New Mexico has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Holiday Stroll in Albuquerque on December 4 to Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime in Santa Fe, on December 21. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in New Mexico for 2026, in Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- First: Holiday Stroll, Albuquerque, December 4. Runs latest: Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime, Santa Fe, through December 21
- Free: Holiday Stroll
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our New Mexico Christmas train rides page.
New Mexico Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- Season
- December 4 to December 21, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- holiday crafts, Santa visit, holiday event and story time with Santa
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each New Mexico Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Holiday Stroll in Albuquerque on December 4; the last runs to December 21. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Holiday StrollAlbuquerque · Dec 4
- Fun with SantaAlbuquerque · Dec 12
- Polar Express Pajama PartyAlbuquerque · Dec 19
- Santa Storytime and Reindeer CraftsAlbuquerque · Dec 19
- Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday StorytimeSanta Fe · Dec 21
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in New Mexico? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Albuquerque
4 confirmed events for kids in Albuquerque, soonest first.
Albuquerque: Holiday Stroll
Holiday craftsFreeAlbuquerque Museum (City of Albuquerque) · Albuquerque
- Host
- Albuquerque Museum (City of Albuquerque) (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Albuquerque Museum, 2000 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
- When
- Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 8 pm
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages and abilities
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
During the Old Town Holiday Stroll, the Albuquerque Museum opens its doors for a free night on Friday, December 4, from 5 to 8 pm. Community dance leader Romy Keegan leads a joyful movement experience designed to bring together people of all ages and abilities, and families can try a seasonal art activity before exploring the museum's galleries.
It is a relaxed, indoor way to warm up during an evening in Old Town and works well for mixed-age groups, from small children to grandparents. Admission is free, and the event page does not mention registration, so families can simply drop in during the evening and stay as long as they like. For questions, the museum lists a contact phone of 505-243-7255.
Parent tip: Free and indoors, so it makes a good warm-up stop during the Old Town Holiday Stroll.
See dates and details from Albuquerque Museum (City of Albuquerque) (opens in a new tab)Albuquerque: Fun with Santa
Santa visitAlbuquerque and Bernalillo County Library · Albuquerque
- Host
- Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Lomas Tramway Library, Meeting Room, 908 Eastridge Dr NE, Albuquerque, NM 87123
- When
- Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- All ages, children
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Lomas Tramway Library on Albuquerque's east side hosts Fun with Santa on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm in the branch meeting room. The library lists it as an all-ages special event with arts and crafts for children.
Families are invited to take pictures with Santa, and children can tell him what they would like for Christmas. Afterward, kids make ornaments to take home and decorate their tree. The two-hour window means families can come when it suits them rather than rushing for a single start time, and the library setting is usually calmer than a shopping center Santa line. It is a good choice for families in the foothills and east mountain areas who want an easy Saturday morning holiday outing, and a stop in the children's section for winter picture books fits neatly into the visit.
See dates and details from Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)Albuquerque: Polar Express Pajama Party
Holiday eventAlbuquerque and Bernalillo County Library · Albuquerque
- Host
- Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Main Library (Downtown), 501 Copper Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- When
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Families with children ages 0 to 18
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Albuquerque Main Library downtown hosts a Polar Express Pajama Party on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 11 am to 1 pm. It is a special movie viewing for families with children of any age, from babies to teens, and everyone is encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas.
The film is The Polar Express, the animated adventure starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. It follows a doubting young boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve and learns that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. The movie is rated G and runs about 100 minutes, so it fits comfortably in the two-hour window.
Parent tip: Wear pajamas; the G-rated film runs about 100 minutes.
See dates and details from Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)Albuquerque: Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts
Story time with SantaAlbuquerque and Bernalillo County Library · Albuquerque
- Host
- Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Juan Tabo Library, Meeting Room, 3407 Juan Tabo Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
- When
- Saturday, December 19, 2026, 2 to 4 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed; registration required
- Ages
- Ages 4 and up and their families
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Juan Tabo Library in northeast Albuquerque hosts Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 2 to 4 pm in the branch meeting room. It is an in-person program for children ages 4 and up and their families.
Library staff will read stories to help children get ready for Santa's arrival, then lead fun activities and crafts celebrating Rudolph and his reindeer friends. There will also be holiday treats, which the library playfully says are for children who have been good. Registration is required and seats are limited, with only about 10 spots shown on the registration form, so sign up early through the event page. The two-hour window gives families time to enjoy the stories and finish their crafts without rushing.
Parent tip: Registration is required and space is very limited, so register early on the event page.
See dates and details from Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Santa Fe
1 confirmed event for kids in Santa Fe, soonest first.
Santa Fe: Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime
Holiday story timeSanta Fe Public Library · Santa Fe
- Host
- Santa Fe Public Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Southside Library, Community Room, 6599 Jaguar Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87507
- When
- Monday, December 21, 2026, 3 to 4 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Ideal for ages 0 to 7; all are welcome
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa Fe Public Library and the Santa Fe Symphony team up for a Holiday Storytime on Monday, December 21, 2026, from 3 to 4 pm in the Community Room at the Southside Library. The program combines holiday stories with a live performance by the Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet.
The library says the hour is ideal for families with children from birth to age 7, though everyone is welcome. Hearing a string quartet up close is a rare treat for small children, and pairing the music with stories helps keep little ones engaged for the full hour. The Monday afternoon slot comes just a few days before Christmas, a good time for a calm, cheerful outing with little ones. Southside Library is on Jaguar Drive on the south side of Santa Fe, and questions about the performance can go to the symphony's education contact listed on the event page.
See dates and details from Santa Fe Public Library (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in Colorado, Christmas events for kids in Arizona and Christmas events for kids in Wyoming list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonNew Mexico Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in New Mexico in 2026?
We confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in New Mexico for 2026 on each host’s own page: Holiday Stroll in Albuquerque (December 4), Fun with Santa in Albuquerque (December 12), Polar Express Pajama Party in Albuquerque (December 19), Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts in Albuquerque (December 19) and Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime in Santa Fe (December 21). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
For families in and around Albuquerque, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holiday Stroll (Fri, Dec 4, 5 to 8 pm, free); Fun with Santa (Sat, Dec 12, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, no fee listed); Polar Express Pajama Party (Sat, Dec 19, 11 am to 1 pm, no fee listed); Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts (Sat, Dec 19, 2 to 4 pm, no fee listed; registration required). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Albuquerque section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Santa Fe, New Mexico?
For families in and around Santa Fe, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime (Mon, Dec 21, 3 to 4 pm, no fee listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Santa Fe section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in New Mexico?
Yes. 1 of the 5 events here are free: Holiday Stroll in Albuquerque. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in New Mexico this December?
Santa appears at Fun with Santa in Albuquerque (December 12) and Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts in Albuquerque (December 19). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in New Mexico?
Holiday story times on this page: Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts in Albuquerque and Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime in Santa Fe. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
Which New Mexico Christmas events are best for toddlers?
These are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers: Polar Express Pajama Party in Albuquerque (Families with children ages 0 to 18) and Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime in Santa Fe (Ideal for ages 0 to 7; all are welcome).
How much is Holiday Stroll in Albuquerque?
Free. Holiday Stroll is on Friday, December 4, 2026, 5 to 8 pm at Albuquerque Museum. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Fun with Santa in Albuquerque?
No fee listed. Fun with Santa is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Lomas Tramway Library, Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Polar Express Pajama Party in Albuquerque?
No fee listed. Polar Express Pajama Party is on Saturday, December 19, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm at Main Library (Downtown). Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts in Albuquerque?
No fee listed; registration required. Santa Storytime and Reindeer Crafts is on Saturday, December 19, 2026, 2 to 4 pm at Juan Tabo Library, Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime in Santa Fe?
No fee listed. Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet Holiday Storytime is on Monday, December 21, 2026, 3 to 4 pm at Southside Library, Community Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in New Mexico?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our New Mexico Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
