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Holiday adventures in Albuquerque: From River of Lights interactive museums this guide will help you through Christmas break
Light sculptures illuminate the night at the River of Lights in the ABQ BioPark Botanic Gardens 2601 Central NW on Dec. 7, 2023.
Winter break starts this week, and if you need to get out of the house or have out-of-town family visiting to entertain, here is a list of low- to no-cost events to attend, parks to visit and holiday activities to enjoy as a family this festive season.
City's Winter Break programs
The city of Albuquerque is offering winter break programs at community centers across the city. These programs aim to provide kids with enrichment activities and field trips, helping parents who work during the day. Special activities include ice skating, ABQ BioPark field trips and cookie decorating. Lunch and a snack is provided.
DATES: Weekdays, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2024
AGES: 5-15
COST: $10
LOCATION: Find the community center closest to you here.
Museums
Dinosaurs and space in a single afternoon
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a low-cost activity for the whole family.
LOCATION: Located at 1801 Mountain NW
HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day but Tuesday.
COST:
$8 for adults
$7 for youth aged 13-17
$5 for children aged 3-12
toddlers 2 and under are free.
Explora
Visit the Library
This museum offers hands-on interactive sensory activities that the whole family can enjoy. The space has more than 250 exhibits and activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math. The museum will host its New Year's celebration, "Noon Year's Eve" 10 a.m.-2:00p.m. on Dec. 31.
LOCATION: 1701 Mountain Road NW, 505-600-6072
HOURS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; Monday Toddler Time 9-11 a.m.
EVENT ADMISSION: Tickets to the "Noon Year's Eve" celebration must be purchased in advance.
Adults: $11
Children: $7
Seniors, Students and Military: $8
Infants: Free
Explora Members: Free
GENERAL ADMISSION COST:
Adults: $11 (12-64)
Children: $7 (1-11)
Infants: Free
Explora Members: Free
The public library has events throughout the month such as arts and crafts, movies, a LEGO club, letters to Santa, family story times and even a printing press Demonstration.
There are almost 20 library locations across the city, find the one closest to your house here.
The ABQ BioPark Aquarium and Botanic Gardens
Adjacent to the ABQ BioPark Zoo, the aquarium and gardens is hosting the River of Lights event through Dec. 30.
The gardens are decked out in more than 800 beautiful light displays ranging for dinosaurs to a unicorn pulling a pumpkin carriage.
River of Lights
LOCATION: 2601 Central SW
HOURS: 5-10 p.m. Daily
Monday-Thursday:
$14 Adults
$7 Children, ages 3-12
Friday-Sunday:
Adult: $17
Child (age 3-12): $9
General Admission:
Adults - $10 New Mexico Residents, $14.50 Non-Residents
Seniors (65+) - $5.50 New Mexico Residents, $7.50 Non-Residents
Youth (3-12) - $5 New Mexico Residents, $6 Non-Residents
Children (2 and under) and Members - Free
Aquarium/Botanic Garden and Zoo Combo Ticket
Adults - $16 (New Mexico Residents*), $22 (Non-Residents)
Seniors (65+) - $9 (New Mexico Residents*), $12(Non-Residents)
Youth (3-12) - $7 (New Mexico Residents*), $8 (Non-Residents)
Children (2 and under) - Free
Albuquerque Museum
Walk through the exhibitions of art and history, as well as world-traveling exhibits and community curated exhibits.
LOCATION: 2000 Mountain NW, 505-243-7255
HOURS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; closed Monday
COST: Free every first Wednesday of the month and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Sunday
Other days:
Adults out-of-state: $6
Adults in-state: $5
seniors 65+: $4
children ages 4-12: $3
children 3 and under: free
Outdoors
Parks and hikes
When in doubt, don't overthink it. Albuquerque and the surrounding area have plenty of parks and hikes available for free to families looking to get outside.
Rio Rancho's A Park Above
boasts that it's "the first fully-inclusive and accessible playground in New Mexico," with all sorts of seriously accessible features (like a hill with an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp, outdoor musical instruments, adaptive swings and wheelchair swings, to name a few).
LOCATION: 2441 A Park Above Court off of Westside Boulevard.
Tingley Beach
offers lakes, which are open year-round and have free catch-and-release fishing areas in multiple ponds. There is a children's pond available to kids 12 and under. Those over the age of 12 wishing to fish are required to have a New Mexico fishing license.
LOCATION: 1800 Tingley SW.
Petroglyph National Monument
is an open-air museum featuring more than 20,000 ancient images of people, animals and other designs, carved into the black rock of the Rio Grande Valley. Check the National Park Service website for details on parking fees at various parking lots.
Sledding
LOCATION: Western Trail NW
It's time to enjoy this winter classic, as snow has filled the Sandia mountains.
Capulin Snow Play Site is just about 40 minutes past Albuquerque on the way to the Crest.
COST: $3 entry fee
DIRECTIONS:
From Interstate 40 and Exit 175, drive toward Cedar Crest on NM-14. Follow NM-14 — also known as the Turquoise Trail — for about 6.5 miles, to NM-536, also known as the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway. Turn onto NM-536. Capulin Snow Play site is approximately 8 miles up NM 536, about 1.5 miles past the base of the Sandia Peak Ski area. The entrance is on your right.
If the gate is locked, the site is closed.
Cut Down your own Christmas tree
Whether you are looking for a new family tradition, or have been cutting down the holiday tree for years, now is the time to get your permit. If you have a fourth grader in your family, they are eligible for a free permit through the Every Kid Outdoors initiative, which aims to connect kids with nature.
Cheap and free eats
LOCATION: Magdalena, Mountainair and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts
DATES: Nov. 23 through Dec. 31.
COST:$10 for a 10-foot tree, $12 for a 12-foot tree and $15 for a 15-foot tree
Just looking for somewhere to take your kids out to eat without breaking the bank? Local website ABQ Mom Offers a round-up of deals from Albuquerque eateries.
Restaurants featured include:
Christy Mae's Restaurant, 1400 San Pedro NE, which offers kids age 9 and younger a meal with a drink for $1.99 with an adult entree purchase
Tomato Café, 7900 San Pedro NE, which gives kids 2 and under free meals with the purchase of an adult meal
Tucanos Brazilian Grill, 110 Central SW, where kids 6 and under eat free with a paying adult.
