Luminaries, nutcrackers and kadomatsu: 7 events for this week

Winter is coming? Winter is here! You can learn more about the solstice at the Martha Liebert Public Library. Or check out one of these other cool events.

Got an event we should know about? Reach out to features@abqjournal.com.

Luminaries, nutcrackers and kadomatsu: 7 events for this week

Glide on over

The Wheels Museum is hosting holiday festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Guests can enjoy kids’ arts and crafts, train rides, a chance to see the museum’s new full-sized glider, a visit from Santa and more. The museum is located at 1100 Second St. SW. Visit wheelsmuseum.org for more information.

Glowing all around

Head out to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge for a “Luminaria Walk and Star Party” with The Albuquerque Astronomical Society from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. The refuge is located at 7851 Second St. SW.

On pointe

The “Nutcracker” returns to the Land of Enchantment with Festival Ballet Albuquerque’s twist on the holiday classic. Performances run 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and Sunday, Dec. 22, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth St. SW. Tickets are $14-$55, plus fees, at nhccnm.org or 505-724-4771, and Festival Ballet Albuquerque officials implore eventgoers to buy tickets from the NHCC website or phone to avoid scams from third-party sites.

Carols and lullabies

The Santa Fe Desert Chorale closes out its 2024 Winter Festival, “A Rose in Winter,” at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21, and 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Tickets start at $10 at desertchorale.org. The cathedral is located at 131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe. Read about the chorale's upcoming PBS special on W2.

Pining for you

Celebrate the Japanese tradition of kadomatsu at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. Enjoy a workshop on creating kadomatsu, the Japanese New Year’s tradition of pine and bamboo arrangements. Afterward, the works will be on display at the botanic garden through Jan. 21, 2025. The event is included in the price of admission, which starts at $5 at cabq.gov, with children 2 and under free. The botanic garden is located at 2601 Central Ave. NW.

The Night Before Christmas

Enjoy Christmas Eve with Time for Three and The Santa Fe Symphony at noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24. The concert will feature a mix of modern pop, holiday classics and more. The Lensic Performing Arts Center is located at 211 West San Francisco St., Santa Fe. Tickets start at $25 at santafesymphony.org.

Short stuff

Join the staff of the Coronado and Jemez historic sites as they teach about the shortest day of the year at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Rangers will read “The Shortest Day” by Susan Cooper and participants will make a solstice-inspired craft. The Martha Liebert Public Library is located at 124 Calle Malinche, Bernalillo.