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In this Dec. 5, 2024, photo, a luminaria bag shines in front of Gurley Hall while the large ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ letters in front of the Student Services & Technology Center twinkle in the background during Holiday in New Mexico at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup.

ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup to host Holiday in New Mexico event Dec. 4

Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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Annual event features traditions such as luminarias, posole, biscochitos and more for community

By Richard Reyes, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025

GALLUP, N.M. — ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup will host its annual Holiday in New Mexico event, featuring luminarias, biscochitos, student art and more, including the introduction of a new attraction known as Lobo Lights, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.

Holiday in New Mexico is an annual tradition for the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup branch campus that celebrates the winter holiday season in true Land of Enchantment fashion. The event coincides with the opening reception of the Fall 2025 Fine Arts Student Show inside the Ingham Chapman Gallery.

Santa Claus is expected to make a grand entrance in front of Gurley Hall atop a fire truck provided by the Gallup Fire Department around 5:30 p.m. at the start of the event. Santa will be available for visits and photos with guests inside the Gurley Hall Commons.

During the event, guests will be treated to free bowls of chicken posole made by Southwest Food Excellence as well as free biscochitos, the official state cookie of New Mexico, made by 4 Your Plate Only.

The ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup Admissions team will treat visitors to free hot cocoa, too.

ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup will introduce a new attraction this year known as Lobo Lights, which is an outdoor display of lighted decorations in the patio and walkway areas surrounding Gurley Hall.

ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup would like to thank the local Walmart and Pepsi Co. in Gallup for making generous donations to this year’s event.

Holiday in New Mexico is free and open to the public. ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup’s Gurley Hall is located at 705 Gurley Ave.

Parking in front of Gurley Hall is expected to be limited due to ongoing construction. Guests are encouraged to find parking in other lots on campus. Overflow parking will also be available near the Bright Futures Childcare Center.

For more information about Holiday in New Mexico, please contact ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup Sr. Public Relations Specialist Richard Reyes at 505-863-7542 or richardreyes12@unm.edu.

In this Dec. 5, 2024, photo, a young guest with his face painted colors a giant poster during Holiday in New Mexico at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Gallup.