9 light shows and nights · Nov 27 to Jan 3
River of Lights runs nightly Nov 28 to Jan 3 at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden, closed Dec 24 and 25. Winter Wonderland at Expo New Mexico is open 12 select nights from Nov 27 to Dec 24, and the Twinkle Light Parade comes down Central in Nob Hill on Saturday, Dec 5. On Christmas Eve, a city bus tour and a bike tour both go through Old Town and the Country Club area to see the luminarias.
River of Lights
Nightly 5–10pm, Nov 28–Jan 3; closed Dec 24–25 · ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
The 29th River of Lights is a 1.6-mile path through the Botanic Garden past more than 800 hand-welded light displays. A free Park & Ride runs from the ABQ BioPark Zoo, except on Dec 31 and Jan 1. Tickets are at riveroflights.org.
Nov 27–29, Dec 11–13, Dec 18–20 and Dec 22–24; Fri–Sat 6–10pm, other nights 6–9pm · Expo New Mexico · Fairgrounds
Walk-through holiday lights at Expo New Mexico, with a rainbow light tunnel, luminarias and festive courtyards, and no drive-through this season. Indoor mini golf is free with admission, and Santa visits from 6 to 9pm on every event night. Enter through Gate 3 at Copper and San Pedro.
Trolley of Lights
Dec 13–23, 6pm and 8pm; about 75–90 minutes · ABQ Trolley Co., from Hotel Albuquerque
The trolley rolls past the lights at Old Town Plaza, along Rio Grande Blvd. and into the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. Board at Tour ABQ in Hotel Albuquerque.
Daily 10am–6pm from Sat, Nov 28 · Big Jim Farms · North Valley Free
The farm's fourth Winter of Enchantment puts holiday lights and photo spots among vintage farm equipment, with bonfires to warm up by and farm animals to visit. Fresh trees and wreaths are on the lot too.
Twinkle Light Parade
Sat Dec 5 · 5:15pm · Central Ave, Nob Hill · Nob Hill Free
Route 66 lights up for a mile through Nob Hill, rain or shine. Central closes from 3pm, so take the free Park & Ride from the lot at the southwest corner of Lomas and University; buses run 3 to 10:30pm.
Christmas Lights & Enchilada Dinner
Sat Dec 5 · 5–7:30pm · Lantern Ridge Farm Market & Nursery · Sandia Park
An enchilada dinner at the nursery with the Christmas lights on: red chile beef, green chile cheese, Christmas chicken or green chile chicken, with Spanish rice, refried beans, chips and salsa, $18 a person. Kids' plates are $5, and so are the eggnog bread pudding and the hot chocolate bar. Reserve a spot at lanternridgemarket.com.
Thu Dec 24 · Old Town Plaza · Old Town
Old Town Plaza is set with luminarias on Christmas Eve, the night the bus and bike tours go through Old Town.
Lights & Luminaria Bike Tour
Thu Dec 24 · 5:30, 6:45 and 8pm · Routes Bicycle Tours
Routes Bicycle Tours leads a ride of about 4 to 5 miles round trip through Old Town and the Country Club neighborhood, on its festively lit bikes or your own. It's beginner-friendly, and the tour is in its 16th season.
Luminaria Tour
Thu Dec 24 · Buses at 5:30, 5:45, 6:15 and 6:30pm · ABQ RIDE, from the Downtown Convention Center · Downtown
The 60th Luminaria Tour: about 45 minutes on an ABQ RIDE bus through Old Town and the Country Club area. Tickets go on sale online only at 8am on Friday, Nov 27, and are no longer sold by phone or at the Hold My Ticket box office. Kids 12 and under are free, and parking in the Convention Center's Eastside structure is $10.
Know a display that isn't here yet? Send the organizer's post to @todayinabq on Instagram.