Enjoy an evening of holiday cheer as we celebrate the holiday season with three (3) family-friendly events on Friday, December 2, 2022!
The community is invited to the Yuletide Tree Lighting, Lighting Ledoux and the Festival of Trees. Please make sure to make the rounds to all three (3) events for local entertainment, farolitos, bonfires, hot beverages, children’s games and much more.
Yuletide Tree Lighting
The 2022 Town of Taos Christmas Season officially kicks off with the lighting of our Town Christmas tree during the 36th Annual Yuletide Tree Lighting Event on Friday, December 2, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Taos Plaza. Join Mayor Pro Tem Darien Fernandez, our Town Council and the wonderful community of Taos at this annual event!
Mitch Miller, Town of Taos Facilities and Events Director, will be the MC.
Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served.
Events include Welcome by Mayor Pro Tem Darien Fernandez, Invocation and Holiday Greetings by Clyde M. Romero, Taos Pueblo Governor, and Fred Romero, Taos Pueblo Warchief.
Music and merriment will be provided by the Taos High School and Taos Middle School Choir under the direction of Joaquin Maestas-Manuel. The lighting of the Farolitos will be by the Town of Taos Management Team, Sarae Alise, Mental Notes, Taos Community Choir, the Fiestas de Taos Royal Court, Los Comanches de la Serna, Taos’s Own Julia Struck Classical Flamenco and Middle Eastern Dance (sparkly gifts sponsored by the Body Shop for the first 50 little girls after her show), and Danza Azteca de Anahuac.
At approximately 5:30 PM, Mayor Pro Tem Darien Fernandez, will welcome in the Holiday Season with a special Holiday Greeting and the Countdown to the Lighting of the tree and Plaza.
Bring the kids to visit Santa! Santa will be handing out 300 treat-filled stockings to children, once again donated by the Taos Optimist Club Elves.
Let us capture your memories with a picture with Santa! There will be an advance sign-up with a QR code to retrieve your free downloadable photo on Saturday, December 3, 2022, after 5:00 PM. If you would like a 4 x 6 photo, there will be an online offering to print your photo with a special holiday frame. The special print frame and edit cost will be $3.00 to $5.00 depending on what you order. Photos with Santa will be provided by Taos Academy Charter.
Edu@Work Café from Taos High School will be providing the Holiday Concession. The menu includes: Posole with Pork and Red Chile - $5.00 per cup, Green Chile Corn Chowder - $5.00 per cup, Chocolate Cupcakes - $2.00 each, Chocolate Truffles (6) count - $5.00, Various Cookies - $8.00 per dozen and Coffee - $2.00 per cup.
Taos Plaza will be closed to vehicular traffic from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM; however, the Taos Plaza Merchants will be open to foot traffic. FREE event parking will be available at Loretto Parking Lot, Town Hall, and Taos Public Library. AFTER 5:00 PM all metered parking lots will be free. For ADA parking and for people requiring ADA access to the event, there will be extra parking next to McCarthy Parking Lot directly behind the old County Courthouse.
This event is sponsored by the Town of Taos, Taos Optimist Club and Taos Academy Charter School.
Lighting Ledoux
The Ledoux Street Community will brighten the holiday fun with Lighting Ledoux from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Traditional farolitos will light the way along the historic street, which will be closed to pedestrians for the evening. Ledoux merchants, neighbors, and cultural organizations will host bonfires, hot beverages, and plenty of cheer for all. Enjoy festive art making and free museum admission at the Harwood.
“For over twenty years, Lighting Ledoux has helped kick-off the season for locals and visitors. We are excited to align two beloved traditions and offer the Taos community a fun night of family-friendly holiday cheer,” says Gwendolyn Fernandez, Curator of Education and Public Programs, Harwood Museum. Participating sites include Blumenschein Home & Museum, Inger Jirby Gallery, Reneux Consignment, Salon Marjorie, Stella’s Italian Restaurant, and Wumaniti Earth Native Sanctuary. The entrance to Ledoux Street is located one block from the southwest corner of Taos Plaza.
Festival of Trees
The Taos Milagro Rotary Club is participating in this community event by hosting A Festival of Trees in Bataan Hall at 121 Civic Plaza Drive. The Festival of Trees features 26 Christmas trees decorated by sponsors, 15 decorated wreaths, and many gift baskets - all available for purchase in a silent auction. The event starts at 3:00 PM, with children's games and entertainers from local schools. Attendees may wish to leave our event to see the tree lighting in the Plaza and stroll the Lighting Ledoux, and then return to Bataan Hall, where they can warm up with free hot tea, hot chocolate, or hot apple cider! This family-friendly event ends at 9:00 PM. Funds raised at this event directly benefit the community through our literacy program, our scholarship program, or our community grants.
John Dunn Shops will decorate their walkway with bonfires and farolitos to create a fun and safe walkway between Bataan Hall and Taos Plaza.
For more information regarding Yuletide Tree Lighting contact Judy Esquibel at 575.751.2037 or at jesquibel@taosgov.com. For more information regarding Lighting Ledoux contact Shemai Rodriquez at 575.758.9826 ext. 109 or at info@harwoodmuseum.org. For more information regarding A Festival of Trees contact Angela Legh at 575.425.0731 or at angela@angelalegh.com.