GRANTS, N.M. – The City of Grants cancelled its annual Holiday Light Parade this weekend after local public safety officials raised concerns following what police described as a series of recent nighttime incidents in which law enforcement officers were targeted.
In a public statement, the City of Grants said it conducted a safety review “in consultation with local public safety agencies” and “out of an abundance of caution,” recommended canceling the Christmas light parade that had been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13.
“This recommendation is based solely on our concerns for protecting [the] public during evening activities and our responsibility to provide a secure environment for both participants and first responders,” the city said, adding that it did not make the decision lightly and that “the safety of our community must remain the highest priority.”
The city’s statement also said the Grants Police Department is actively assisting New Mexico State Police in an ongoing investigation connected to the Dec. 8 shooting that damaged a New Mexico State Police patrol vehicle during a traffic stop near Third Street and Santa Fe Avenue. No one was injured.
In an email update provided to the Cibola Citizen on Dec. 15, DPS spokesperson Amanda Richards said the incident occurred at about 10:43 p.m. while an NMSP officer was conducting a traffic stop. Richards said the officer was shot at, causing damage to the patrol vehicle, but the officer was not injured. Police do not believe the shots came from the driver of the vehicle stopped for a traffic infraction, Richards said. The case remains under investigation by the NMSP Investigations Bureau, and the suspect remains at large.
The city’s parade-cancellation statement referenced “three recent incidents” in which officers were targeted during nighttime hours, but did not provide additional detail about those incidents in the statement.
Sheriff’s Office Also Cancels Shop with a Cop
Shortly after the Grants announcement, the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office issued its own release cancelling the 2025 “Shop with a Cop” event due to what it described as ongoing safety concerns connected to the Grants shooting.
“The Cibola County Sheriff’s Office announces the cancellation of this year’s Shop with a Cop event following a recent shooting incident in Grants involving a law enforcement officer,” the Sheriff’s Office said, adding that based on preliminary information, the suspect “appears to be targeting law enforcement personnel,” and had not been apprehended.
Sheriff Larry Diaz said safety had to come first.
“Shop With a Cop is one of the most meaningful events of the year for our office,” Diaz said in the release. “However, with a potentially dangerous suspect still at large, we cannot put any child or participating officer at risk. This decision was made out of an abundance of caution.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the in-person shopping event was cancelled, but that all selected students would still receive their designated gift cards, with distribution coordinated directly through the schools.
The Sheriff’s Office listed contact numbers (505) 876-2040 or (505) 287-0350 for questions.
Chief Monte: No Direct or Confirmed Threat Reported
On Sunday, Dec. 16, Grants Police Chief Maxine Monte told the Cibola Citizen that the city had not received any “direct or confirmed threat” at that time, but said heightened precautions were being taken.
“The City of Grants has not received any direct or confirmed threat at this time,” Monte wrote. “Increased awareness and preparedness are proactive precautionary measures intended to ensure public safety.”
MainStreet Shifts Parade to Daytime “Christmas Float Festival”
Despite the cancellation of the evening parade, Grants MainStreet Project Inc. announced it would pivot to a daytime “Christmas Float Festival” at Grants High School, aiming to preserve the community celebration in a setting it described as safer.
The City of Grants showed that it can always make room for some lighted floats.
According to Main-Street’s update, the festival was scheduled for Saturday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., with float parking beginning at 11 a.m. MainStreet said floats would be staged behind the football stadium first, then moved to the front of the high school off Second Street, and that float judging and first-, secondand third-place awards would still be held. Main-Street also said participants who paid a $35 float fee would receive refunds beginning Monday.
MainStreet said the event’s grand marshal would still participate and that the first 250 children would receive a holiday gift. Organizers also asked float participants to email photos to grantsmainstreet66@gmail .com, saying MainStreet planned to compile a community video featuring every float.
“A huge THANK YOU to the City of Grants and Grants High School for helping us create a safe and joyful alternative event,” MainStreet said in its statement.
MainStreet also said its Cookie Crawl remained scheduled from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. with 17 participating businesses and locations, along with food trucks, and a horse-and-carriage photo opportunity planned in front of City Hall from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Other local groups also offered family activities during the day.
The New Mexico Mining Museum was open and offered free admission for locals and visitors to “Go Underground.” The Cibola Arts Council hosted free arts and crafts activities for families at its museum at 1001 W. Santa Fe Ave., along with Christmas music karaoke.
As of press deadline, MainStreet said voting related to the float competition was still ongoing.
The City of Grants statement urged anyone with information related to the Dec. 8 incident to contact the Grants Police Department and/or New Mexico State Police.
For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, residents can contact local law enforcement at (505) 287-4404, (505) 287-9477, (505) 287-2983, or (505) 287-4491.
And if nothing else, Grants proved this weekend that even when a parade route gets detoured, the community doesn’t have to park the holiday spirit.