Whether you are native to Alamosa, visiting friends and family, moved into the area, or just passing through, we invite you to call Alamosa and the surrounding San Luis Valley home for the Holidays and enjoy all of the fun that there is to be had this special time of year! Keep reading below to discover all of the best ways to feel at home this holiday season and maybe even score a few last minute local gifts along the way!
Holiday Events to Experience
Most anticipated holiday activity:
Alamosa Parade of Lights: This is the highlight of the season! On Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 6:00 PM, Main Street fills with glowing floats and community spirit. It’s a “one of a kind” local tradition where the town gathers to celebrate! Be sure to bundle up, because baby, it’s cold outside!!
North River Greenhouse Winter Market: This Saturday (Dec 20) from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Sample organic foods, find handcrafted gifts, and holiday cheer!
Unique Happenings:
Crow Party (Trinket Trade): Visit the Narrow Gauge Book Co-op on Sunday, Dec 21, at 3:30 PM for a fun, quirky community trade of gently used trinkets.
Holiday Sing-Along: The Alamosa Live Music Association and La Puente invite you to head to Milagros Coffee House on Sunday, Dec 21, at 6:00 PM for a festive holiday sing along with Don Richmond plus a visit with Santa! A non-perishable food item for donation is encouraged! All donations go to La Puente Food Bank.
Lindo Jalisco Community Celebration: If you are around on Monday, Dec 22, they are hosting a Community Holiday Thank You event at 5:00 PM. Enjoy delicious food, enjoy giveaways (must bring a canned food donation or toy donation to be entered), and have an amazing time celebrating with the community.
Visit Alamosa’s annual Tree Decorating Contest: This annual local event is one of our favorites and completely free to view and vote for! Local businesses have adopted the trees in the Downtown area and have decked them out in festive decorations for your viewing enjoyment! Take note of your favorite and be sure to cast your vote using the scannable QR code located in the front window of the business that decorated it!
Classic Alamosa Winter Activities
Alamosa is the perfect “basecamp” for winter adventures that you can’t find elsewhere in Colorado including but not limited to:
- Great Sand Dunes in Winter: Visiting the dunes in December is a serene experience. The crowds are gone, and if there’s a dusting of snow on the sand, the contrast against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is breathtaking. You can still rent sand sleds in town at Kristi Mountain Sports.
- Frozen Zapata Falls: A short, chilly hike (about 1 mile round-trip) leads you to a waterfall that freezes above and flows below. It’s a magical sight, but we recommend that you wear ice cleats or boots with great traction, as the walk up the creek bed can be icy this time of year.
- Hot Springs Soaking: There is no better way to enjoy the freezing valley temperatures than in geothermal water surrounded by stunning scenery and enough fun to last the entire day! Our favorite year-round pick: Sand Dunes Recreation & The Greenhouse Sand Dunes Recreation offers a family area serving up delicious food the entire family will love, toy and floatie rentals on site, and a waterslide perfect for the littles, a hot tub perfect for the adults and more! They also offer an adult-only soaking area filled with tropical plants that help you escape to a different world and the Steel Box bar, serving up tasty beverages and a classy small plates menu that will make you drool! Do keep in mind that this facility is closed every Thursday for routine cleaning and maintenance!
- Ice Skating: Choose to stay in Alamosa and enjoy an indoor option or take to the road and expand your adventures to South Fork (about 45 minutes) to enjoy an outdoor skating option!
- The Alamosa Family Recreation Center offers indoor skating and rentals if you want to stay warm, while South Fork (45 mins away) offers a picturesque Outdoor Rink at Rickle Park that is now open for the season! They have skates on site for your convenience and use, simply return them to the bin when you are finished! They also host weekly bonfires on Saturday nights on site complete with hot drinks, music and pickup hockey games.
Local Treats & Cozy Spots
- The Roast: A favorite for high-quality coffee, a delicious breakfast menu, yummy pastries, and a cozy atmosphere to watch the snow fall.
- Mammoth: Try some of the most delicious, homemade fudge in the San Luis Valley. There are countless flavor options for you to choose from and we promise that you cant just have one!
- The Sanctuary at the Friar’s fork: This one is for the adults! The Sanctuary offers delicious craft cocktails in a low lit, speak easy style setting that is a must do for the adults! They also offer mocktails for those that are interested!
- Milagros Coffee House: This local gem is sure to delight! Offering more than 20 flavor add in options, fresh pastries daily, a breakfast/brunch menu, and a specialty holiday drink menu there is sure to be something that suits everyone in your party! They also offer a wide selection of locally made goods and crafts for sale that make perfect, one of a kind holiday gifts!
Pro-Tip: The Weather
The San Luis Valley is a high-altitude “cold sink.” While it may be sunny, temperatures often drop well below zero at night. Dress in heavy layers and keep an eye on your gas tank and tire pressure especially when you’re heading over Wolf Creek Pass for skiing at Wolf Creek Ski area! Keep in mind that Wolf Creek offeres the lowest, most affordable lift passes in Colorado, making it an amazing, affordable option for everyone! It is hard to pass up when it is less than two hours away from Alamosa!
Hot Tip: Kristi Mountain Sports offers ski and snowboard rentals so you can skip the line at the ski area and head straight to the lifts!
All of us here at Visit Alamosa wish you an incredibly happy holiday season and hope that it is filled with joy and magic for the entire family! If you attend any of these local events and happenings, be sure to share your photos with us using #visitalamosa so we can see and share your adventures! Enjoy Alamosa during the most wonderful time of the year!
