Holiday Happenings: Local Events in Valencia County

Thanksgiving Day at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church

Mass on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25, will be held at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Parishioners who attend the Mass are invited to bring bread, rolls and/or tortillas for a blessing. The offertory collection received at this Mass will be used entirely to help those in need in the community.

 

Turkey Trot 5K

The village of Los Lunas Parks and Recreation Division is sponsoring a Turkey Trot 5K beginning at 9 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Day — at Los Lunas River Park. The cost is $15. All proceeds benefit the Los Lunas High School Cross Country Team. Registration, course maps and more can be found at loslunasnm.gov.

 

Thanksgiving Day dinners

Abundant Life Christian Center, 105 Avenida Del Fuego, Rio Communities, will host a free Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 25. For information or to RSVP, call 505-864-3743.

Freedom Worship Center is hosting its annual Thanksgiving lunch from 12-3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 25, at the center, 727 Cortez St., SE, Los Lunas. The lunch is open to anyone who would like to join. To request delivery of a plate for those unable to attend, call April Mirabal at 505-508-7110.

 

Miracle on Main Street Parade in Belen

The city of Belen will hold its annual Miracle on Main Street parade at 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27, beginning on South Main Street, going north to Aragon Road. Register a float by calling 505-966-2700. To make the night extra-special, please bring toys to donate to the Belen Police Department’s Cops to Tots Toy Drive. You can drop off toys at the Heart of Belen Gazebo the night of the parade. The toy distribution will be held beginning at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Heart of Belen Gazebo.

 

Old Fashioned Christmas

The Belen Harvey House Museum is hosting an Old Fashioned Christmas with VanAnn Moore as Jenny Lind, with accompanist Gabriel Longuinhos, from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended. Call 505-861-0581 for more information.

 

Bugg Lights Museum

The Bugg Lights Museum, 513 Becker Ave., will be open during the Miracle on Main Street Parade from 5-9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 27. The museum’s regular hours are 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 5-8 p.m., Sunday.

 

Holiday Craft Fair & Yard Sale

Stop by the Thomé Dominguez Hall, 2933 N.M. 47, Tomé, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4, to pick up something special for the holidays. In addition finding a great gift for someone you love or something fun for yourself, there will be food trucks on site for a bite!

 

Christmas Electric Light Parade in Los Lunas

The village of Los Lunas will hold its annual Christmas Electric Light Parade at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4, beginning at Heritage Park and will proceed down Main Street, ending at Don Pasqual Road. This year, you the viewers of the parade, will be voting for the best floats!  More info on that to come soon.

 

La Gran Pastorela

Los Pastores de Belen will perform La Gran Pastorela at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church at 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5. It is presented entirely in Spanish. All are invited.

 

Santa is Coming to Town & Tree Lighting Ceremony

The village of Los Lunas is hosting its annual Santa is Coming to Town and Village Tree Lighting Ceremony from 6-9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10, at the Transportation Center in Los Lunas. Santa will arrive on the Railrunner at 6 p.m. and will be taking all of the kids letters to review before Christmas and giving out stockings to all kids in attendance. The tree lighting ceremony will be at 6:30 p.m. There will be free hot chocolate and cotton candy for everyone. There will also be food trucks, a rock wall and jumpers for the kids.

 

Bosque Farms Christmas Parade

The village of Bosque Farms is kicking off the Christmas season with its first ever Christmas Parade. The parade is at 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, starting on South Bosque Loop and continuing to North Bosque Loop. Everyone is welcome to participate. Throw some lights on a car, horse, tractor, motor cart, bicycle, float, Christmas queen, princess, band, clown, elf, angel or reindeer. If you would like to be part of the parade, call Sandy Baca at 505-261-7831.

 

Bosque Farms Police Toys for Tots

The Bosque Farms Police Department is accepting monetary donations for its Toys for Tots program this year. Checks and money orders are preferred; please no toy donations this year. Donations can be dropped off at the BFPD station, 1455 W. Bosque Loop through Wednesday, Dec. 15.

 

Becker Avenue Christmas Light Show

The city of Belen will hold a Christmas Light Show with more than 1 million lights on display from 5-8 p.m., Dec. 17-18, down Becker Avenue. There will be pictures with Santa Claus and The Grinch, a street dance with Black Pearl Band and Suavecito, marshmallow roast with the fire department, fireworks and dinner with Santa at Rita’s. The police department will hold its Cops to Tots event, a food drive will be held with Belen MainStreet Partnership and the Bugg Lights Museum.

 

Light up the Hub City

The city of Belen Community Preservation Department is asking residents of the Hub City to decorate their homes this holiday season as part of the second annual Light up the Hub City Contest. To enter, just decorate your home — which must be within the city limits — with lights, and the winners will be chosen on Friday, Dec. 17.

Community Preservation officers will choose three homes to win one of the 3-foot inflatables, and the department director will select the Best in Show winner to receive the grand prize, 7-foot inflatable. Each winner will get their picture on the Community Preservation Facebook page to recognize their bright holiday spirit.