Friday, Dec. 5th
Letters to Santa – through Dec. 17th – Becker Ave across from City Hall – Santa’s Mailbox is OPEN on Becker Avenue! It’s that magical time of year! Families are invited to drop off their letters to Santa in the bright red mailbox on Becker Ave., right across from City Hall.To make sure Santa’s helpers can send a reply, please include a clearly written mailing address inside the letter. Deadline: All letters must be received by December 17th to guarantee a response from the North Pole! Let’s keep the holiday spirit alive in Belen—happy writing, kiddos!
Optimist Oratorical Contest 2026 Application – Through Jan. 26th – Topic: “The moment I realized I belonged – my definition of community” Public Speaking Scholarship sponsored by Rio Communities Optimist Club $1,000 Scholarship with opportunity to advance Registration Deadline – 01/26/2026 Contest Date – 01/29/2026
- Prepare a 4-5 minute speech on topic
- Present to Rio Communities Optimist Club
- Under 19 as of 10/1/2025
- Register before 1/26/2026
Official application, age verification, and plagiarism checker will be completed. Please call or email to sign up – Loedi Silva 505-720-2540 LoediSilvarealestate@gmail.com or Alex Cantor 505-302-1867 acant5@myctl.net
Ideal Landscaping and Concrete Community Christmas Food Drive – Through Dec. 17th – Ideal Landscaping and Concrete brings us a Community Christmas Food Drive! You can drop off donations until December 17th at the below locations:
- Belen City Hall
- Eagle Park Community Center
- Belen Police Department
- Belen Fire Department
- Noblin Funeral Service
Let’s spread kindness this Christmas and help families in need. Thank you for your donations!
Free after-school tutoring at the Moose – 3:30-5pm – La Merced Moose Lodge – The La Merced Moose Lodge is offering free after-school tutoring for students, K-12, from 3:30-5 p.m. on Fridays, at the lodge, 306 Rio Communities Blvd. Certified teachers will provide help in math, reading, science and social studies. For information, contact Cindi at 505-304-4860 or cyndia@unm.edu.
Open Mic Night – 4:30-6:30pm – Belen Public Library – Open Mic performing space for any type of performing arts regardless of age, skill level, or experience. This family friendly event allows performers, comedians, poets, and many other artists, a safe and welcoming environment to perform for the first time, find a new audience, or just have some fun! This event is for everyone regardless of age, skill level, or experience. We hope to see you there! Hosted By Tony DeNardo Free Admission $2 Performance Fee (Day of Performance Registration)
The Second Annual Christmas Lights Display – 5pm-12am – 202A De Sota Ave – Everyone is welcome to come on down and enjoy the Christmas Display! There are over 65,000 LED lights, a 20 foot Snowman, 30+ Blowups, Santa and his reindeer, a 9 foot Angel and the Manger, LED Pixels, and so much more…
Grinch is back in Rio Communities – 5-7pm – Tierra Del Sol Golf Course – Grinch is back in Rio Communities! The Rio Communities Police Department invites families to join in the holiday celebration from 5-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, at Tierra del Sol Golf Club ballroom. There will be cookies, hot cocoa, watch a Grinch movie, and take your picture with the Grinch.
Saturday, December 6th
Guitar Lessons – 10am-12pm – Belen Public Library – Guitars are available for children to use during the lessons. Guitar lessons are offered at 10 a.m. every Saturday at the Belen Public Library. Lessons are also free and open to the public, ages 5-15. Guitars are available for children to use during the lessons, and to check-out so they can practice at home.
Art Show: Vida, Cultura, y Familia – 10am-5pm – Los LUnas Museum of Heritage and Arts – Vida, Cultura, y Familia is the theme of this year’s Annual Adult Art Show. All artists 18+ are invited to submit original works of art to this show. The show is not juried, but ribbons and prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Places, and Honorable Mentions. Best of Show will also receive a solo show at the museum in 2026! – December 6 – January 31: Dates of show – Saturday, December 6: Reception and awards at the museum, 2-4 PM – February 2026: Pick-up of artworks The Los Lunas Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM. Our phone number is (505) 352-7720. Admission is free.
Southwest Model Railroad Display at Los Lunas Museum – 10am-5pm – The Southwest Model Railroad Museum and Club will feature their travelling exhibit at the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts. We’re pleased to announce that the Southwest Model Railroad Museum and Club is returning to the Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts with their travelling model railroad display. The trains will be on display from December 6 through December 20. The Los Lunas Museum of Heritage & Arts is open Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-5PM and admission is free. Our phone number is (505) 352-7720.
Sunday, December 7th
Historic Tomé Jail and Casita Open to the Public – 11am-3pm – Historic Tome Jail – The town of Tomé Land Grant invites the public to visit the historic jail and casita at the Tomé Church Plaza, 18 Church Loop. Visitors are welcomed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.
Forever Encore – Exhibition and Fashion Film – 12-6pm – Central Parlour – FOREVER: ENCORE opens ONE-DAY, Sunday, December 7, 2025 | 12-6pm | Central Parlour | 114 Becker Ave, Belen, New Mexico Curated & Directed by Megan Malcom-Morgan FOREVER opened October 4, 2025 at Edition ONE Gallery in Santa Fe on Canyon Road, with rave reviews. Pleased with the reception of the film and exhibition, we decided to bring FOREVER home for an ENCORE. FOREVER is an artistic production, combining elements of fashion, cinematography, and storytelling in one immersive exhibition. Textile Designer: Julie Pawley Plougmann Jewelry Designer: Natalie Solis by Daniel Montaño And this time, wine by Jaramillo Vineyards
Making of the Movies “Convoy” and “Bunny O’Hare” – 2-5pm – Belen Public Library – Historical presentation of Dr. Richard Melzer on films made and around our community. Many movies have been made in Belen and Valencia County, including the first movie ever made in New Mexico in 1898. Our two most famous movies were made in the 1970s. Bunny O’Hare was about two unlikely bank robbers who rob banks in Belen and ride off on an old motorcycle. Convoy was about rebel truck drivers who drove down the Main Streets of Belen and Los Lunas. Many of the extras for both movies came from Belen and Los Lunas. This talk will describe how the movies were made in our two towns. The audience will be asked to share stories about their memories or participation in the movie making!
