Hometown News

A Brief History of Bonfires on Bent Street

For nearly four decades, Bonfires on Bent Street has been one of Taos’ most enduring winter traditions. What began in the late 1980s as a simple, merchant-led gathering has grown into a beloved Solstice-season celebration of light and community in the Taos Historic District.

The event started when the shops and galleries along Bent Street—joined soon after by the John Dunn Shop merchants—set out luminarias and small warming fires to welcome neighbors during the darkest nights of December. Those early evenings were informal and intimate: musicians playing outside adobe storefronts, merchants offering hot cider and homemade treats, and families strolling between farolitos that glowed against fresh snow.

By the 1990s, Bonfires on Bent Street had become a hallmark of Taos’ holiday season. Galleries stayed open late, artists hosted impromptu receptions, and musicians filled the pedestrian walkway with guitar, flute, and carols. The spirit of the event remained rooted in what makes Taos unique—local creativity, old-world winter traditions, and the warmth of a small community gathering under the lights.

Through the 2000s and 2010s, merchants kept the tradition alive regardless of budgets, weather, or shifting town priorities. Even during the years when other events faded, Bent Street’s fires continued to burn—tended by shop owners, artists, and long-time locals committed to preserving a sense of place.

Now in its 38th year, the celebration continues to honor northern New Mexico’s holiday customs with bonfires, farolitos, music, and open-house hospitality from the historic district’s independent shops and world-class art galleries.

Part winter stroll, part community homecoming, Bonfires on Bent Street remains one of the most atmospheric traditions in downtown Taos—an enduring reminder that even the smallest fires can bring a town together.

They invite you to come together with neighbors, friends and visitors on Saturday, December 13, from 4–7 p.m., to experience this enduring Taos tradition.

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