Image via Pixabay

I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as hundreds of Christmas trees filling up Albuquerque Convention Center’s Ballrooms A, B and C from Friday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10am to 6pm. This 12th annual Festival of Trees raises funds for the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation through the $1 donations requested at the door. It is chock-full of Christmas decorations, wreaths, Santa, hot cocoa and, of course, trees. For more information on this all-ages event, see festivaloftreesnm.com. (Clarke Condé)

Image by Eric Williams

Christmas is coming and there's no surer sign of its impending arrival here in The Duke City than the annual Twinkle Light Parade. This year's well-lit jaunt into the holiday spirit happens in the middle of Albuquerque’s Historic Nob Hill on Saturday, Dec. 7 beginning at 5:15pm. The Twinkle Light Parade begins its yearly course through our town at Central Avenue and Washington Street, and proceeds west to Girard Boulevard. (Central is closed from 2pm through 10pm for the event) with a whole host of brightly decorated cars, buses and other magical parade floats done up just right for the celebratory season. After the parade, the city is teaming up with Nob Hill shops and restaurants to offer holiday specials. It's free and meant for all ages, so get your Santa hat out of cold storage and make the trip! (August March)

Image via Pixabay

Consider for a moment that for a short stack of American coins, you can still have a physical object taken anywhere in the country with your message of holiday cheer, complaint or leftover turkey a la king recipe. It is the brilliant work of the letter carriers of the United States Postal Service that has since the founding of this country moved mail without discrimination as to its content or sender (barring that which is fragile, liquid, perishable or potentially hazardous.) On Saturday, Dec. 7 from 3 to 5pm, the Special Collections Library hosts a Snail Mail Social with all the trimming (stamps, stationary, maybe some glitter pens) to celebrate and encourage the art of letter writing. For more information on this free, all-ages event, see abqlibrary.org. (Clarke Condé)

Shutterbugs gather up your best pieces and pick some to submit for hanging in the new Bernalillo County headquarters when the gov-peeps move to Alvarado Square, happening now until Monday, August 31. The selected photographs will be printed in a large scale and format. They will be used to create a welcoming environment for county customers, county employees and the general public. Some will be used on the windows of the new Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office suite. The photographs should represent the history and character of Bernalillo County and its people, places, landscapes and unique events in our county. There are some big bucks involved as chosen photographers will receive $1,500, with a limit of one photograph per artist. The chosen photos will become part of the public art program’s permanent collection. There is no fee or age limit required to submit. For more information, visit bernco.gov/community-services/current-call-for-entries.aspx. Ends August 31. (Carolyn Carlson)

City on the Edge is a breezy, smart podcast looking at the stories from Albuquerque history that have often been overlooked. Each episode takes a deep dive into a topic like the 1955 crash of TWA flight 260, Sandia Man or the 1918 quarantine. Worthwhile listening that will spur your curiosity about things you didn’t even know about in the city where you live. It’s free and available wherever you get your podcasts. (Clarke Condé)

Looking for a little chile? The 2020 Bosque Chile Festival, a celebration of food, art, and culture on the Rio Grande, is happening Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, with times waiting to be officially announced. But due to COVID-19 and the State of New Mexico public health order, the festival will be presented virtually! There will still be entertainment, art activities, a virtual artisan market, chile-chef demonstrations, educational workshops and more. This free, all-ages event is meant to give those stuck at home a chance to see what the state has to offer. If you are a high-quality chile-inspired and authentic New Mexican business with an e-commerce website and want to be a vendor, there is still time. Applications are being accepted until Wednesday, August 5. For more information email bosquechilefestival@bernco.gov.