Holiday light displays throughout Rio Rancho

It can be difficult to find fun affordable things to do for the holidays with family in tow but in Rio Rancho a night out looking at light displays in the city might just do the trick.

Using the Albuquerque Area Holiday Lights Tour Map people can find light displays, luminarias, musical light shows and neighborhood light collaborations.

Local decoration fanatic, Helenea ReyVaughn, adds new decorations every year and has a pin on the map. It is more than just decorations to her and her family, though. The tradition started because her son’s birthday falls on Christmas Eve. To keep the celebration special, they add another decoration for him every year.

Her house on Niklaus Dr, also known to social media as the “minion house”, has dozens of inflatables on the front lawn every year.

“It’s been fun with decorating, we still want to do a digital sign but they are just so darn expensive,” she said.

This year, people will see some inflatable hot air balloon decorations added to the display.

“To honor New Mexico’s Balloon Fiesta,” ReyVaughn said.

Other people with pins on the map collaborate as a neighborhood to decorate with lights strung up between the houses. This is often symbolized with a gingerbread house on the map.

Also popular are the musical shows which are light shows synchronized to a radio station. Audiences need only park outside one of these locations and turn the radio to the right station. Most of the houses will display which station to turn to in the show.

The map can be found on Facebook or with a quick Google search. For a link click here.