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!

Watch the Christmas Parade

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! The 2022 Christmas Parade begins at the corner of 8th Street going east on Aztec at 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd.

People walk through a local market in Gallup, NM.

Shop for 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. Artists will have booths at the City of Gallup Arts & Crafts Market on December 3 & 4, 2022, featuring paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, and more. The following weekend, on December 10, 2022, local makers will have their art available for purchase at the Downtown Holiday Art Market. Shoppers can find authentic Native American jewelry, art, pottery, rugs, baskets, and more daily at the many Native American trading posts and every Saturday at the Gallup 9th Street Flea Market.

dozens of hot air balloons hover over the sunny desert landscape during Red Rock Balloon Rally
Credit: Gallup, NM

Admire Hot Air Balloons

Attend the 41st 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.

A person riding a bike through a forest near Gallup.

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.

Gallup Cultural Center and Amtrak Station exterior with a statue and a sign listing Amtrak, Angela's Cafe, and all exhibits

Learn Local History

Warm up indoors while uncovering local history at Gallup Cultural Center and Red Rock Park Museum. Gallup Cultural 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.

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 many different guided tours that give visitors a deep understanding of Zuni art, culture, history, and heritage. Follow the Trail of the Ancients to discover important archaeological sites and admire 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: Photo 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 on self-guided tours- the Route 66 Neon Signs Tour and Route 66 Roadside Attractions Tour. Downtown Gallup features over 20 murals showcasing the history and culture of the town. Follow the Downtown Mural Walking Tour for an up-close look at beautiful works depicting scenes from mining, rodeos and western life.

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