Going to ABQ around Xmas time (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: school, stores, bus)

[Alacran]

What to do? What to see?
Where to go? Restuarants, hangouts, events, attractions, etc.

How cold will it be?

[karmathecat]

Start here

Albuquerque - Albuquerque New Mexico - Albuquerque NM


High 40's day/Mid 20's night, according to The Weather Channel

Average Weather for Albuquerque, NM - Temperature and Precipitation

[bongo]

I love seeing the luminarias in Old Town or up in Santa Fe on Canyon Rd. Some stores give out biscochitos & hot cider. Plus, there is usually La Posada processional during the holidays. Perhaps you'd be interested in a candlelight service at one of the churches. We come down to town that time of year just to see the lulminarias or farolitos glowing at night. They are the magic of the holidays in New Mexico!

[rwjoyak]

Also:
- River of Lights at the Biopark - 2010 Annual River of Lights - Events - Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Church of Beethoven Sunday Chamber Music Concerts, good any time of year - Church of Beethoven | Albuquerque New Mexico
- not sure if this runs over the holidays, but if so First Friday Fractals at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is a fun and fairly unique show - First Friday Fractals : FractalFoundation.org
- another way to see the luminarias - http://www.cabq.gov/transit/special-...luminaria-tour

[aries63]

For something different, various Pueblos have dances open to the public on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and some for a few days after. You can check out the schedule here:

Tribal Feast Days (http://www.newmexico.org/native_america/enjoy/feast_days.php#dec - broken link)

You can read an account of one of the celebrations here:

Christmas Eve at Acoma

[crackiswhack]

Good question - I was also wondering what Christmas was like in this part of the country. I've always been around snow during the holiday.

I keep hearing/reading about these luminarias... I Googled pictures, and it looks lovely, but (and I hate to sound like a nay-sayer) - are they really a big deal? Do people get really excited about them? Do any of you miss the traditional coldness around Christmastime (realizing, of course, that many warm climates of the world celebrate Christmas, of course!)

I am interested in experiencing the holidays around here.

[Poncho_NM]

For three centuries, the Spanish villages along the Rio Grande have been displaying their unique ‘Luminarias’: History of Luminarias

[aries63]

Average temps in December are low 24, high 48. Not cold enough? Many times I've frozen my butt off walking along Ridgecrest at night on Christmas Eve to see the luminarias in a freezing wind. We have had snow days where school has been closed as early as late October. It is not uncommon to start seeing dustings of snow on Sandia in October. That makes it feel like winter to me! If you want snow for Christmas just drive into the mountains or go up the tram. There is a small chance (I think 5-10%) of a white Christmas in ABQ. It's not because it isn't cold enough, it's because of our scarce moisture. One year (I think 2000) it dumped about a half a foot the day after Christmas. But we are headed for a La Niña pattern again which means dryer than normal.

One year we went to Old Town to hear a school group caroling in the gazebo. As they started singing it started snowing lightly, as if on cue. It was magical... with the faint smell of wood burning from a fireplace somewhere nearby.

I have taken relatives on a luminaria bus tour, and they really liked it. It's just another way New Mexico is different from the rest of the US so that was fun for them to see.

[nmguy]

Our favorite Christmas season activity is attending the reenactment of Las Posadas at the Old Church in Corrales.

Even for an old guy like me, it gives meaning to the season.

[abqsunport]

Nice link Pancho. Good snippet of history.