Holiday Activities

Celebrate the holidays in Gallup with family-friendly annual events, outdoor adventures, and ways to support the community.

The cooler temperatures and annual events of the holiday season provide new opportunities to explore the natural beauty surrounding Gallup. Festivities begin the first weekend of December with the Red Rock Balloon Rally, a Christmas parade, an arts and crafts market, and the weekly Gallup Flea Market and continue throughout the month with more opportunities to support local makers. Gather your loved ones, bundle up, and check out these holiday activities for a fun and festive season!

Credit: Gallup, NM

Christmas Parade

Shopping

Red Rock Balloon Rally

Outdoor Activities

Local History

Day Trips

Arts & Culture

Watch the Christmas Parade

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Time: 12-2pm
Location: Aztec Avenue - 8th Street to Puerco Street

Residents of Gallup come together to build traditional Christmas floats for the Annual Community Christmas Parade. Admire the festive floats and keep an eye out for Santa Claus!

Children wearing red and white cowboy hats ride ponys wearing festive red and white capes.

Shop for Moccasins and Gifts

Support local makers while finding the perfect gift for every person on your list this holiday season at art markets and trading posts in Gallup.

The Rug Auction of Crownpoint

Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: Viewing 4pm | Auction 6pm
Location: Crownpoint Elementary School | 1 Codetalker Dr, Crownpoint

The Rug Auction of Crownpoint is a community-based event that serves as the intermediary between Diné weavers and connoisseurs of Navajo art and culture. You may bid along with local Traders and Navajo rug collectors in real time.

Pop-Up Holiday Market

Dates: November 22-December 20, 2025
Times: Tuesdays-Fridays 2-6pm | Saturdays 12-6pm
Location: ART123 Gallery | 123 W Coal Ave, Gallup

Throughout the season, Gallup ARTs runs a Pop-Up Holiday Market at ART123 Gallery, where local makers display their art for purchase.

Arts & Crafts Market

Dates: December 6-7, 2025
Times: Saturday 9am-5pm | Sunday 11am-5pm
Location: Larry Brian Mitchell Recreation Center | 400 Marguerite Franco, Gallup

Artists will have booths at the City of Gallup Arts & Crafts Fair, featuring paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, and more.

Gallup Kids Christmas Craft Fair

Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: Gallup Community Service Center | 410 Bataan Veterans St, Gallup

Support the creative youth community in Gallup at this art fair and purchase unique handmade gifts for the holiday season.

Year-round Shopping Options

Every Saturday, you can purchase directly from the Native American artists at the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market. You can also find authentic Native American jewelry, art, pottery, rugs, baskets, and more daily at the many Native American trading posts .

Different styles of moccasins on display at a shop in Gallup, New Mexico

Admire Hot Air Balloons

Dates: December 4 - 7, 2025
Times: Refer to event schedule here
Location: Red Rock Park | 825 Outlaw Road, Church Rock

Attend the annual Red Rock Balloon Rally the first weekend of December and watch as the sky is filled with hundreds of colorful balloons. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to explore Red Rock Park to find the best viewing spot.

Photographers and spectators stand on surrounding cliffs to view a yellow, orange, and red hot air balloon float in the canyon

Spend Time Outdoors

Bundle up and set out to soak up the sun with endless opportunities to explore the outdoors. Rock climbers will love climbing the cliff face at Mentmore Climbing Area. Hikers enjoy following the many trails through Red Rock Park and throughout the region. Mountain bikers can spend the day riding the trails at Zuni Mountain Trail System, with over 55 miles of trails to explore.

Group of children riding bikes by a large tower of stone in Gallup, NM

Learn Local History

Warm up indoors while uncovering local history at George Galanis Multicultural Center and Red Rock Park Museum. George Galanis Multicultural Center’s exhibits expand upon the diverse heritages of Gallup while highlighting the importance of trains, coal mining, Navajo Code Talkers, and the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial to the region. Gain a deeper understanding of Gallup’s history by learning about the lives of Ancestral Puebloans and present-day Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni at Red Rock Park Museum.

A stone wall and walkway in front of Window Rock in the Navajo Nation Reservation

Take a Day Trip

The holiday season is a great time to take a day trip to the incredible national monuments and pueblos. Head to Navajo Nation to explore the Navajo Nation Museum and enjoy views of Window Rock. Zuni Pueblo offers a variety of guided tours that provide visitors with a deep understanding of Zuni art, culture, history, and heritage. Follow the Trail of the Ancients to discover important archaeological sites and admire the incredible geological sites of the Ancestral Puebloans.

A mural depicting Native American trading posts, including many textiles and rugs, in Gallup, NM

Native American Trading Mural, Artist: Chester Kahn

Credit: New Mexico Nomad

Tour Gallup’s Street Art

Gallup is filled with incredible street art featuring works from the New Deal, murals, neon signs, and roadside attractions. Experience the history of Route 66 through self-guided tours —the Route 66 Neon Signs Tour and the Route 66 Roadside Attractions Tour. Downtown Gallup features over 20 murals that showcase the town's history and culture. Follow the Downtown Mural Walking Tour for an up-close look at beautiful works depicting scenes from mining, rodeos, and western life.