1 Chile Drop, Las Cruces
In quintessential New Mexican fashion, Las Cruces welcomes the new year with chile—a 19-foot chrome pepper bedazzled with 2,400 sparkling lights that is. The chile drops at midnight over the Plaza de Las Cruces where the community and visitors alike gather to welcome 2025. Expect live music and food trucks selling local delights like chile rellenos and holiday classics like hot chocolate. The party starts at 9 p.m.
2 New Year’s Eve at Sawmill Market, Albuquerque
Get your sparkly outfits ready and spend the final hours of 2024 at Sawmill Market in Albuquerque, which is hosting its New Years Eve party this year. From 5 to 7 p.m., families are welcome to enjoy the market and a sparkling cider toast for the kids at 7 p.m. At 10 p.m., the market opens for an adults-only party with three DJs performing on stages throughout the space, a giant balloon drop, party favors, and a champagne toast at midnight. Most food vendors will stay open until 11:30 p.m. to celebrate. “This is the first year we’re hosting this party,” says James Jasler, president at the Heritage Restaurant Group, which owns Sawmill Market. “It’s exciting.”
3 New Year’s Eve on the Plaza, Santa Fe
Party on the Santa Fe Plaza, bathed in the glow of the colorful Christmas lights decorating the square. Stationary heaters and little bonfires will keep warm as you welcome 2025. Starting at 8 p.m., the party offers guests free hot chocolate and bizcochitos courtesy of the Kiwanis Club (while supplies last), performances from local favorites, including troubadour Alex Maryol and the Lumbros, and poetry from Stephen Jules Rubin. At midnight, a giant Zia rises into the sky to welcome 2025 as fireworks are launched from La Fonda on the Plaza.
4 Noon Year’s Eve, Santa Fe
Take the littles in your life and welcome the new year during a celebration at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s chock-full of fun activities like an educational Route 66 Passport trip that will teach kids about the historic Mother Road as they earn stamps at different stations, a neon demonstration, a car exhibit, and kid friendly crafting stations where they can make postcards with volunteers from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art. The event is free to Santa Fe Children’s Museum members.
5 NYE Dance Party, Ruidoso
Shake 2024 off and start 2025 with a boogie at Noisy Water Winery in Ruidoso during their New Year’s Eve Dance Party. The 21-and-over event starts at 9 p.m. and includes a live set by DJ Breeze, a toast to the new year at midnight, and a commemorative champagne flute. Grab a ticket here.
6 NYE at Little Toad Creek Brewing, Silver City
Take the last photo of 2024 in the photobooth at this shindig at Little Toad Creek in Silver City. Starting at 9 p.m., partygoers can dance the night away during a set by DJ Mischievous, special dinner bites, late night snacks, and a champagne toast.
7 NYE at Taos Ski Valley, Taos
Spend the day hitting the slopes in Taos before dining at Tenderfoot Katie’s New Year’s Eve dinner buffet, open 4 to 9 p.m. Then, catch the torchlight parade from the Upper Plaza starting around 6:15 p.m., followed by an explosion of fireworks. Top it all off with a martini at the 4th annual Snow Ball at the Martini Tree Bar from 7 to 11 p.m. with live music by Last to Know.
8 New Year’s with the Opera, Albuqureque
Renowned tenor Clay Hilley and Opera Southwest ring in the new year with their annual New Year’s Eve concert at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Bringing two hours of opera to the stage, the program includes compositions by Verdi, Puccini, and Wagner. Alongside Hilley, see soprano Sara Duchovnay, the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, Opera Southwest’s chamber orchestra, and members of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony. The performance starts at 2:30 p.m.
9 Joe Illick & the New Year’s Eve Orchestra, Santa Fe
Joe Illick’s New Year’s Eve concerts have become a holiday tradition at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe. Ring in 2025 with beautiful classical music featuring Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. show.
For more things to do, check out our online calendar of events.