Explore Beyond the Festival
Make the most of your Festival visit with special events, local celebrations, arts and culture, and some of central New Mexico’s most fascinating destinations.Photo by Frank Hatcher
Happening During the Festival
Festival of Quilts
Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Get into the holiday spirit at the 2026 Festival of Quilts, presented by the Fiber Arts Guild of Socorro County! Enjoy a cozy day surrounded by beautiful handmade quilts in the lovely setting of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, live music from Noon to 4 PM, and light refreshments.
Nomad Ensemble
Friday, December 4, 2026 | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Pieces for flute, violin, viola, and piano, each half ending with the full quartet. Among the pieces will be three fantastic works by women composers, Mel Bonis, Tatiana Nikolayeva, and Ester Mägi. Nomad Ensembles are curated by Socorro’s own Eric Sewell for the NM Tech Presidential Chamber and World Music Series.
Bird Trivia
Friday, December 4 | 7:00 pm– 8:30 pm
Think you know your birds? Want to test your bird nerdiness?
Join Friends of Bosque del Apache along with birding expert Holly Merker and Socorro’s local bird nerd Amy “Birds” Erickson for a night of Bird Trivia at the Capitol Bar and Brewery.
Return of the Cranes Arts, Crafts & Music Fair
December 4 - 6, 2026
Celebrate the Return of the Cranes with a weekend full of local art, handmade crafts, and live music—all at the historic Garcia Opera House in downtown Socorro! Friday and Saturday, December 4 – 5, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 6, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Luminarias on the Plaza
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Enjoy Christmas in Socorro with the Annual Luminarias on the Plaza! The City of Socorro and Socorro County Arts come together each year to embrace the Christmas spirit. In a spectacular art stroll, members of the Socorro County Arts display their arts and crafts in shops around the beautiful Historic Plaza.
Socorro Fire Department Matanza
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Join us for the Matanza Fundraiser hosted by the Socorro Fire Department! Enjoy a delicious meal—tickets are just $10 per plate—and support a great cause! All proceeds go toward holiday shopping to benefit local children, helping bring a little extra joy to Socorro families this season.
Holiday Electric Light Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2026
Mark your calendars for one of our favorite holiday traditions the Socorro Holiday Light Parade! Bring your family, friends, and holiday cheer to enjoy a magical evening full of lights, music, and community spirit on the streets of Socorro
Festival of the Crayons
November 28 - December 12, 2026
Come see the Whooping Crayon at this one of a kind, whimsical art installation in Socorro.
306 School of Mines Rd
Socorro, NM
December 6 – 20, 2025
Stay a little longer.
There’s plenty to discover around Socorro.
New Mexico Mineral Museum
New Mexico Tech Campus | Socorro, New Mexico
Open Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm
Closed Sunday
VLA Saturday Tours
Saturdays at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm
The VLA hosts free public guided tours each Saturday at 10 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm. Advance admission required (purchase here) but no tour reservation necessary. Just head to the Visitor Center auditorium to join you preferred time. These tours last approximately one hour and give visitors unique insight into the past, present, and future of the VLA.
San Lorenzo Canyon
Self-guided exploration of geologic formations
San Lorenzo Canyon is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management as a primitive recreation area. This scenic east-west canyon offers ample outdoor opportunities for hiking and primitive camping. Not only a destination for hikers, the Canyon offers outstanding opportunities for photographers.
Fort Craig Historic Site
Fort Craig is about 35 miles south of Socorro
Explore New Mexico’s frontier history at Fort Craig Historic Site, once one of the largest military forts in the American Southwest. Walk among the fort’s remains, learn about its role in the Civil War and westward expansion, and take in sweeping views of the surrounding desert landscape.
Bernardo Wildlife Area
Open ½ hr before sunrise and ½ hr after sunset
Bernardo Wildlife Management Area is a 1,675-acre area of New Mexico State Game and Fish Department’s Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Management Complex. Unlike some of the state’s WMAs, this one does not require visitors, at least for the no-hunt unit north of US-60, to have a hunting or fishing license. The property may be closed at night.
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
Located near Mountainair, New Mexico
Explore centuries of history at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, where the remains of ancestral Pueblo communities and 17th-century Spanish missions tell the story of the cultures that shaped central New Mexico. Wander among striking stone ruins set against the wide-open landscape and discover the complex history of this remarkable place.
Explore Bosque del Apache
Beyond Festival events and tours, there’s plenty to discover at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Take a scenic drive, explore refuge trails, watch for wildlife, and experience the wetlands, desert, and mountain landscapes that make the Bosque such a remarkable destination.
