

Nativity Walk

Peralta Methodist Church, 25 Wesley Road, will hold it annual Nativity Walk from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. There will be a wide variety of nativity scenes on display for viewing. Experience the joy of Christmas.

Coats for Kids distribution

The Knights of Columbus Father J. B. Ralliere Council of Peralta will be distributing free winter coats to local children. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at San Clemente Catholic Church, 244 Luna Ave., Los Lunas. Coats will be distributed to children present at the event on a first-come, first-serve basis, and range in size from girls 4-16, and boys 4-18. The Knights of Columbus has distributed more than one million coats to children in the United States and Canada through the Coats for Kids program.

Christmas concert

A Christmas concert will be held at the Methodist Church, 75 Manzano Expressway, Rio Communities, at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. The cost is $10 at the door.

Young at Heart Choir

The Belen Harvey House Museum presents the Young at Heart Choir concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at the museum, 104 S. First St., Belen. The annual Christmas bake sale will start at 6 p.m. and they’ll have plenty of shopping at the new gift shop. A master bread baker will be selling fresh baked bread.

Christmas Cantata

Peralta Methodist Church, 25 Wesley Road, will host a Christmas Cantata at 10 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 15. The adult choir and children’s choir will present “A Star is Born.” It’s a beautiful time to hear the story of Jesus’ birth through music.

Visit with the Clauses

The Rio Communities Optimist Club invites all to come and have Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, coloring and take a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the annual visit with Santa event from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, at Rio Communities City Hall, 360 Rio Communities Blvd. Make sure your children bring their lists for Santa.

Belen Police Department’s Cops to Tots

The Belen Police Department is hosting its annual Cops to Tots event. Toy boxes will be set up in various businesses around the city. Take a water bill as proof of residency to sign up for the toy distribution at the Belen Police Department, 607 Becker Ave. The deadline to register is Friday, Dec. 6. The toys will be distributed from 5-7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, at the Belen Public Library, 333 Becker Ave., Belen.

Valencia County Sheriff’s Toyland

The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office is holding its annual Toyland event from 5:30-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20, at the Valencia County administration building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas. Sign up at the sheriff’s office through Dec. 6. Bring a PNM bill or bill with your physical address. Gifts will be given to the first 250 children. For information, call the office at 505-866-2400.

Christmas Eve

Peralta Methodist Church, 25 Wesley Road, will hold a candlelight and communion service on Christmas Eve at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 24. Christmas music, Christmas message for all and a message just for the children will be included. After celebrating Holy Communion, everyone lights a candle as “Silent Night” is sung. Everyone is invited.