Friday, January 24th
How do polar bears stay warm? STEM Experiment – 3:30pm – 4:30pm – Belen Public Library – How do polar bears stay warm? Attend this experiment to learn first-hand how polar bears and other arctic animals stay warm. This event is sponsored by Meta.
Saturday, January 25th
2025 World’s Largest Matanza – 7am – 2pm – Eagle Park Special Event Field – The Hispano Chamber of Valencia County, invites you the 25th Annual World’s Largest Matanza. Gates open 7am – 2pm. Matanza entry fee is $20 per person, children 10 and under are free. Entry includes food tasting from different competition teams and live music. Also available is the public competition categories, vendors, and beer garden.
No pets; documented service dogs only. Sack chairs and clear bags suggested. Static display of Pig hot – air balloon and RC balloons, weather permitting. Free Park and Ride at 10th St and Church St. shuttles to and from field. This family-fun event is the largest event in Valencia County and helps to raise funds to provide scholarships for Valencia County college students.
Guitar Lessons for Kids – 10am – 12pm – Belen Public Library – Guitar lessons are offered at 10 a.m. every Saturday at the Belen Public Library. Lessons are also free and open to the public, ages 5-15. Guitars are available for children to use during the lessons, and to check-out so they can practice at home.
Sunday, January 26th
Historic Tomé Jail and Casita Open to the Public – 11am – 3pm – Historic Tomé Jail and Casita – The town of Tomé Land Grant invites the public to visit the historic jail and casita at the Tomé Church Plaza, 18 Church Loop. Visitors are welcomed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.
Barstow California: Little Belen – 2pm – 4pm – Belen Harvey House Museum – Many Valencia County families migrated to Barstow, California, in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. So many came from Belen that Barstow became known as “Little Belen” or “Belen, California.”
Historian Richard Melzer will present the history of this migration and its impact on the residents of both towns. He will then open the discussion to members of the audience who have memories to share of the connection between Belen and Barstow—a connection that remains strong to this day.
