- Holiday Dreams Cirque, “A Spectacular Holiday Show,” is coming to Rio Rancho Events Center Sunday at 3 p.m. The show features holograms, projection mapping, holiday music and lasers, along with a cast of award-winning acrobats, daredevils and cirque-performers. Get your tickets here.
- Absolute Real Estate is hosting its second annual Grinchmas celebration. The free event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and will feature a professional photo opportunity with The Grinch, crafts and a hot cocoa bar.
- Marble Brewery is hosting a Watch Party Saturday as the United States Men’s National Team takes on the Netherlands in the Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. There will be match exclusive drink specials and brunch served by Chef T’s House food truck. Doors open at 7:45 a.m. for the 8 a.m. match.
Citywide events
4. New Mexico’s No. 1 winter holiday attraction opens for the 2022 season this weekend. Winter Wonderland, a drive-thru holiday experience at EXPO NM, combines the holiday spirit and New Mexico culture into a safe and family-friendly event. Complete with a full walk-thru tour in Villa Hispana, Winter Wonderland features live actors, local vendors, hot cocoa, food options and a chance to get a photo with Santa Claus. A portion of every ticket sale will be donated to the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities — New Mexico and the Assistance League of Albuquerque. The event opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 3. For tickets and hours, visit the Winter Wonderland website.
5. Frankie Valli and the Four Season hit the Kiva Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Known for his unique falsetto voice, Valli rose to fame in the 1960s and is still going strong more than 50 years later. The Four Seasons recorded 40 No. 1 hits, and Valli added another nine as a solo artist. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and inspired the hit Broadway musical “Jersey Boys.” Friday’s showtime is set for 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available at Ticketmaster.
6. Old Town is hosting its Holiday Stroll from 5-9 p.m. Friday. The event has become the unofficial start of the holiday season and allows patrons to sip hot chocolate and enjoy live entertainment throughout the district as they shop local businesses.. Local musicians and dance groups will also perform, and the Albuquerque Museum will be opening its doors. Streets in Old Town will be closed to traffic at 3 p.m. for the event.
7. World Cup Watch Parties, hosted by the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico United and the Albuquerque Convention Center, continue on the Civic Plaza with games shown on the plaza’s 16-foot by 30-foot high-definition video display. Free parking is available for weekend games at the street-level parking lot on Marquette between Third and Fourth. Group stage viewing continues from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday with the Round of 16 kicking off the same hours Saturday and Sunday, including Saturday’s USMNT match. Concessions and bars by Albuquerque Convention Center will also be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
