Your Mountain Holiday Calendar

November in the mountains is quiet in the best way, with crisp mornings, thinner crowds and holiday markets coming together. Here are the dates I'm watching, plus a few notes on planning a visit around them.

The short version

• The Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee runs November 13 to 15, and the Cloudcroft Christmas Market follows on November 27 and 28.
• While your partner enjoys the vendors and the shopping, you can spend the day fly fishing. No experience is needed.
• Winter on the water is quiet and uncrowded, and the Rio Peñasco is open to fish year-round.

The dates

Ruidoso Christmas Jubilee, November 13 to 15

The 39th annual Jubilee fills the Ruidoso Convention Center at 111 Sierra Blanca Drive. Hours are noon to 5 pm on Friday, 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5, and children 12 and under and active military with ID get in free. Details are on the Discover Ruidoso calendar.

If one of you would rather be on the water than in the aisles, Saturday, November 14 is also our free Fly Curious Workshop at Camp Rio in Mayhill, a free way to try fly fishing before you book a full day. All gear is provided and spots are limited.

Cloudcroft Christmas Market, November 27 and 28

This is the weekend after Thanksgiving. The listing I found doesn't include vendors or hours, so check with the Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce before you go. Cloudcroft sits high in the Sacramento Mountains and evenings get cold fast, so bring a real coat. It's also an easy weekend to split up: one of you takes the vendors, the other takes a day on the creek.

Trade the aisles for a day on the water

Not everyone wants to spend a market weekend in the aisles, and that's fine. While your partner enjoys the vendors and the shopping, you can spend the day fly fishing. Winter is one of my favorite times on the water. The crowds are gone, the light is low and gold, and the Rio Peñasco is open to fish year-round. No experience is needed, and we'll teach you from scratch.

A few things worth knowing before you book a winter day:

• Plan for the warm part of the day. Mornings are cold, and fishing is often better once the sun gets on the water.
• Dress in layers, and bring warm socks and gloves. Wet hands in cold air are no fun without them.
• Winter fishing is a slower, quieter game. Expect to focus on fewer, better chances rather than a lot of action.

Here is one way to split a market weekend:

1. Jubilee weekend, November 13 to 15. One of you browses the Convention Center while the other spends the day on the creek. Meet up for dinner and compare hauls.
2. Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 and 28. One of you takes the Cloudcroft Christmas Market while the other takes a guided day on the water, then head home together.

Fishing makes a good gift, too. If you're shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, take a look at our gift certificates.

Dates change, so confirm each one before you go. Last verified October 20, 2026.

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